Prognostic impact of lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic invasion (CD105 expression) in small cell lung carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Lymphangiogenesis, an essential process in the metastasis of malignant tumors, has not been thoroughly studied. The possibility of using it to define subsets of patients with different prognosis in cancer could be of vital clinical importance.


METHODS
Fifty patients (5 women, 45 men; mean age, 64.47 years) with SCLC were retrospectively studied. Tumor specimens were stained for CD105, and intratumoral lymphatic microvessel density (ILMVD) and lymphatic invasion were determined.


RESULTS
Twenty-five patients were diagnosed with limited and 25 with extensive SCLC. All patients received chemotherapy and 32.7% radiation therapy. A direct association between ILMVD (CD105 expression) and lymphatic invasion was observed (p<0.046). CD105 expression was significantly associated with the stage of the disease (p=0.004) and the presence of metastasis (p=0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
CD105 expression and lymphatic invasion correlated significantly with the clinical parameters and patient outcome, therefore, constituting an important prognostic role in SCLC.
Hardavella
Georgia
G
Department of Pneumonology, University of Ioannina, Medical School, Ioannina, Greece.
Arkoumani
Evdokia
E
Dalavanga
Yiotanna
Y
Galanis
Petros
P
Agnantis
Niki J
NJ
Constantopoulos
Stavros
S
Stefanou
Dimitrios
D
D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D000071063:Endoglin; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D015703:Antigens, CD; C064206:ENG protein, human; D000071063:Endoglin; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface