[Correlation of vascular endothelial growth factor D, microlymphatic density and microvessel density with development and metastasis of rectal cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the correlation of vascular endothelial growth factor D (VEGF-D) expression, microlymphatic density (MLD) and microvessel density (MVD) levels with the development and metastasis of rectal cancer.


METHODS
Eighty specimens from resected middle-lower rectal cancer diagnosed by pathology were examined by immunohistochemistry for VEGF-D,MLD and MVD. Simultaneously, 40 biopsy specimens from rectal polyps and 80 specimens from normal rectal tissue were examined as controls. Correlation between the expression of above three factors and the tumor size, gross morphology, histological type, metastasis, differentiation grade, infiltration depth, Dukes stage, lymph node metastasis and long-distance metastasis before operation were investigated with Spearman method.


RESULTS
(1) Positive expression rate of VEGF-D was 55 % (44/80) in rectal cancer, and zero in rectal polyps and normal rectal tissues. The expression of VEGF-D in rectal cancer was significantly higher than that in rectal polyps and normal rectal tissues(P<0.05). MLD was significantly higher in rectal cancer (2.80+/-1.31) than that in rectal polyps (0.50+/-0.72) and normal rectal tissues(0.25+/-0.44)(P<0.05).Meanwhile MVD was significantly higher in rectal cancer (80.10+/-23.18) than that in rectal polyps (27.00+/-11.01) and normal rectal tissues (10.45+/-5.34) (P<0.05). (2) VEGF-D, MLD and MVD were positively correlated with lymph node metastasis and long-distance metastasis before operation (P<0.05). (3) VEGF-D was positively correlated with MLD (P<0.05) and MLD was positively correlated with MVD as well(P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Lymphangiogenesis exists in rectal cancer tissues. VEGF-D and MLD can be used as good predictors of lymphangiogenesis and they are the important factors affecting biological behavior of rectal cancer. Lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis may have a cooperative function in the development of rectal cancer.
Chang
Jia-Cong
JC
Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China. zhangyanbei03@yahoo.com.cn
Wei
Yi-Sheng
YS
Liu
Yi
Y
Zhang
Hong
H
Wang
Dao-Bing
DB
Chen
Xiang-Hong
XH
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D055806:Microvessels / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D