[Relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor C expression level and lymph node metastasis in non small cell lung cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) expression level and lymph node metastasis in non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).


METHODS
Fifty-two NSCLC patients, 38 males and 14 females, aged (59+/-11) (29-77), were divided into 2 groups based on the pathological examination: lymph node metastasis positive group (n=25) and lymph node metastasis negative group (n=27). RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of VEGF-C in the tumor tissues and lymph nodes resected during operation.


RESULTS
The VEGF-C mRNA expression level in the lung tumor tissue of the lymph node metastasis positive group was 0.273+/-0.179, significantly higher than that in the lymph node metastasis negative group (0.089+/-0.087, P<0.01). The VEGF-C mRNA expression level in the positive lymph node of the lymph node metastasis positive group was 0.207+/-0.174, significantly higher than that in the lymph node metastasis negative group (0.114+/-0.107, P<0.01), but not significantly different from that in the negative lymph nodes of the same group(0.196+/-0.186, P>0.05). The VEGF-C protein positive rate of the lung cancer tissues of the lymph node metastasis positive group was 93.3% (14/15), significantly higher than that of the lymph node metastasis negative group (6.7%, 1/15, P<0.01). The VEGF-C protein positive rate of the metastasis positive lymph noses was 80.4% (37/46), and all 52 metastasis negative lymph nodes were VEGF-C protein negative.


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF-C mRNA and protein expression levels predict lymph node metastasis and can be useful predictors of lymph node metastasis in NSCLC.
Li
Jie
J
Combination Department, Beijing Chest Hospital, Beijing 101149, China.
Li
Bao-lan
BL
Zhang
Hai-qing
HQ
Xu
Shao-fa
SF
Liu
Zhi-dong
ZD
Yue
Wen-tao
WT
Han
Yi
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000378:metabolism*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C