[Relation of vascular endothelial growth factor-D expression to microvessel density, microlymphatic vessel density, and lymph-node metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship of expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-D to microvessel density (MVD), microlymphatic vessel density (MLVD), and lymph node metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma.


METHODS
Fresh specimens of lung adenocarcinoma were collected form 48 patients with lung adenocarcinoma, 28 males and 20 females, aged 35 - 78, during operation. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of VEGF-D, and immunohistochemistry was used to detect the protein expression of VEGF-D, CD34 (marker of MVD), and VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-3 (marker of MLV).


RESULTS
The expression of VEGF-D mRNA in the lung cancer was significantly higher than that in the normal lung tissue, and the expression of VEGF-D protein in the cancerous invasive edge was significantly higher than that in the center of cancerous tissues. Twenty-one of the 29 lung adenocarcinoma patients at stages III - IV were VEGF-D positive, a proportion significantly higher than that of the patients at stages I - II (7/19, P = 0.015). The MLVD of the VEGF-D positive group was 10.25 +/- 2.50, significantly higher than that of the VEGF-D negative group (6.8 +/- 2.2, P < 0.01). Twenty-three of the 28 VEGF-D positive patients showed lymph node metastasis, a proportion significantly higher than that of the VEGF-D negative group (9/20, P = 0.012).


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF-D is related with the lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma, but not with angiogenesis.
Cong
Bo
B
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Shandong University, Jinan 250033, China.
Zhao
Xin
X
Zhao
Xiao-gang
XG
Dong
Xiao-peng
XP
Peng
Chuan-liang
CL
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D