title: Prognostic significance of vascular endothelial growth factor-C expression and lymphatic vessel density in supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Regional lymph node metastases are very common findings of supraglottic cancer. The mechanism of lymphatic metastasis is as yet unknown because there have been no specific markers that could definitely distinguish lymphatic vessels from blood vessels. The aim of this study is to identify the prognostic significance of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) expression and lymphatic vessel density (LVD) in supraglottic cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The prognostic value of the VEGF-C and LVD was retrospectively evaluated in an unselected series of patients treated with curative intent for supraglottic cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated lymphatic vessels in 43 subjects who had previously been diagnosed with supraglottic cancer. Immunohistochemical staining was performed with VEGF-C, D2-40, and CD31 monoclonal antibodies on the paraffin-embedded tissues obtained from these patients. The association among the semiquantitative score of VEGF-C stained cancer cells, the density of immunohistochemically stained microvessels, and the prognostic factors of supraglottic cancers were investigated to evaluate the prognostic significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VEGF-C and LVD showed a statistically significant difference according to the presence of lymph node metastasis and regional recurrence (P < .05). VEGF-C was only associated with disease-free survival and regional recurrence in multivariate analysis (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VEGF-C and LVD might be useful as predictors of the risk of lymph node metastasis and regional recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Kuk
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Kwang-Yoon
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Sang-Hag
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jeong-Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Soon-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Eun-Jae
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Tae-Hoon
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yang-Seok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chae
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C