Study on lymph node metastasis correlated to lymphangiogenesis, lymphatic vessel invasion, and lymph node micrometastasis in gastric cancer.
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of lymphangiogenesis, lymph vessel invasion (LVI), and lymph node (LN) micrometastasis (LNMM) in patients with gastric cancer.


METHODS
The influences of the expression levels of LVI, lymph vessel density (LVD) by D2-40 immunohistochemical (IHC) staining (n=68), LNMM (including CK 20 and CK pan immunostainings, n=51) on the clinicopathologic profiles and the prognosis were analyzed.


RESULTS
The higher positive rate of LVI-IHC was related to deeper invasion (P=0.044), later TNM stage (P=0.003), and more extensive LN metastasis (LNM, P=0.000). The level of LVD was significantly associated with venous invasion (P=0.037), later TNM stage (P=0.020), positive LVI-HE (P=0.040), positive LVI-IHC status (P=0.001), and severer LNM (P=0.001). Better prognosis in LVI negative group than LVI positive group has been identified. The survival rate of the group with LVD≥15/field was significantly lower than that in the group with LVD≤14/field (P=0.032). Invasion depth, N stage, LNM, blood vessel invasion, or LVI was respectively an independent prognostic factor to 3-y survival rate. The incidence of patients with LNM and metastasized LNs increased respectively from 74.5% (38/51) by HE staining to 88.2% (45/51) by CK immunostaining and from 32.0% (253/791) to 41.5% (328/791) (P=0.001). The increment of LNMM was correlated to larger tumor diameter (P=0.001), deeper invasion (P=0.018), LNM (P=0.001) and later TNM stage (P=0.012), positive LVI (P=0.04). Meanwhile, the evaluation on LNMM revealed the migration of LN stage (N(0)→N(1) in seven patients, N(1)→N(2) in six patients, and N(2)→N(3) in one patient), and TNM stage (I(b)→II in four patients, II→III(a) in 4 patients, III(a)→III(b) in 3 patients, and III(b)→IV in one patient). Survival analysis demonstrated that better prognosis in patients without LNM and/or LNMM.


CONCLUSIONS
Our immunohistochemical analyses using antibodies of D2-40 and CK, including both CK 20 and CK pan, detected a higher incidence of LVIs and LNMs in gastric cancer specimens. This study shows close correlations among lymphangiogenesis related factors, such as LVI, LVD, and LNMM, and patients' prognosis after surgery. Therefore, immunohistochemical evaluations of these factors could be used for the accurate determination of tumor aggressiveness.
Yu
Ji-Wei
JW
Department of General Surgery, No. 3 People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Wu
Ju-Gang
JG
Tajima
Yusuke
Y
Li
Xiao-Qiang
XQ
Du
Guang-Ye
GY
Zheng
Lin-Hai
LH
Zhang
Biao
B
Ni
Xiao-Chun
XC
Jiang
Bo-Jian
BJ
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D013270:Stomach / Q000473:pathology*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*