[Expression and prognostic value of VEGF-C and lymphangeogenesis in lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
Vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C), a member of the VEGF family, has been proven to be a relatively special VEGF. When binding to its receptor VEGFR-3, it activates lymphangiogenesis, which likely induces lymph node metastasis in tumors. The aim of this study is to characterize the expression and prognostic value of VEGF-C and lymphangiogenesis in lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.


METHODS
Through immunohistochemistry, the lymph vessel endothelial cells undergoing lymphangiogenesis were stained with podoplanin to detect the expression of VEGF-C and lymphangiogenesis in 98 cases with stage IIIa (N2) lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.


RESULTS
The expression rate of the VEGF-C was positively correlated with the lymphatic microvessel density (LMVD; r=0.783, P<0.01). The LMVD was remarkably higher in VEGF-C positive expression group than that in the VEGF-C negative expression group. The expression rate of VEGF-C and lymphangiogenesis in lung adenocarcinoma was significantly higher than that in lung squamous cell carcinoma (P<0.01). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the survival rates in patients with positive VEGF-C expression were significantly lower than those in patients with negative VEGF-C expression (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Lymphangiogenesis rates are significantly higher in lung adenocarcinoma than that in squamous cell carcinoma. VEGF-C expression is an independent prognostic factor of stage IIIa (N2) lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital/Shanghai Lung Tumor Clinical Medical Center, China.
Xueli
X
Dai
Wenli
W
Wang
Yang
Y
Shen-Tu
Jie
J
Zhang
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C