title: Comparison of lymphangiogenesis between primary colorectal cancer and corresponding liver metastases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Liver metastasis (LM) is the determining factor of poor prognosis in colorectal cancer (CRC). Peripheral lymphatico-venous communications have been discussed as a potential pathway of tumor cell dissemination for the development of LMs. In the current study, we investigated the clinical impact of the lymphangiogenic activity in CRCs and their corresponding LMs.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 47 patients with CRC, the primary tumors and the corresponding LMs were investigated. Lymphangiogenesis (LMVD), lymphovascular invasion (LVI), lymphatic vascular endothelial growth factor C expression (VEGF-C) were investigated
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant correlation was observed between LMVD and LVI in CRCs (p=0.001) as well as in LMs (p=0.0001). LMVD in CRC correlated significantly with that in LMVD-LMs (p=0.026) and LVI in LMs (p=0.036). Survival analysis reveilled a significant difference in disease free and overall survival between patients with and without VEGF-C expression in LMs (p=0.0019 and p=0.0101, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data provide evidence for an important role of lymphangiogenesis in liver metastasis of CRC and provide further support for a possible role of a lymphatico-venous metastatic pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schoppmann
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tamandl
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Herberger
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Längle
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Birner
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Geleff
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Grünberger
authors.forename: Sebastian F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Schoppmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C