title: Tumor-induced VEGF-C overexpression in retroperitoneal lymph nodes in VX2 carcinoma-bearing rabbits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish the retroperitoneal lymph node (RLN) metastasis model of cervical carcinoma in rabbits and evaluate the relationship of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) expression and the lymph node status.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight rabbits were injected with VX2 cells or RPMI solution at muscular mucosae of the myometrium 0.5 cm away from the cervix. Animals were treated with or without cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cisplatin: DDP) and sacrificed on days 15, 21, and 27 post-VX2 or RPMI injections. Tumor mass and RLNs were examined histopathologically. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to examine the changes in VEGF-C mRNA expression. Levels of VEGF-C protein expression in tissues were determined using immunohistochemistry staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Development of VX2 cervical carcinoma and the RLNs metastasis was confirmed with pathological examination. Significantly increased tumor volume was observed on days 15, 21, and 27 postinjection (P<0.05). The enlargement of RLNs was found on day 21. Expression of VEGF-C was significantly upregulated in peripheral white blood cells, tumor mass, and RLNs in an association with cancer progression. DDP resulted in a suppression of VEGF-C expression, whereas the influences on tumor mass and lymphatic metastasis were insignificant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated VEGF-C expressions in peripheral white blood cells and RLNs are associated with tumor progression and lymphatic metastasis. DDP treatment inhibits VEGF-C expression and fails to protect against metastatic cervical cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yong-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chun-Yan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yan-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Rong-Zhen
authors.initials: RZ
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ji-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space; D047368:Tumor Burden; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D002945:Cisplatin
keywords: VEGF-C; VX2; cisplatin; lymphatic metastasis; peripheral blood; retroperitoneal lymph nodes