Clinical significance of co-expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 in non-small cell lung cancer

作者：Li QC; Dong X; Gu W; Qiu XS^*; Wang EH

来源：Chinese Medical Journal, 2003, 116(5): 727-730.

• lung cancer
• VEGF-C
• VEGFR-3
• metastasis

Objective To investigate the relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) expression, VEGFR-3 expression, lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Methods Seventy-six NSCLC samples were stained for VEGF-C, VEGFR-3 and CD34 with immunohistochemical methods. Assessment of lymphatic vessel density (LVD) and microvessel density (MVD) was performed. The expressions of VEGF-C in 24 fresh NSCLC samples were determined with Western blot assay.
Results Of the 76 NSCLC cases, 55. were VEGF-C positive and 40 were VEGFR-3 positive in cancer cells. A significant positive correlation was found between VEGF-C expression and VEGFR-3 expression in cancer cells ( P < 0.05). VEGF-C expression was negatively associated with differentiation of tumor cells (P < 0.05). VEGF-C expression and VEGFR-3 expression were positively associated with lymph node metastasis and lymphatic invasion ( P < 0.05). LVD was positively related to VEGF-C expression, lymph node metastasis, lymphatic invasion and clinical stage ( P < 0.05). There was a significant correlation between LVD and MVD ( R = 0.732, P < 0.05). Patients with positive VEG F-C expression had worse outcomes than those with negative VEG F-C expression ( P < 0.01).
Conclusions In NSCLC, VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 are related to the lymphangiogenesis, angiogenesis and occurrence and development of lung cancers. VEGF-C expression could be a useful predictor of poor prognosis in NSCLC.

• 出版日期2003-5
• 单位中国医科大学