VEGF-C 及VEGFR-3 在肝细胞癌中的表达

 目的　探讨VEGF-C、VEGFR-3、微血管密度（MVD）、微淋巴管密度（LVD）及肝细胞癌临床病理特征之间的关系。方法　取肝细胞癌组织标本60例，正常肝组织标本20例。采用反转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）方法分析其中VEGF-C及VEGFR-3 mRNA 的表达，以免疫组织化学法检测肝癌MVD及LVD，并分析四者与肝癌临床病理特点之间的关系。结果　肝癌组织VEGF-C、VEGFR-3 mRNA表达、MVD及LVD高于正常肝组织（P＜0.01）；肝癌组织中，VEGF-C与VEGFR-3表达、MVD及LVD均呈正相关（P＜0.01），VEGF-C及VEGFR-3表达与肝癌肝内转移、门静脉癌栓形成及淋巴转移相关（P＜0.01），MVD与肝癌肝内转移、门静脉癌栓形成相关（P＜0.01），LVD与淋巴转移相关（P＜0.01）。结论　肝细胞癌组织中VEGF-C及VEGFR-3表达增多，可能通过参与血管、淋巴管生成促进肿瘤的侵袭、转移。

Expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 in hepatocellular carcinoma and their significance

Objective To investigate vascular endothelial growth factor-c (VEGF-C) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3(VEGFR-3) mRNA expression, microvessels density (MVD) and lymphatic microvessels density (LVD) in human hepatocellular carcinoma and normal liver tissue. Try to illuminate the relationship among VEGF-C,VEGFR-3,MVD,LVD and the clinical pathological features of hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods Liver tissue of 60 cases definitely diagnosed as hepatocellular carcinoma and 20 normal cases were collected. VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 mRNA expression were examined by RT-PCR, MVD and LVD were examined by immunohistochemistry staining. Relationship between these indexes and clinical pathological features of hepatocellular carcinoma was also analysed. Results VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 mRNA expression, MVD and LVD in hepatocellular carcinoma were higher than those in normal liver tissue (P<0.01); In hepatocellular carcinoma tissue, expression of VEGF-C mRNA positively related with VEGFR-3 mRNA, MVD and LVD(P<0.01). VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 expression positively related with portal vein tumor thrombus, intrahepatal metastasis and lymph node metastasis (P<0.01). MVD positively related with portal vein tumor thrombus and intrahepatal metastasis (P<0.01). LVD positively related with lymph node metastasis (P<0.01). Conclusion VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 expression increase in hepatocellular carcinoma tissue. They might play roles in tumor invasion and metastasis by inducing angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis.