血管内皮生长因子C蛋白在乳腺癌组织中的表达及其意义

目的:研究血管内皮生长因子C(VEGF-C)蛋白在乳腺癌组织中的表达及意义。方法:采用免疫组化法对60例乳腺癌、12例良性乳腺病变组织中VEGF-C的表达进行检测,探讨其与微血管密度(MVD)、微淋巴管密度(MLD)、增殖细胞核抗原(PCNA)蛋白及临床病理因素之间的相关性。结果:乳腺癌组织中VEGF-C表达水平高于良性乳腺病变组织(u=137.5,P=0.001)。乳腺癌组织中VEGF-C表达与MVD无相关性(P=0.951),而与MLD(r=0.286,P=0.027)及PCNA(r=0.315,P=0.014)有相关性;VEGF-C(r=0.389,P=0.002)、MLD(r=0.335,P=0.009)与患者淋巴结转移状况相关,与其他临床病理因素无相关性。单因素Logistic回归分析显示,高VEGF-C、MLD组发生淋巴结转移的风险分别是低VEGF-C、MLD组的4.059倍(95%CI为1.234～13.349,P=0.021)和3.519倍(95%CI为1.209～10.240,P=0.021)。多因素Logistic回归分析显示,VEGF-C对淋巴结转移的影响独立于MLD。结论:乳腺癌组织中VEGF-C蛋白表达水平升高,VEGF-C在乳腺癌淋巴管生成及淋巴结转移中起重要作用,且它对淋巴结转移的影响独立于MLD。另外,VEGF-C高表达的患者肿瘤细胞的增殖性较强。

Expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor C protein in breast cancer tissues and its clinical significance

OBJECTIVE:To study the expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor C(VEGF-C)protein in breast cancer tissues and its clinical significance.METHODS:The expression of VEGF-C protein was detected by immunohistochemistry in specimens from 60 patients with breast cancer and 12 patients with benign breast disease,and its correlations with microvascular density(MVD),microlymphatic density(MLD),PCNA and clinicopathological factors were investigated.RESULTS:VEGF-C expression was higher in breast cancer tissues than in benign breast tissues(u=137.5,P=0.001).VEGF-C expression in breast cancer tissues had no correlation with MVD(P=0.951),but was correlated with MLD(r=0.286,P=0.027)and PCNA(r=0.315,P=0.014).VEGF-C(r=0.389,P=0.002)and MLD(r=0.335,P=0.009)was correlated with lymph node metastasis,but not with other clinicopathological factors.Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that high VEGF-C or MLD group developed lymph node metastasis 4.059(95%CI,1.234-13.349;P=0.021)or 3.519(95%CI,1.209-10.240,P=0.021)times as high as low VEGF-C or MLD group.Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the influence of VEGF-C on lymph node metastasis was independent to MLD.CONCLUSIONS:VEGF-C expression increases in breast cancer tissues,and plays important roles in lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis in breast cancer.Its influence on lymph node metastasis was independent to MLD.In addition,tumor cells high expressing VEGF-C have potent capacity of proliferation.