淋巴管生成因子在肿瘤转移中的作用

肿瘤转移是恶性肿瘤高死亡率的主要原因，淋巴管系统是肿瘤转移的一个重要途径。长期以来，由于缺乏淋巴管内皮细胞特异性标志，我们对淋巴管系统及其在肿瘤转移中的作用知之甚少。目前，淋巴管生成因子和淋巴管内皮细胞特异性标志的相继发现大大促进了淋巴系统这一领域的研究。大量动物实验以及临床病理研究结果显示，淋巴管生成因子与肿瘤中淋巴管生成和淋巴结转移显著相关，这使得淋巴管生成因子成为肿瘤淋巴道转移机制和抗肿瘤研究的新热点。

Role of lymphangiogenic factors in cancer metastasis

The high mortality rates associated with cancer can be mainly attributed to the metastasis of tumor cells. Lymphatic vessels are important for the spread of solid tumors. However, the absence of marker specific for lymphatic endothelium has made the identification of lymphatic system and its role in tumors metastasis difficult. Recently, the discovery of lymphangiogenie factors and reb atively specific markers for lymphatic endothelium has promoted studies in lymphatic system . Recent animal experimental and clinicopathological data indicate that growth factors associated with lymphangiogenesis are involved in an enhanced metastatic process. Lymphangiogenic factors become the focus in the studies of tumor lymphatic metastasis and treatment of cancer.