非小细胞肺癌组织中VEGF-C和VEGFR-3的表达及其临床意义

背景与目的:血管内皮生长因子-C(vascularendothelialgrowthfactorC,VEGF-C)和VEGFR-3是促进恶性肿瘤淋巴管形成的重要因子,其表达与恶性肿瘤的淋巴结转移关系密切。本文旨在研究VEGF-C和VEGFR-3蛋白在非小细胞肺癌(non-smallcelllungcancer,NSCLC)组织中的表达及其临床意义。方法:应用免疫组化方法检测77例NSCLC组织中VEGF-C和VEGFR-3表达情况,分析其与肿瘤淋巴管密度(lymphaticvesseldensity,LVD)、肿瘤的大小、癌的组织类型、组织分化程度、淋巴结转移情况、临床复发和术后生存期的关系。结果:77例NSCLC组织中有45例(58%)VEGF-C阳性,32例(42%)VEGFR-3阳性。NSCLC组织中VEGF-C表达与肿瘤组织的分化程度有关(r=-0.32,P=0.018);VEGF-C及VEGFR-3表达与肿瘤的淋巴结转移、LVD、肿瘤大小及术后生存期有关。NSCLC组织中VEGF-C与VEGFR-3表达相关(r=0.23,P=0.045)。结论:VEGF-C和VEGFR-3表达与NSCLC的淋巴结转移、预后相关,它的高表达提示肺癌患者容易出现淋巴结转移和预后不良。

Expression and clinical significance of vascular endothelial growth factor C and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 in non-small cell lung carcinoma

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR-3) play important roles in lymphangiogenesis of malignant tumors; their expression are closely related to lymphatic metastasis of malignant tumors. This study was designed to investigate the expression and clinical significance of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: The expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 in 77 specimens of NSCLC were detected by immunohistochemistry; their correlations to lymphatic vessel density (LVD), tumor size, histological type, differentiation, lymphatic metastasis, clinical recurrence, and survival time of the patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Positive rate of VEGF-C was 58% in NSCLC, and that of VEGFR-3 was 42%. The expression of VEGF-C protein was negatively correlated with the differentiation of NSCLC (r=-0.32, P=0.018). The expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 were related to lymphatic metastasis, LVD, tumor size, and survival time of the patients. The expression of VEGF-C was positively related with that of VEGFR-3 (r=0.23, P=0.045). CONCLUSION: The expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 are closely related with lymphatic metastasis and prognosis of NSCLC; their high expression indicate high risk of lymphatic metastasis and poor prognosis.