VEGF-C及受体VEGFR-3在宫颈癌中的表达及临床意义

目的:研究宫颈癌组织中血管内皮生长因子C(VEGF-C)及其受体VEGFR-3的表达并探讨其与淋巴结转移、预后的关系。方法:采用免疫组化SP法,分析59例石蜡标本中VEGF-C、VEGFR-3蛋白表达情况,并应用计算机辅助图象分析系统对脉管的面积进行定量分析。结果:宫颈癌组织中VEGF-C蛋白表达率为66.1%(39/59),与淋巴结转移显著正相关(P=0.005)。VEGF-C阳性组5年生存率显著低于阴性组(P=0.006)。VEGFR-3表达主要定位在脉管结构,VEGFR-3阳性脉管密度在VEGF-C表达阳性组明显高于阴性组(P=0.015),淋巴结转移组明显高于无转移组(P=0.001)。结论:VEGF-C通过促进宫颈癌内淋巴管形成,促进淋巴转移并与患者的预后有关。

Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-C and its Receptor VEGFR-3 and its Clinical Significance in Cervical Carcinoma

Objective: To study the relationship between the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C and its receptor VEGFR-3 with lymphatic metastasis and prognosis in uterine cervical cancers. Methods: 59 parafin-embedding specimens were identified immunohistochemically by antibodies against VEGF-C and VEGFR-3, respectively. The density of VEGFR-3 positive vessel was assessed quantitatively by Computer-assisted video analysis system. Results: In uterine cervical cancers, VEGF-C protein was expressed in 66.1% of patients that positively correlated with lymphatic metastasis significantly (P=0.005). The survival rate were higher for patients in the negative VEGF-C groups than those in the positive group(P=0.006), VEGFR-3 was mainly expressed on the vessel structure, VEGFR-3 positive vessel density was significantly higher in the VEGF-C positive tumors and in the positive-lymph node metastasis than in the negative tumors and in the non-metastasis group, respectively(P=0.015, P=0.001). Conclusions: VEGF-C expression in uterine cervical cancers triggers lymphatic angiogenesis, which may result in a higher risk for lymph node metastasis. VEGF-C expression affects the patient's survival in cervical carcinomas.