VEGF、VEGF-C和VEGF-D在甲状腺乳头状癌组织中的表达及意义

背景与目的:研究表明血管内皮生长因子C和D(vascularendothelialgrowthfactor-Cand-D,VEGF-C,VEGF-D)与淋巴管的生成有关。局部淋巴结转移是甲状腺乳头状癌的特征,本研究的目是探讨血管内皮生长因子及其C和D(VEGF、VEGF-C和VEGF-D)蛋白在甲状腺乳头状癌的表达及其意义。方法:应用免疫组织化学SP法检测115例甲状腺乳头状癌和20例结节性甲状腺肿中VEGF、VEGF-C和VEGF-D蛋白的表达。结果:甲状腺乳头状癌VEGF、VEGF-C和VEGF-D的阳性率分别为79.1%、87.0%和72.2%。结节性甲状腺肿组织中VEGF、VEGF-C和VEGF-D的阳性率分别为30.0%、15.0%和20.0%。甲状腺乳头状癌VEGF、VEGF-C和VEGF-D的阳性率较结节性甲状腺肿明显增高。VEGF的表达与甲状腺癌的大小有关。VEGF、VEGF-C和VEGF-D在淋巴结转移组和非转移组的阳性率分别为84.7%、93.2%、83.1%和73.2%、80.4%、60.7%。VEGF-C和VEGF-D的阳性表达与甲状腺乳头状癌的淋巴结转移显著相关(P<0.05;P<0.01)。结论:VEGF与甲状腺乳头状癌的生长有关。VEGF-C和VEGF-D与淋巴结转移密切相关,提示甲状腺乳头状癌标本VEGF-C和VEGF-D的检测可作为预测肿瘤转移的指标之一。

Expression and significance of VEGF, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D in papillary thyroid carcinoma

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Vascular endothelial growth factor-C and -D (VEGF-C, VEGF-D) are related to lymphangiogenesis. Papillary thyroid carcinoma is characterized by regional lymph node metastasis. This study was designed to determine the expression and significance of VEGF, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D in papillary thyroid carcinoma. METHODS: The expression of VEGF, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D in 115 specimens of papillary thyroid carcinoma and 20 specimens of nodular goiter were detected by SP immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Positive rates of VEGF, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D were significantly higher in papillary thyroid carcinoma than in nodular goiter (79.1% vs. 30.0%, 87.0% vs. 15.0%, and 72.2% vs. 20.0%, P<0.01). The expression of VEGF was closely related to the size of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Positive rates of VEGF were 84.7% in lymph node positive group, and 73.2% in lymph node negative group. Positive rates of VEGF-C and VEGF-D were significantly higher in lymph node positive group than in lymph node negative group (93.2% vs. 80.4%, P<0.05; 83.1% vs. 60.7%, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: VEGF is closely related to tumor growth of papillary thyroid carcinoma; while VEGF-C and VEGF-D are closely related to lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma, and may be predictors of lymph node metastasis.