卵巢癌中COX-2与VEGF-C的表达及对微淋巴管生成的影响

目的]探讨环氧合酶2(cyclooxygenase-2,COX-2)与血管内皮生长因子C(vascular endothelial growth facfor C,VEGF-C)在卵巢癌中的表达及其对微淋巴管生成的影响.方法]应用免疫组化的方法检测正常卵巢、卵巢良性肿瘤、卵巢癌中COX-2、VEGF-C及微淋巴管密度(microlymphatic density,MLD).结果]COX-2在卵巢癌中高表达,阳性率为71.1%,而在正常卵巢和良性卵巢肿瘤中未见表达.VEGF-C在卵巢癌中表达较正常卵巢和良性卵巢肿瘤中明显增加(P＜0.01).COX-2、VEGF-C在卵巢癌中表达与临床分期、组织学类型、细胞分级无关(P＞0.05),而与淋巴结转移有关(P＜0.05).COX-2表达和VEGF-C呈等级相关(rs=0.415 P＜0.01)、COX-2和VEGF-C均阳性者MLD数量较均阴性者增加(P＜0.01).结论]卵巢癌组织中存在COX-2、VEGF-C表达,COX-2可能通过VEGF-C促进肿瘤微淋巴管生成.

Expressions of Cyclooxygenase-2 and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-C and Correlatiom with Lymphangiogenesis in Ovarian Cancer

Purpose] To investigate the expressions of cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) and their correlation with lymphangiogenesis in epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Methods] The expressions of COX-2, VEGF-C, microlymphatic density (MLD) were examined in epithelial ovarian carcinoma, benign ovarian neoplasm and normal controls by immunohistochemical staining. Results] High COX-2 expression was found in ovarian epithelial carcinoma with positive rate 71.1%. COX-2 expression was not found in benign ovarian neoplasm and normal controls. The expression of VEGF-C in ovarian carcinoma was higher than that in benign ovarian neoplasm and normal controls(P<0.01). The positive expression of COX-2 and VEGF-C had no correlation with clinical stage, histological types and grade(P>0.05), but it correlated with lymph node metastasis(P<0.05). Spearman rank correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between expression of COX-2 and VEGF-C (rs=0.415, P<0.01). MLD was significantly higher in the positive expression of COX-2 than that in the negative one (P<0.01). Conclusion] The expression of COX-2 and VEGF-C were found in ovarian epithelial carcinoma. COX-2 may stimulate lymphangiogenesis via VEGF-C.