ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine the expression of lymph vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor-1 (LYVE-1) in human colorectal carcinoma and to evaluate the relationship of LYVE-1 with lymph mode metastasis and prognosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Colonic cancer samples of 40 cases were collected. The expression of LYVE-1 was determined by RT-PCR and quantified by real-time quantitative PCR. LVD and MVD were detected by immunohistochemistry staining. The relationship of LYVE-1 and LVD with lymph mode metastasis and prognosis were analyzed. All the patients were followed up for at least 3 years.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of LYVE-1 and the count of LVD were significantly higher in tumor tissue than those in common colon tissue (P<0.05). In the majority of tumors, the higher count of LVD indicated lymphangiogenesis. The recurrence rates in low LVD group and high LVD group were 46.7% and 60.0% respectively (P<0.05). The survival rates in the above two groups were 90.1% and 56.7% respectively (P<0.05). No significant correlation was found between LYVE-1 and recurrence rate (P>0.05) or overall survival (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>LYVE-1 indicates an increase of lymphangiogenesis in colorectal carcinoma and LVD can be used to evaluate the prognosis for colorectal cancer patients.</p>