ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the expression of HIF-1α and P-gp protein in pancreatic carcinoma and determine their clinicopathological significance and the correlation between the expression of HIF-1α, P-gp and the clinical prognosis. Method In samples from 74 cases of pancreatic carcinoma and 10 healthy individuals, the expression of HIF-1α and P-gp were detected by immunohistochemical method. Results The positive expression rate of HIF-1α and P-gp was 75.7% and 86.5%,respectively, which were remarkably higher than that in normal pancreatic tissue (P＜0.05). There was a positive correlation between the expression of HIF-1α and that of P-gp. The aberrant expression of HIF-1α and P-gp was associated with lymph node metastasis but not the location, size, clinical stages and nerve invasion of the tumor. Patients with high intensity of HIF-1α and P-gp expression showed a significantly lower median survival time than those with low intensity expression.Conclusions The expression of HIF-1α and P-gp is up-regulated in pancreatic carcinoma and there is a positive correlation between them. The expression of HIF-1α and P-gp might be related to the lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To determine vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) and its receptor VEGFR-3 expression in pancreatic carcinomas and the relationship of the expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 with lymph angiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis.Methods:Specimens of pancreatic carcinoma were immunohistochemically stained for VEGF-C and VEGFR-3. Lymphatic vessels were displayed by immunohistochemical double staining.And lymphatic vessel density (LVD) were counted.The correlations among VEGF-C expression,VEGFR-3 expression and LVD in tumors with or without lymph node metastasis were statistically analyzed.Results:VEGF-C expression was observed in the cytoplasm of carcinoma cell,and VEGFR-3 expression was observed in the cytoplasm of endothelial cell of lymphatic and micro vessel.The VEGF-C expression rate,VEGFR-3 expression rate and LVD of tumors with lymph node metastasis were higher than those of tumors without lymph node metastasis.LVD correlated with the expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3.Conclusion:The high expressions of VEGF-C and VEGFR3 in pancreatic carcinomas suggest their involvement in lymph angiogenesis.VEGF-C,VEGFR-3 and LVD are associated with lymphatic metastasis and may besignificant prognostic factors for lymphatic metastasis in pancreatic carcinomas.This implies that it is an effective option to control lymphatic metastasis of pancreatic carcinomas to inhibit the effect of VEGF-C or VEGFR-3.