Expression of vascular endothelial growth factors VEGF, VEGF-C and flt-4 in breast cancer and its clinical pathological analysis / 中国癌症杂志

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To study the expression of VEGF, VEGF-C, fit-4 in breast cancer and its relationship with lymph node metastasis and explore the significance of lymphangiogenesis on metastasis via lymphtics. Methods: Paraffin-embedded specimens from 82 patients with primary breast cancer who had undergone radical mastectomy with lymph node dissection were studied. VEGF, VEGF-C, flt-4 expression were investigated by immunohistochemical staining. Results: Positive staining for VEGF, VEGF-C, flt-4 were observed in some breast cancer cells. Furthermore, the expression of VEGF-C, flt-4 were significantly higher in lymph node-positive group than in node-negative group. Correlation was found within the expression of VEGF-C, flt4 also. Conclusions: Clinical significance was found between VEGF-C, flt-4 expression and lymph-node metastasis in breast cancer, and may be involved in the metastatic process.