Expression of VEGF-C protein and its correlation with cervical lymphatic node metastasis in laryngeal squamous carcinoma / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C), which is known to be capable of inducing cell proliferation of lymphatic endothelium and development of lymphatic vessels, and to study its correlation with cervical lymph node metastasis in human laryngeal carcinomas. Methods The expression of VEGF-C protein in the cancer, its adjacent tissue, and normal tissue obtained from resected specimens of 46 cases of laryngeal cancer was assessed with an immunohistochemical staining assay followed by light microscopic examination, and its relationship with cervical lymph node metastasis was analyzed. Results Immunohistochemical staining of VEGF-C was different obviously in different localities of the resected. The expression of VEGF-C protein was observed in all the central portion, peripheral tissue, and normal tissue of the postoperative specimens. The positive rate of intratumoral VEGF-C was significantly higher than that of adjacent and normal tissue. It was also noted that the positive rate of intratumoral VEGF-C was well correlated with pathological grades, T stages and stages of lymph node metastasis. Conclusions The results suggested that VEGF-C may be a factor of lymphatic metastasis of laryngeal cancer, and it is possible to be used as a predictor of lmphatic metastasis of laryngeal cancer.