Expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 in hepatocellular carcinoma and their significance / 肿瘤研究与临床

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate vascular endothelial growth factor-c (VEGF-C) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3(VEGFR-3) mRNA expression, microvessels density (MVD) and lymphatic microvessels density (LVD) in human hepatocellular carcinoma and normal liver tissue. Try to illuminate the relationship among VEGF-C,VEGFR-3,MVD,LVD and the clinical pathological features of hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods Liver tissue of 60 cases definitely diagnosed as hepatocellular carcinoma and 20 normal cases were collected. VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 mRNA expression were examined by RT-PCR, MVD and LVD were examined by immunohistochemistry staining. Relationship between these indexes and clinical pathological features of hepatocellular carcinoma was also analysed. Results VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 mRNA expression, MVD and LVD in hepatocellular carcinoma were higher than those in normal liver tissue (P<0.01); In hepatocellular carcinoma tissue, expression of VEGF-C mRNA positively related with VEGFR-3 mRNA, MVD and LVD(P<0.01). VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 expression positively related with portal vein tumor thrombus, intrahepatal metastasis and lymph node metastasis (P<0.01). MVD positively related with portal vein tumor thrombus and intrahepatal metastasis (P<0.01). LVD positively related with lymph node metastasis (P<0.01). Conclusion VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 expression increase in hepatocellular carcinoma tissue. They might play roles in tumor invasion and metastasis by inducing angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis.