Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C and cyclooxygenase-2 in non-small-cell lung carcinoma and their clinical significance / 中华肿瘤杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) proteins, and their relationship with biological behaviors of non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of VEGF-C and COX-2 proteins in 77 cases of NSCLC. The relationship was analyzed between the expression of VEGF-C, COX-2 and lymphatic vessel density (LVD), tumor size, histological type, differentiation, lymph node metastasis, clinical recurrence and survival time of the patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Out of 77 cases of NSCLC, 45 cases and 29 cases showed positive expression of VEGF-C and COX-2 proteins, respectively. The expression rates of VEGF-C and COX-2 protein were 58.4% and 37.7%, respectively. The expression of VEGF-C protein was correlated negatively with the degree of differentiation of NSCLC (P < 0.05). The expression of VEGF-C was positively correlated with lymph node metastasis, LVD and tumor size (P < 0.01). The survival time of the patients was negatively correlated with the expression of VEGF-C (P < 0.01). The expression of COX-2 was positively correlated with LVD (P < 0.01). The survival time of the patients was negatively correlated with the expression of COX-2 (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expression of VEGF-C and COX-2 proteins are closely correlated with the biological behaviors of NSCLC, especially VEGF-C protein. Its high expression suggests probable lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis.</p>