The relationship between angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis-related genes expressions and tumor metastases / 肿瘤

ABSTRACT

Objective: Since VEGF-A, C, D and their receptors had been identified to be associated with angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, the purpose of this study consists in: (1) to evaluate the relationship between VEGF-A, C, D and their receptor expression in tumor cells or tissues and tumor metastasis rate and path; (2) to explore whether VEGF-A, C or D can be used as parameters for predicting tumor metastasis. Methods: Two allograft and four human xenograft mouse subcutaneous tumor models were established to observe the tumor metastasis. Vascular-path metastasis was confirmed by tumor metastasis in the lung, liver and lymphatic-path metastasis was identified by tumor metastasis in lymph nodes. VEGF-A, C, D and their receptor VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3 and lymphatic endothelium marker, LYVE-1, in tumor cells and tumor tissues were detected by real-time RT-PCR and then correlated with tumor metastasis rate and path. Results: Among the six tumor models, the most common metastases took place in the lung and liver, accounting for 61%-100% and 16%-100%, respectively. The lymph node metastases were observed in two allograft mouse subcutaneous tumor models. Higher VEGF-A expression level was accompanied with more metastases in the lung and liver and more VEGF-C expression was also correlated with lymph node metastasis, but no correlation between VEGF-D and lymphatic metastasis was observed. Conclusion: VEGF-A plays a pivotal role in tumor vascular-path metastasis and VEGF-C is important to tumor lymphatic-path metastasis.