VEGF-C及其受体FLT-4在喉及下咽癌淋巴转移中的作用

A Role of VEGF-C and its Receptor FLT-4 in Metastasis of Laryngeal and Hypopharynx Squamous Cell Carcinoma

目的:研究喉及下咽部鳞癌组织中血管内皮生长因子-C(VEGF-C)及其受体VEGFR-3(FLT-4)在肿瘤淋巴转移中的作用和意义。方法:采用免疫组织化学SP法及图像分析,检测49例喉及下咽癌组织中VEGF-C、FLT-4的蛋白表达和相对含量。结果:49例喉及下咽部鳞癌组织VEGF-C表达阳性率为69.4%(34/49),FLT-4的阳性率为44.9%(22/49),其表达与VEGF-C阳性表达呈同向性改变。VEGF-C的表达强度与淋巴结转移密切相关(P<0.05),与淋巴结转移之间存在相关关系(r=0.342,P<0.05)。淋巴结转移组FLT-4染色阳性脉管数较无转移组有增高趋势(P<0.05);FLT-4的表达与淋巴结转移相关(r=0.312,P<0.05)。结论:VEGF-C在喉及下咽部鳞癌中,通过其特异性受体FLT-4,导致淋巴管的增生,促进肿瘤淋巴转移,从而影响患者的预后。检测VEGF-C(FLT-4),对肿瘤诊断、判断患者预后具有重要临床价值。

Objective: To investigate the role and significance of VEGF-C/ FLT-4 in lymphatic metastasis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSC) and hypopharynx squamous cell carcinoma (HSC). Methods: The expressions of VEGF-C and FLT-4 were detected with the immunohistochemical SP method and the image analysis method, followed by further analysis of the relationship between VEGF-C/FLT-4 expression and lymph nodal metastasis. Results: The positive rates of VEGF-C and FLT-4 were 69.4 % (34/49) and 44.9% (22/49) in 49 cases LSC and HSC. The expressions of VEGF-C and FLT-4 were significantly higher in lymph-node-positive groups than in node-negative groups(P<0.05). There was a statistical correlation between VEGF-C and FLT-4 expression in tumors (P<0.05). Conclusions: VEGF-C and its receptor FLT-4 play an important role in the development of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and hypopharynx squamous cell carcinoma, and the tumors with expressions of VEGF-C and FLT-4 are more likely to have lymph nodal metastasis. VEGF-C and FLT-4 may be a useful biological marker to foresee the metastasis and prognosis of cervical lymph node.