VEGF-C表达和淋巴管生成与胰腺癌淋巴道转移的关系

The relationship between the expression of VEGF-C and lymph angiogenesis in pancreatic carcinomas and lymphatic metastasis

目的:探讨人胰腺癌组织中血管内皮生长因子C(VEGF-C)及其受体VEGFR-3的表达与淋巴管生成及淋巴道转移之间的关系。方法:用免疫组织化学技术检测了VEGF-C及VEGFR-3在胰腺癌的表达,免疫组织化学双染技术显示并计数了毛细淋巴管密度(LVD),分析比较了胰腺癌有淋巴结转移组和无淋巴结转移组VEGF-C、VEGFR-3表达和LVD。结果:VEGF-C阳性表达产物主要见于癌细胞胞浆,而VEGFR-3阳性表达产物主要位于癌周组织的淋巴管和微血管内皮细胞胞浆。有淋巴结转移组癌组织VEGF-C、癌周组织VEGFR-3的表达率和LVD高于无淋巴结转移组,VEGF-C、VEG-FR-3的表达与LVD相关。结论:胰腺癌VEGF-C与VEGFR-3表达增高,具有促进胰腺癌的淋巴管增生的作用。VEGF-C、VEGFR-3和LVD都与胰腺癌淋巴道转移有关,都可以作为检测胰腺癌有无淋巴结转移的重要指标,选择性阻断VEGF-C或VEGFR-3的作用,对控制胰腺癌的淋巴道转移可能是一个有效的选择。

Objective：To determine vascular endothelial growth factor C （VEGF-C） and its receptor VEGFR-3 expression in pancreatic carcinomas and the relationship of the expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR - 3 with lymph angiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis. Methods：Specimens of pancreatic carcinoma were immunohistochemically stained for VEGF- C and VEGFR- 3. Lymphatic vessels were displayed by immunohistochemical double staining. And lymphatic vessel density （LVD） were counted. The correlations among VEGF-C expression, VEGFR-3 expression and LVD in tumors with or without lymph node metastasis were statistically analyzed. Results ： VEGF-C expression was observed in the cytoplasm of carcinoma cell, and VEGFR - 3 expression was observed in the cytoplasm of endothelial cell of lymphatic and micro vessel. The VEGF-C expression rate, VEGFR-3 expression rate and LVD of tumors with lymph node metastasis were higher than those of tumors without lymph node metastasis. LVD correlated with the expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3. Conclusion ： The high expressions of VEGF-C and VEGFR3 in pancreatic carcinomas suggest their involvement in lymph angiogenesis. VEGF-C, VEGFR-3 and LVD are associated with lymphatic metastasis and may be.significant prognostic factors for lymphatic metastasis in pancreatic carcinomas. This implies that it is an effective option to control lymphatic metastasis of pancreatic carcinomas to inhibit the effect of VEGF- C or VEGFR-3.