VEGF-C及其受体Flt-4与乳腺癌淋巴途径转移的相关性

Relationship of VEGF-C/Flt-4 expression to lymph metastasis in breast carcinoma

[目的]探讨VEGF-C/Flt-4系统在乳腺癌淋巴途径转移中的作用和意义,[方法]采用免疫组织化学方法检测61例乳腺癌癌细胞的VEGF-C和Flt-4的表达,在乳腺癌期间质淋巴管上皮及Flt-4的表达情况。[结果]乳腺癌61例,VEGF-C表达阳性率为80.32%(49/61),Flt-4表达阳性率为73.77%(45/61),并且Flt-4阳性指数随VEGF-C表达的增强而增强,r=0.531,P<0.01。VEGF-C阳性指数在转移组(74.04±12.11)明显高于未转移组(55.88±13.56),P<0.01;随着癌细胞VEGF-C表达强度的增强,Flt-4阳性脉管数也随之增多,各组间均有显著差异,P<0.01。乳腺癌中Flt-4阳性脉管数在淋巴结转移(11.37±3.80)明显高于未转移组(4.64±3.84),P<0.01。VEGF-C/Flt-4的表达与肿瘤的大小、病人的年龄以及肿瘤的雌孕激素受体的表达无关;与肿瘤细胞C-erbB-2的表达及P53蛋白的表达有关。[结论]人乳腺癌细胞VEGF-C及其受体Flt-4的表达与淋巴结转移呈正相关。Flt-4阳性淋巴管数可指示乳腺癌淋巴转移。

[ Objective] To identify the function of VEGF - C/FIt - 4 system in metastasis of primary breast cancer and its climical significance. [ Methods] A series of 61 primary breast carcinomas were detected for the expressions of VEGF - C, Flt- 4 by immunohistochemical method. Expression of Flt- 4 in lymph vessels, and relationship of the expression of VEGF - C/FIt - 4 system to lymph metastasis of breast cancer were analyzed, Furtheremore, the relationship of the expression of VEGF - C/FIt - 4 system of carcinoma cells to the number of lymph vessels, and the relationship of the number of Flt- 4 positive vessels to lymph node metastasis were also studied. [Results] The positive rate of VEGF - C and wene Fit - 4 in the pnea at carcinomas 88.52 % （53/61）, and the positive rate of Flt-4 was 8.97 % （50/61）. With the increase of the expression of VEGF - C, the positive index of Flt - 4 was increasing （ r = 0.531, P 〈 0.01）. The positive index of VEGF - C in lymph node metastasis group（70.04 ± 12.11 ）was significantly higher than that of no lymph node metastasis group （55.88 ± 13.56）（ P 〈 0.01 ）. With the increase of VEGF- C protein level, the number of Flt- 4 positive vessels was increaseing （P 〈 0.01 ）. The number of Flt- 4 positive vessels in lymph node metastasis group （12.37 ±3.80 ） was significantly higher than that in no lymph node metastasis group （6.64± 3.84 ） （ P 〈 0.01 ）. The expression of VEGF - C/FIt - 4 was not releated to the size of the tumor, the expression of the ER and PR and its clinical states,but were releated to the expression of C- erbB- 2 and P53. [ Conclusion] The overexpressious of VEGF - C and Flt- 4 in primary breast carcinoma related to lymph node metastasis and VEGF - C/FIt - 4 system can promote vasculogenesis. The number of Flt- 4 positive vessels is closely related to lymph node metastasis in the breast carcinoma.