血管内皮生长因子C的研究进展

Advances in vascular endothelial growth factor-C

区域淋巴结转移是大多数肿瘤的重要愈后因素,抗淋巴管转移的治疗是目前的研究热点之一,但迄今为止人们对淋巴转移机制了解甚少。血管内皮生长因子C(vascular en-dothelial growth factor-C,VEGF-C)是第一个被发现的促淋巴管生成因子,已证实VEGF-C及其受体VEGFR-3(vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3)在通过诱导肿瘤淋巴管的生成进而促进区域淋巴结转移中可能起重要作用。因此,VEGF-C/VEGFR-3信号通路可能在肿瘤的抗淋巴管生成治疗中提供一个新靶区。且在恶性肿瘤中,VEGF-C可能通过结合VEGFR-2和VEGFR-3共同促进肿瘤血管生成。对近年来关于VEGF-C与肿瘤淋巴管、血管转移的关系及抗淋巴管生成治疗的研究进行综述。

Metastasis to the regional lymph nodes through lymphatic vessels is an important prognostic factor in many types of cancer. It is a hot reseach field in antilyphangiogenic therapy now. but so far we know little about the mechanisim of lymphatic metastasis. It has recently been shown that lympangiogenic growth factor VEGF-C, and its special receptor,VEGF reeeplor （VEGFR-3）. may play a pivotal role in the promotion of metastasis to regional lymph nodes hy inducing tumor-associated lymphangiogenesis. Thus, tile VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 signaling path way may provide a new target for antilyphangiogenic therapy in tumors. Futhermor, VEGF-C may participate in the stimulation of angiogenesis in malignant tumours via both of its two receptors.VEGFR 3 and VEGFR 2. This review summarizes the recent reseaeh about the relation between VEGF-C and lymphatic metastasis or blood route metastasis and that about antilyphangiogenic therapy.