肺腺癌和鳞癌中VEGF-C和新生淋巴管表达的预后价值

Expression and Prognostic Value of VEGF-C and Lymphangeogenesis in Lung Adenocarcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma

背景与目的血管内皮生长因子-C(vascu larendothelial growth factor-C,VEGF-C)是VEGF家族的成员之一,且已被证明是相对特异的血管内皮生成因子,其与受体VEGFR-3结合后可激活淋巴管的生成,为肿瘤的淋巴结转移创造有利的条件。本研究旨在探讨VEGF-C和新生淋巴管在肺腺癌和鳞癌中的表达特点及其预后意义。方法以跨粘膜样受体蛋白(podoplanin)标记新生淋巴管内皮细胞,采用免疫组化方法检测98例IIIa(N2)期肺腺癌和鳞癌中VEGF-C和新生淋巴管的表达。结果 VEGF-C的表达率与微淋巴管密度(lymphatic microvessel density,LMVD)之间存在正相关(r=0.783,P<0.01)。VEGF-C高表达组的LMVD大于低表达组(P<0.01)。肺腺癌VEGF-C和新生淋巴管表达率明显高于肺鳞癌(P<0.01)。VEGF-C阳性表达患者的生存率明显低于阴性患者(P<0.05),VEGF-C是影响预后的独立因素。结论 IIIa(N2)期肺腺癌新生淋巴管的表达较鳞癌明显。VEGF-C是影响IIIa(N2)期肺腺癌和鳞癌患者预后的独立因素。

Background and objective Vascular endothelial growth factor-C （VEGF-C）, a member of the VEGF family, has been proven to be a relatively special VEGF. When binding to its receptor VEGFR-3, it activates lymphangiogenesis, which likely induces lymph node metastasis in tumors. The aim of this study is to characterize the expression and prognostic value of VEGF-C and lymphangiogenesis in lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Methods Through immuno- histochemistry, the lymph vessel endothelial cells undergoing lymphangiogenesis were stained with podoplanin to detect the expression of VEGF-C and lymphangiogenesis in 98 cases with stage IIIa （N2） lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Results The expression rate of the VEGF-C was positively correlated with the lymphatic microvessel density （LMVD; r=0.783, P0.01）. The LMVD was remarkably higher in VEGF-C positive expression group than that in the VEGF-C negative expression group. The expression rate of VEGF-C and lymphangiogenesis in lung adenocarcinoma was significantly higher than that in lung squamous cell carcinoma （P0.01）. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the survival rates in patients with posi- tive VEGF-C expression were significantly lower than those in patients with negative VEGF-C expression （P0.05）. Conclusion Lymphangiogenesis rates are significantly higher in lung adenocarcinoma than that in squamous cell carcinoma. VEGF-C expression is an independent prognostic factor of stage IIIa （N2） lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.