血管内皮生长因子C在上皮性卵巢癌的表达与淋巴结转移的关系

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C and its relationship to lymph nodes metastasis in epithelial ovarian carcinoma

目的 :了解上皮性卵巢癌的腹股沟和腹膜后淋巴结转移机制 ,观察具有介导淋巴管内皮细胞增殖和淋巴管增生的血管内皮生长因子C(VEGF -C)在上皮性卵巢癌中的表达。方法 :采用免疫组化染色 ,光镜观察结果并确定VEGF -C在良性、交界性及恶性上皮性卵巢肿瘤组织中的表达。结果 :在良性、交界性及恶性上皮性卵巢肿瘤组织中皆有VEGF -C的表达 ,但卵巢癌表达明显高于良性及交界性肿瘤 ,卵巢癌表达强度与腹膜转移及腹股沟和腹膜后淋巴结转移密切相关 ,与远处转移、病理类型、病理分级、临床分期、年龄等无关。结论 :VEGF -C在卵巢癌的表达上调有利于淋巴结转移的发生 ,此过程可能和肿瘤的淋巴管生成有关。VEGF -C的检测可作为预测卵巢癌淋巴道转移及判断预后的指标之一 ,对VEGF -C /VEGFR - 3信号通路的阻滞研究有望成为抗肿瘤淋巴管转移治疗新的有效手段。

Objective:Vascular endothelial growth factor C(VEGF-C) is known to be capable of inducing cell proliferation of lymphatic endothelia and development of lymphatic vessels.In the current study ,the expression of VEGF-C was investigated to understand the lymph nodes metastasis of groin and retroperitoneum in epithelial ovarian carcinoma.Methods: VEGF-C protein expression in benign,borderline and malignant epithelial ovarian tumors was investigated with immunohistochemical staining assay, followed by light microscopic examination.Results:mmunohistochemical staining of VEGF-C was observed in benign,borderline and malignant epithelial ovarian tumors.VEGF-C expression was significantly higher in ovarian carcinomas than those in benign and borderline ovarian tumors.It was also noted that in ovarian carcinomas the expression level of VEGF-C correlated well with peritoneal metastasis and lymph node metastasis of groin and retroperitoneum,but not with distant metastasis, histology type, histological grade, clinical staging and age. Conclusion Increased expression of VEGF-C in epithelial ovarian carcinomas is advantageous to lymph nodes metastasis,and this process probably correlated with tumor's lymphangiogenesis.VEGF-C is possible to be used as a predictor for the lymphatic metastasis and prognosis of ovarian carcinomas.The block to signal pass of VEGF-C /VEGFR-3 is expected to be a newly potent method to resist lymphatic metastasis of tumors.