Identification of lymphatic vessels and prognostic value of lymphatic microvessel density in lesions of the uterine cervix.

Incomplete characterization of the uterine cervix cancer from molecular point of view represents the main problem for the use of a proper therapy in this disease. Few data are available about D2-40 expression in lymphatic endothelial cells and also in tumor cells from uterine cervix cancer. The aim of the present work was to study the involvement of lymphatics in prognosis and tumor progression of the uterine cervix lesions. We used D2-40 immunostaining to highlight lymphatic vessels from squamous cell metaplasia (n=17), cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (n=11), carcinoma in situ (n=3), microinvasive carcinoma (n=4) and invasive carcinoma (n=19) using Avidin-Biotin technique (LSAB+). Type and distribution of lymphatics in different lesions of the cervix were analyzed. We found significant correlation between lymphatic microvessel density and tumor grade and particular distribution of the lymphatics linked to histopathologic type of the lesions. Also, differences was found in lymphovascular invasion interpretation between routine Hematoxylin and Eosin staining specimens and immunohistochemical ones. Our results showed differences in the distribution and D2-40 expression in lymphatic vessels and tumor cells from the cervix lesions linked to histopathology and tumor grade.