Lixia He1, Junyong He2, Xia Zhao1. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. 2. Physical Examination Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Abstract
AIM: To investigate the contribution of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-D to tumor progression, tumor lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis in epithelial ovarian cancer. METHODS: The expression profiles of VEGF-D in 18 benign, 14 borderline and 87 malignant epithelial ovarian cancers were examined using immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. Lymphatic vessels were identified using IHC staining on lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor-1 (LYVE-1), which is a lymph-specific receptor for hyaluronan in identifying lymphatic vessels. The potential correlation among VEGF-D, lymphatic vessel density (LVD) and clinico-pathological factors of the epithelial ovarian cancer was also analyzed. RESULTS: Positive IHC staining of VEGF-D was observed in 17% of benign, 21% of borderline and 80% of malignant epithelial ovarian tumors specimens. In the epithelial ovarian cancer specimens, the LVD was 3.41 ± 2.37 in the VEGF-D negative (17 patients), 5.42 ± 3.49 in the weak (26 patients), 7.22 ± 2.36 in the moderate (27 patients) and 7.35 ± 4.06 in the strong (17 patients) groups, respectively. Additionally, the expression of VEGF-D was positively correlated with LVD (r = 0.415, P < 0.001). The expression level of VEGF-D was significantly higher in lymph node-positive epithelial ovarian cancer than in lymph node-negative patients (P = 0.009, P < 0.05). The expression of VEGF-D was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage and tumor histological differentiation, but not with the patients' age or histology type. CONCLUSION: VEGF-D may play an important role in the process of lymphatic metastasis of epithelial ovarian cancer.
AIM: To investigate the contribution of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-D to tumor progression, tumor lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis in epithelial ovarian cancer. METHODS: The expression profiles of VEGF-D in 18 benign, 14 borderline and 87 malignant epithelial ovarian cancers were examined using immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. Lymphatic vessels were identified using IHC staining on lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor-1 (LYVE-1), which is a lymph-specific receptor for hyaluronan in identifying lymphatic vessels. The potential correlation among VEGF-D, lymphatic vessel density (LVD) and clinico-pathological factors of the epithelial ovarian cancer was also analyzed. RESULTS: Positive IHC staining of VEGF-D was observed in 17% of benign, 21% of borderline and 80% of malignant epithelial ovarian tumors specimens. In the epithelial ovarian cancer specimens, the LVD was 3.41 ± 2.37 in the VEGF-D negative (17 patients), 5.42 ± 3.49 in the weak (26 patients), 7.22 ± 2.36 in the moderate (27 patients) and 7.35 ± 4.06 in the strong (17 patients) groups, respectively. Additionally, the expression of VEGF-D was positively correlated with LVD (r = 0.415, P < 0.001). The expression level of VEGF-D was significantly higher in lymph node-positive epithelial ovarian cancer than in lymph node-negative patients (P = 0.009, P < 0.05). The expression of VEGF-D was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage and tumor histological differentiation, but not with the patients' age or histology type. CONCLUSION:VEGF-D may play an important role in the process of lymphatic metastasis of epithelial ovarian cancer.