Recent Progress in Lymphangioma.

Lymphangioma is a common type of congenital vascular disease in children with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. The current classification of lymphangioma by International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies is largely based on the clinical manifestations and complications and is not sufficient for selection of therapeutic strategies and prognosis prediction. The clinical management and outcome of lymphangioma largely depend on the clinical classification and the location of the disease, ranging from spontaneous regression with no treatment to severe sequelae even with comprehensive treatment. Recently, rapid progression has been made toward elucidating the molecular pathology of lymphangioma and the development of treatments. Several signaling pathways have been revealed to be involved in the progression and development of lymphangioma, and specific inhibitors targeting these pathways have been investigated for clinical applications and clinical trials. Some drugs already currently in clinical use for other diseases were found to be effective for lymphangioma, although the mechanisms underlying the anti-tumor effects remain unclear. Molecular classification based on molecular pathology and investigation of the molecular mechanisms of current clinical drugs is the next step toward developing more effective individualized treatment of children with lymphangioma with reduced side effects.

Background

Lymphangioma (lymphatic malformation, LM), a congenital vascular disease, is a low-flow vascular abnormality in lymphatic diseases that is characterized by excessive growth of lymphatic tissue during prenatal and postpartum development. The incidence rate of LM is ~1:2000–4000, with no variation between genders and races. Most patients (80–90%) are diagnosed before the age of two (1, 2).

The clinical manifestations of lymphangioma are quite different among patients, varying from local swelling leading to superficial mass to a large area of diffuse infiltrating lymphatic channel abnormalities resulting in elephantiasis (3). Cervicofacial LM can cause facial elephantiasis, and in some severe cases, it can lead to serious disfigurement of the face. Tongue LM can lead to mandibular overgrowth and occlusal asymmetry, and oral and cervical LM can cause obstructive acute respiratory distress and life-threatening situations (4, 5). Orbital LM may lead to decreased vision, decreased extraocular muscle movement, ptosis and exophthalmos (6). LM of the extremities can trigger swelling or gigantism, accompanied by overgrowth of soft tissue and bones (7). LM usually grows slowly and steadily, but under certain conditions, such as infection, hormonal changes or trauma, it can grow explosively and become a life-threatening disease requiring immediate treatment (8, 9).

Clinical Classification

The treatment principles and treatment schemes of lymphangioma are quite different owing to its varied clinical manifestations. The International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies (ISSVA) generated a systematic classification according to clinical manifestations and the presence or absence of other symptoms (Figure 1) (10, 11).

Figure 1

The international society of the study of vascular anomalies classification of lymphatic malformations.

Common (cystic) LM is the frequent lymphatic abnormality during infancy and childhood, which usually involves isolated and cystic tissue masses presenting in the head and neck region (70–80%). However, common LM may also occur in other organs containing lymphatic vessels, such as the chest wall, trunk, limbs and parenchymal organs (12). Common LM can be divided into three types: macrocystic LM (diameter > 1 cm), microcystic LM (diameter <1 cm) and mixed cystic LM (13, 14). Histologically, LM cysts may be vacant or filled with protein-rich fluid brimming with lymphocytes and macrophages (15–17). These typical clinical appearances and symptoms help to differentiate it from complex lymphatic abnormalities (CLAs), which involve multiple organs. Generalized lymphatic anomaly (GLA) is a rare multiorgan dysfunction, involving bones, liver, spleen, retroperitoneum, and other organs. Pleural and pericardial effusions have been treated surgically, such as by drainage and pleural fixation, but recent advances in drug treatment are changing the treatment strategy for these cases (18–20).

Kaposiform lymphangiomatosis (KLA) is an aggressive lymphatic anomaly characterized by both tumor and malformation. In the 2018 updated ISSVA classification, KLA is regarded as a new subtype of GLA. The unique histological feature of KLA is clusters or sheets of “kaposi-form” hemosiderotic, spindled lymphatic endothelial cells arranged in parallel fashion among abnormal and dilated lymphatic channels. In addition, intrathoracic diseases accompanied by the aggravation of respiratory symptoms and hemorrhagic effusion are signs of KLA (21–23).

Gorham–Stout disease (GSD), also known as mass osteolysis, is manifested by slow or rapid osteolysis accompanied by cortical bone resorption and vascular fibrous connective tissue replacement usually invading surrounding soft tissue (24). Histological examination showed that the lymphatic abnormality of bone with the increase of osteoclast activity and bone loss may be caused by an increase of osteoclast activity (23, 25). Although osteolysis can happen in patients with GLA, cortex of the involved bones often remains intact (26).

Channel-type LM (CCLA), previously known as lymphangiectasia, is another type of LM. CCLA is characterized by distal obstruction of lymphatic vessels that affects lymphatic drainage and obstructive injury caused by dyskinesia of lymphatic vessels (20).

This scientific classification of LM allows scientific and systematic study of the pathogenesis and treatment options of each disease type, to achieve the purpose of personalized treatment.

Molecular Pathogenesis

The clinical outcome spectrum of LM is wide, spanning from spontaneous regression with no treatment to disfigurement, organ dysfunction and life-threatening infection. There is no standard management algorithm for all types of LM and the response of any given type of LM to a certain treatment may vary. One of the main reasons is the diversity of the molecular biological background of LM. Thus far, the etiology and molecular biological mechanisms of lymphatic abnormalities are not very clear. Better understanding of the pathogenesis of lymphangioma is required to develop more effective diagnosis and treatment strategies, improve the curative effects, reduce side effects, and achieve accurate treatments.

PI3K/AKT/MTOR Signaling Pathway

Many studies have shown that LM can present either as isolated vascular abnormalities or as part of PROS, such as Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome, Proteus syndrome, Turner syndrome, PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome and CLOVES syndrome (27–29). Several recent reports indicated that the occurrence of LM may involve gene mutations in somatic cells. Somatic mutations in PIK3CA, which are the most common somatic gene mutation in LM, have been specifically discovered in LM-LECs (30, 31). PIK3CA mutations are also found in other vascular malformations, but not in normal lymphatic vessels (32, 33).

PI3Ks are pivotal regulators that are involved in cell proliferation and differentiation. These kinases are activated by upstream receptors upon ligand binding, such as hormone molecular or growth factors (Figure 2) (34, 35). One study found PIK3CA and PIK3R3 mutations in LM-LECs (30). The PIK3CA mutation is a somatic mutation and its allele frequency detected in LM-LECs is about 50%, indicating that the mutation may be heterozygous. The PIK3R3 mutation is usually a germline mutation detected in the mother and siblings that is present in all cells of patients with LM; however, the mechanism underlying how the PIK3R3 mutation leads to the LM phenotype remains unclear (36, 37). These mutations lead to increased AKT-Thr308 phosphorylation, resulting in high cell proliferation and sprouting potential of LM-LECs. The overactivated PI3K pathway can be inhibited by specific small molecular inhibitors against PI3K, such as Wortmannin and LY294 (30).

Figure 2

The structure of class I PI3Ks. PtdIns-(4,5)-P2 serves as the substrate of PI3Ks, which are heterodimeric molecules composed of both a catalytic subunit (p110α, β, γ, and δ) and a regulatory subunit (p85α, p55α, p50α, p85β, and p55γ. PIK3CA, encoding the PI3K catalytic subunit p110α, which can affect the activity of PI3K and the level of phosphorylation of AKT, may lead to excessive proliferation of lymphatic endothelial cells. All p85 isoforms have two Src homology 2 (SH2) domains and are encoded by PIK3R1 (which encodes p85α, p55α and p50α), PIK3R2 (which encodes p85β) and PIK3R3 (which encodes p55γ). The PIK3R3 mutation exists in patients with LM, but the mechanism of the PIK3R3 mutation to the LM phenotype needs further investigations.

Activated mTOR may lead to the formation of LM by accelerating the growth and proliferation of cells and lymphangiogenesis by regulating the phosphorylation and activation of 4EBP and S6K, which provides a molecular principle for the development of mTOR-targeted therapy for LM (38, 39) (Figure 3).

Figure 3

Involvement of the dysregulated PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in LM. In the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, the somatic mutations on PIK3CA are specifically discovered in LM-LECs. Also, some LM can present as part of PROS, the inhibitors against PI3K, i.e., LY294002, BYL719 and Wortmannin, may provide a new therapeutic target for the treatment of LM. The mutations on PIK3CA can increase AKT-Thr308 phosphorylation, triggering high cellular proliferative and sprouting potential of LM-LECs, which could be inhibited by the specific small molecular inhibitors, such as ARQ092, MK-2206. MK-2206 may be worthy of further treatment of LM. Sirolimus can potently and specifically inhibit the activity mTOR. PIK3CA mutation can repress ANG2 by conducting phosphorylation-dependent inactivation of FOXO1, which is the essential transcription factors for ANG2 expression. The decreased expression of ANG2 makes lymphatic vessels more stable and muscular. Furthermore, the inhibitors against PI3K, AKT, mTOR, provide a new therapeutic target for the treatment of LM.

Other studies have shown that PIK3CA mutations may lead to the upregulation of various inflammatory cytokines in LM, such as VEGF-C, COX2, HO-1, and ANGPTL4, and the over-activation of COX2 may accelerate vessel dilation and expansion in LM (40–42). ANGs, including ANG1and ANG2 was proved to have the potential of being used as diagnostic marker of lymphatic abnormalities (21, 43). Mutated PIK3CA can lead to ANG2 repression by inducing phosphorylation-dependent inactivation of FOXO1 and FOXO3a, which are the essential transcription factors for ANG2 expression (44). The PI3K/AKT axis plays an important role in the maturation of the lymphatic vessel, which may provide reasonable explanations for the microscopic characteristics of LM.

VEGF-C and Its Receptor

In the development of lymphatic vessels, SOX18 and COUP-TFII transcription factors in embryonic vein jointly activate the expression of PROX1 in venous endothelial cell subsets. PROX1 is a marker of embryonic venous endothelial cells with a molecular function of cell proliferation promoter and fateful factor of LECs (45, 46). VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 are necessary for the development of lymphatic vessels. A recent study showed that lymphatic vessels do not develop in mouse embryos in the absence of VEGF-C (47). Other studies showed that the transcripts of VEGF-C and its receptors VEGFR-3 and VEGFR-2 are co-localized in the LM-LECs (48). The VEGF-C transcript was not detected in any type of hemangioma or angiosarcoma, indicating that VEGF-C is a specific marker of the lymphatic system, not only in the embryonic stage but also in lymphoid diseases, such as lymphangioma (49). The expression of VEGF-C receptors, such as VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3, was also identified in the LM-LECs. Therefore, abnormal expression of VEGF-C in lymphatic endothelial cells may be the basis of the pathogenesis of LM. Some studies found that the level of VEGF-C is increased in the serum of patients with GSD, and overexpression of VEGF-C may be one of the mechanisms leading to osteolysis in these patients (50, 51).

Neuropilin2 (Nrp2) is critical for other aspects of VEGF-C-mediated lymphangiogenesis (52). In recurrent lymphangioma, both VEGF-C and Nrp2, but not VEGFR, are upregulated (53, 54). These findings imply that targeting VEGF-C/Nrp2 may be a potential therapeutic strategy for recurrent lymphangioma (Figure 4).

Figure 4

Involvement of dysregulated VEGF-C and receptor pathways in LM. SOX18 and COUP-TFII transcription factors in embryonic vein together activate the expression of PROX1 in venous endothelial cell subsets. Sirolimus can rapidly reduce the expression of Prox1, VEGFR-3 mRNA and protein, which may be related to the inhibition of Prox1 transcriptional activity. The mechanism of propranolol in the treatment of LM may be closely related to the members of the VEGF family, such as VEGF-C. Both VEGF-C and neuropilin2 (Nrp2) are upregulated in recurrent lymphangiomas. These findings imply that targeting VEGF-C/Nrp2 may be a potential therapeutic strategy for recurrent lymphangioma. FOXC2 haploinsufficiency may be associated with macrocystic LM. BMP modulators have certain therapeutic potential, such as dorsomorphin, may support the participation of BMP pathways in the study of LM therapy. However, it needs further clinical trials to prove potential clinical benefits in the treatment of LM.

Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathways

Wnt/β-catenin signaling is necessary for lymphatic development. PROX1, as a sifnificant transcription factor in lymphatic endothelial cells, can promote the development of lymphatic vessels by forming complexes with β-catenin and the TCF/LEF transcription factor TCF7L1 to enhance Wnt/β-catenin signaling and promote the expression of FOXC2 and GATA2 in LECs (55) (Figure 5). Dermal lymphatic dysplasia occurred in mice knocked out for Wnt5a and a high level of Wnt5a expression was detected in LM-LECs, indicating that Wnt5a may play an important role in lymphangioma formation (56). The activities of Wnt5a are transduced through non-classical pathways. Non-classical Wnt signaling transduction is the main mechanism of lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic differentiation (57, 58). An immunochemical experimental study revealed nuclear localization of β-catenin in the endothelium of LM, which further confirmed the importance of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in the formation of LM (59). This pathway may provide a new potential molecular target for LM therapy.

Figure 5

Involvement of Wnt signaling pathways in LM. PROX1 forms complexes with β-catenin and the TCF/LEF transcription factor TCF7L1 to enhance Wnt / β-catenin signaling and promote the expression of FOXC2 in LECs, thus accelerating the development of lymphatic vessels. The nuclear localization of β-catenin in the endothelium of LM has been found. Wnt modulators have certain therapeutic potential, such as LDN-193189 and calyculin A, these drugs may support the participation of Wnt pathways in the study of LM therapy. Furthermore, the modulators against Wnt signaling pathways may supply a new therapeutic target for the treatment of LM.

RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK Signaling Pathway

RAS proteins, members of the small protein GTPase family, are the translational products of three generally expressed proto-oncogenes and include H-RAS, K-RAS and N-RAS (60). The RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway is part of the MAPK cascades, RAS also activates the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway (Figure 6) (61, 62).

Figure 6

The RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway in LM and potential therapeutics. EphB4 and NRAS mutations activate the RAS/MEK/ERK signaling pathway. NRAS gene mutation in lymphatic endothelial cells of GLA and KLA has been discovered, MAPK inhibitors (U0126) require clinical trials to explore their potential in the treatment of LM. The somatic cell activation mutation of NRAS in lymphatic endothelium can increase phosphorylation of AKT and ERK in lymphatic endothelial cells of GLA. Recently, a new drug, trametinib, blocking the enhanced phosphorylation of ERK and reducing the viability of the endothelial cells, maybe a promising choice for the treatment of GLA. CCLA, is connected with the mutation in EPHB4 following the autosomal dominant inheritance. The inhibitors against RAS, MAPK, and EPHB4 may provide a new therapeutic target for the treatment of LM.

Some researchers have investigated the pathogenesis of LM from the perspective of genetics. A recent study performed cfDNA analysis of plasma and pleural effusion in patients with KLA and identified somatic activation mutations in NRAS in approximately 30% of endothelial cells from isolated LECs from GLA patients, which further demonstrated the possibility of somatic NRAS mutations causing GLA (63). Another study reported that somatic NRAS p.Q61R mutants are frequently found in KLA (64). Some researchers isolated lymphangioma endothelial cells from GLA tissue and performed whole exon sequencing to search for pathogenic genes; the findings confirmed the somatic cell activation mutation of NRAS in lymphatic endothelium and showed increased phosphorylation of AKT and ERK in lymphatic endothelial cells of GLA (65). The detection of NRAS gene mutation in lymphatic endothelial cells of GLA and KLA not only provides a more specific means for the diagnosis of LM but also provides a potential opportunity for the development of targeted therapy for current drug-resistant lesions.

A previous study found that CCLA is associated with a mutation in EPHB4 and follows autosomal dominant inheritance (66). Other studies reported that EPHB4 mutations can lead to a wide range of vascular diseases (67). These gene mutations may be a cause of LM, and suppression of these genes may become a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of LM.

Other Pathways

Recent studies indicated that embryo mutant PKD1 and PKD2 can contribute to abnormal lymphatic vessels similar to LM, providing powerful evidence that the down-regulation of theirs protein products, PC-1 and PC-2 may give rise to the over-activation of the ERK pathway in LM and promote the proliferation of LM-LECs (68, 69). These studies shed light on the underlying mechanisms of LM and may lead to new methods for the treatment of LM.

Another report identified that the genes encoding FOXF1 and DIRAS3 are highly overexpressed in LM-LECs (70). Haploinsufficiency of FOXF1and FOXC2 may be associated with macrocystic LM (71). Previous studies reported the presence of lymphoid aggregates in LM is imbedded in these inflammation sites, indicating LM may be a chronic inflammatory disease (72, 73). LTs and LIGHT are important inflammatory mediators that control the formation of TLOs (74). LTs may accelerate the progression of LM by increasing the proliferation of LECs. LTs and LIGHT promote the development of LM by activating the NF-kB pathway to enhance LEC proliferation (75). The expression of LTs and their receptors was enhanced in LM, demonstrating the important role of LT signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of LM. These results suggest a potential therapy for LM by targeting LTs and LIGHT, especially LM with infection. However, the mechanisms by which LTs and LIGHT promote the formation of LM still need to be identified. M2-polarized macrophages assembled through TLOs in infected LM may give rise to disease progression by secreting VEGFC and accelerating the proliferation of LECs (76). These outcomes suggest that targeting macrophages in LM may be a prospective method for LM therapy.

Many LM patients who have microcystic disease are quite insensitive to surgery and sclerotherapy with a high recurrence rate. Recent studies found a population of LMPCs in LM that is scattered among the aberrant lymphatic vessels, demonstrating that LMPCs may be the cell type of origin in LM; this finding may explain the high rate of recurrence (77). Therefore, targeting the progenitor cell population in LM by therapeutic interventions may be a new treatment option.

Treatments

Surgery

Although little improvement has been made in the surgical techniques of LM treatment, surgery still plays an important role and remains the first choice for the treatment of LM (78). However, LM is invasive and adjacent to important structures, and usually cannot be completely removed because the operation of LM is usually complex and prone to damage cranial nerves and blood vessels (79). Many complications are reported after operation, including facial nerve injury, hemorrhage, seroma and infection, among others (80). The most common nerve that is injured is the submandibular branch of the facial nerve; both mixed microcystic and macrocystic LM infiltrate the facial nerve area, making it difficult to differentiate the nerve from the LM during operation (81, 82). In addition, LM frequently shows recurrence. Thus, incomplete resection, high risk of injury to important tissues and high recurrence rate are associated with surgical treatment (83). Surgical scars can also cause aesthetic problems and lead to body image problems, especially in children. Therefore, new treatment strategies are needed to treat LM. In recent years, alternative treatments for LM have been explored.

Sclerotherapy

Clinically, the most common alternative therapy for LM that cannot be completely resected or that is too difficult to operate is the injection of sclerosing agents into the lesion. Thus far, many patients with LM have received sclerotherapy as the preferred treatment, with satisfactory results and no serious complications (84). Sclerotherapy is evolving and has several advantages over surgical resection, such as simple operation and lower risk of nerve injury. Some studies have shown that sclerosing agents are effective in treating macrocystic LM, with much less efficacy in microcystic LM (85–87). Sclerosants include OK-432, doxycycline, bleomycin, ethanol, hypertonic saline, acetic acid, and sodium tetradecyl sulfate, among others (88, 89). OK-432 sclerotherapy is becoming a recognized alternative to surgery, especially for patients with microcystic LM. OK-432 can induce and activate leukocytes to produce cytokines, such as IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IFN- γ, and TNF-α. These cytokines can increase the permeability of endothelial cells and accelerate the speed and flow of lymphatic drainage, leading to the shrinking of the cystic cavity of LM and regression of the lesion (90–92). Compared with other sclerosing agents, the main advantage of OK-432 is the reduction of major complications and the absence of perifocal fibrosis, which allows follow-up surgery to continue when the sclerotherapy is not effective. However, OK-432 is prohibited in patients who are allergic to penicillin (84). Other agents are discussed in Table 1. Notably, some adverse reactions have been reported after sclerotherapy, such as soft-tissue edema leading to airway obstruction and skin necrosis. The effectiveness of sclerotherapy can also be restricted by the high recurrence rate (109, 110).

Table 1

Details of the drugs that are currently used for sclerotherapy.

Sclerosant	Mechanism	Indications	Complications	References
Doxycycline	1.Inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases and cell proliferation. 2.Suppression of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis induced by VEGF. 3.Deposition of collagen and fibrin, leading to dense adhesion and fibrosis.	Macrocystic LM	1.Tooth discoloration. 2.Electrolyte abnormalities.	(93–96)
Bleomycin	1.Inhibition of DNA synthesis. 2. Destroy the endothelial junction and promote the transformation of endothelial cells into fibroblasts.	Macrocystic LM	1.Interstitial pneumonia and pulmonary fibrosis. 2. Hypertension.	(97–100)
Pingyangmycin	1. Cell death is induced by destroying DNA double strands and inhibiting DNA synthesis. 2. Selective destruction of LECs lining with cysts. 3. Increased collagen deposition in the cyst cavity.	Macrocystic LM Postoperative adjuvant treatment of Microcystic LM	1.Alopecia. 2.Changes of skin pigmentation in gastrointestinal reaction. 3.Pulmonary fibrosis.	(101–103)
Ethanol	Destroy endothelial cells, induce thrombosis by denaturing blood proteins, destroy the intima of abnormal blood vessels, and cause scar formation and transmural vascular necrosis.	Macrocystic LM	Pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary embolism, cardiovascular failure, rhabdomyolysis, consumptive coagulopathy, and allergic reactions. Deep ulcers, hemoglobinuria, and motor or sensory nerve damage.	(104–107)
Sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS)	When combined with doxycycline or ethanol, emulsified cell membrane lipoprotein can increase membrane permeability, cell death, and fibrosis.	Macrocystic LM Orbital LM	Skin necrosis and nerve injury.	(85, 108)

Radiofrequency Ablation

RFA, also called hypothermic ablation, can destroy lesion tissue at low temperatures (40–70°C) with minimal damage to adjacent structures. RFA has been used as the first choice for the treatment of microcystic LM in the mouth and throat and more specifically for microcystic LM on the tongue (111, 112). Clinically, the lesions of microcystic LM tend to involve more mucosa and are prone to recurrence. RFA is an effective method for the treatment of local superficial microcystic LM (113), and studies have shown that RFA is of great value in the treatment of retropharyngeal LM (114). Submucosal resection of large microcystic LM that obstructs the pharyngeal airway can be performed by RFA, instead of conventional surgical techniques, which can help to stop bleeding and retain important surrounding structures (111).

Some studies reported that the combination of RFA and bleomycin sclerotherapy is a safe and effective method for the treatment of retropharyngeal LM (115, 116). While RFA is of great value in the treatment of localized superficial microcystic LM, further development and research is required to better apply RFA to other parts of microcystic LM.

Medical Therapy

Despite the multiple treatments mentioned above, achieving optimal results for the LM with large lesion range and infiltrative growth is difficult with operation or sclerosing agent. Recently, some researchers have attempted to treat LM with oral medical drugs. Several of the oral drugs have shown reasonable effects on LM and have been used for patients with LM in many medical centers.

Sildenafil

In 2012, Swetman et al. treated a child who suffered from both pulmonary hypertension and systemic multiple LM with oral sildenafil. Thereafter, sildenafil was indicated as an option for the treatment of LM and as a monotherapy or in combination with other therapies (117).

The mechanism underlying the effect of sildenafil in LM is not quite clear. As a selective type PDE-5 inhibitor, the primary function of sildenafil is to suppress the breakdown of cGMP, giving rise to the relaxation of smooth muscle and vascular dilation (118, 119). One of the hypotheses is that sildenafil relaxes the perivascular smooth muscle and consequently causes the collected lymph to flow into the venous system to depressurize LM. Sildenafil may also trigger nitric oxide synthase to stimulate vasodilation, mediate lymphangiogenesis and enhance lymphatic dilatation and drainage (117, 120). Gandhi et al. found that oral sildenafil is also effective for orbital lymphangioma (121).

Other reports have suggested that microcystic LM is resistant to sildenafil (122). Therefore, randomized controlled clinical trials are needed to verify the efficacy of sildenafil in the treatment of LM (123).

Propranolol

Propranolol has recently been developed as a first-line treatment for infant hemangioma (IH) and also shows therapeutic effects in some LM cases, providing an alternative treatment for LM in children (124). Wu et al. reported that the symptoms of some patients with LM were significantly improved after taking propranolol, which may also restrict the growth of congenital LM in the uterus and stagnate the growth of cervicofacial LM (125).

The mechanism of propranolol in the treatment of LM may involve VEGF family members, such as VEGF-A, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D. Propranolol was shown to reduce the expression of VEGF, resulting in the down-regulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade, which is indispensable for angiogenesis (126–128). In vitro, propranolol inhibits the proliferation, migration, and differentiation of endothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner (129). In addition, VEGF subgroups express differently in IH and LM, for instance, VEGF-A is highly expressed in IH but rarely expressed in LM. In contrast, high expression of VEGF-C in LM may be one of the reasons why propranolol is not suitable for all LM (130, 131). Therefore, furthering understanding of the mechanism of propranolol in LM is required.

Sirolimus

Sirolimus (also known as rapamycin) is a macrolide compound that potently and specifically inhibits the activity of mTOR and thus effectively blocks the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, which is shown to promote lymphangiogenesis (132, 133). In addition, sirolimus can also block the process of endothelial differentiation and vascular repair mediated by pluripotent cells, prevent the accumulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1a, and block VEGF signal transduction (134). Recent studies have shown that sirolimus can rapidly reduce the expression of Prox1 and VEGFR-3 mRNA and protein, which may be related to the inhibition of Prox1 transcriptional activity, and prevents the growth of abnormal lymphatic vessels, without significant effect on normal lymphatic vessels (135).

In the study of Hammill et al., four patients with diffuse microcystic LM were treated with oral sirolimus, and the chylous pleural exudate decreased gradually and symptoms improved (132). In a study by García-Montero et al., two patients diagnosed with local microcystic LM who failed traditional treatment methods achieved significant improvement by taking sirolimus, without significant side effects (136). Another study reported that topical sirolimus can successfully treat patients with superficial LM, and sirolimus may be a valuable alternative for the treatment of superficial LM (137, 138). However, sirolimus still has many side effects, including gastrointestinal disorders, metabolic toxicity. There are usually no serious complications, and most patients tolerate sirolimus (132). Therefore, sirolimus may become a hotspot in the research of microcystic LM in the future.

Other Drugs

Many promising drugs that target the aforementioned signaling pathways are currently under clinical trials. Several inhibitors targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, such as PI3K inhibitors (LY294002, BYL719, wortmannin), AKT inhibitors (ARQ092, MK-2206), MAPK inhibitors (U0126), and sorafenib (multiple kinase inhibitors), are under development. One study found that MK-2206 may be effective in treatment of “typical” LM; BYL719 is more effective in inhibiting the proliferation of KLA cells than U0126, but it also inhibits normal lymphatic endothelial cells (30, 139). BYL719 is currently undergoing clinical trials in patients with PIK3CA-dependent tumors. In 2018, Venot et al. demonstrated that the PIK3CA inhibitor BYL719 improved the symptoms of patients with PROS and shows good tolerance (140). Because LM are part of PROS, studies are required to further explore the therapeutic potential of PIK3CA inhibitors in LM.

A recent study reported a novel drug, trametinib, which blocks the enhanced phosphorylation of ERK and reduces the viability of the endothelial cells, as a promising choice for the treatment of GLA (65). Therefore, these inhibitors may serve as new targeted therapy of LM and further clinical trials are needed to verify their efficacy.

Bevacizumab, an inhibitor of VEGF-A, inhibits the proliferation of LM endothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner and has been successfully used in the treatment of diffuse pulmonary lymphangiomatosis (65, 141–143).

Several studies have also suggested that BMP and Wnt modulators, such as dorsomorphin, LDN-193189 and calyculin A, may have certain therapeutic potential, supporting the participation of BMP and Wnt pathways in the study of LM therapy. Other drugs such as a JAK inhibitor (ruxolitinib), calcium channel blocker (amlodipine) and KATP activator (minoxidil), may have therapeutic potential and further clinical trials are required to examine their potential clinical benefit in the treatment of LM (59). Other drug therapies have also been used to treat patients with GLA, such as zoledronic acid and interferon α 2b, and achieved a certain curative effect (18, 144, 145). Prednisolone and sunitinib have also shown success in treating LM as either a monotherapy or part of combination therapy (146, 147).

Combined Treatment

Since a single treatment cannot provide satisfactory results, most patients should use multiple treatments. There are reports in the literature that superficial microcystic mucosal LM can be treated in several ways, including laser ablation (the most commonly used is CO2 laser), radiofrequency ablation, microdebrider resection, bleomycin sclerotherapy, and systemic sirolimus (148–151). All these methods can alleviate the symptoms of pain and bleeding. Surgical resection is the main treatment method, which can fully remove large cystic lesions and significantly remove the volume of large cystic lesions. Any remaining diseases can be treated with sclerotherapy. Bleomycin is currently used to treat residual microcystic disease and has achieved some success (152). Any persistent disease may require several rounds of sclerotherapy. Surgery, as a main method, can effectively reduce the size of the disease. Or first take medication to reduce the size of the disease, and then it can be removed by surgery. Likewise, any residue can be treated with sclerotherapy. Unfortunately, there are no published data to evaluate the existence of multimodal treatments, and further verification by clinical practice is still needed.

Conclusion

With the increasing knowledge about lymphangioma, more and more emphasis is being placed on individual therapy, in which different treatment strategies are made according to the location, scope and classification of the lesions. For example, surgery and most sclerotherapy agents are suitable for large cystic lymphangiomas but not microcystic LM. While the above-mentioned new drugs are more applicable for the treatment of macrocystic LM, further study is required as the response of macrocystic LM to drugs might also vary. Only certain patients with LM can benefit from the drugs, indicating that the molecular pathological basis of different LM might be distinct and require different therapeutic targets. Currently, however, the detailed molecular pathology of LM remains far from clear. To achieve better diagnosis and treatment for LM, the following research directions need to be explored. First, better understanding of the pathological characteristics of each type of LM is required, which is not only helpful to improve the clinical diagnosis of different types of LM but will also be conducive to in-depth analysis of their pathogenesis and molecular biological characteristics, a more precise molecular classification, and achieving successful treatment of LM. Secondly, continued exploration of drugs that have been used in the treatment of LM and those that are in clinical trials is necessary as well as studying the pharmacological mechanism of these drugs to maximize their efficacy and reduce various side effects, and identify the specific therapeutic regimen for the corresponding classification. Finally, for some LM, which are not sensitive to drug therapy, comprehensive treatments such as surgery, sclerotherapy and drug therapy also need be explored to minimize complications of the disease and improve the quality of prognosis of patients.

Author Contributions

XL coordinated data and images collection, drafted the initial manuscript and revised the final manuscript. CC, KC, and YW participated in the design of the manuscript and critically reviewed the manuscript for important intellectual content. ZW conceptualized and designed the manuscript, coordinated and supervised data and images collection, critically reviewed the manuscript for important intellectual content and revised the final manuscript. All authors approved the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Funding

This work is supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81572918) and Suzhou Clinical Medicine Innovation Team Introduction Project (SZYJTD201706) to YW, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Doctoral Innovation Fund (No. BXJ201826) to KC, and Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81874234) to ZW.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher's Note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.