Colorectal Cancer
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2004. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 15, 2004; 10(22): 3261-3263
Published online Nov 15, 2004. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v10.i22.3261
Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C and the relationship between lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis in colorectal cancer
Yi-Tao Jia, Zhong-Xin Li, Yu-Tong He, Wei Liang, Hui-Chai Yang, Hong-Jun Ma
Yi-Tao Jia, Wei Liang, Department of Oncology, the People’s Hospital of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang 050051, Hebei Province, China
Zhong-Xin Li, Yu-Tong He, Hui-Chai Yang, Department of Surgery, the Forth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050011, Hebei Province, China
Hong-Jun Ma, Experimental Centre of Electron Microscopy of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050011, Hebei Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Zhong-Xin Li, Department of Surgery, the Forth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050011,Hebei Province, China
Telephone: +311-6033941-347
Received: December 23, 2003
Revised: February 4, 2004
Accepted: March 2, 2004
Published online: November 15, 2004
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) and the relationship between VEGF-C and lymphangiogenesis, lymph node metastasis in colorectal cancer.

METHODS: Fifty six cases of colorectal cancer were selected randomly. Expression of VEGF-C was detected by immuno- histochemistry, and lymphatic vessels were stained by enzyme histochemical method.

RESULTS: VEGF-C expression was found in 66.7% (37/56) patients. In VEGF-C positive and negative patients, the lymphatic vessel density was 25.16 ± 7.52 and 17.14 ± 7.22, respectively (P < 0.05). The rate of lymph node metastasis in VEGF-C positive patients (81.1%) was significantly higher than that in the negative group (42.1%).

CONCLUSION: VEGF-C expression may induce lymphangiogenesis in colorectal cancer, as a result, tumor cells can entry the lymphatic vessels easily. VEGF-C may serve as a useful prognotic factor in colorectal carcinoma.

Keywords: $[Keywords]