Clinical significance of co-expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 in non-small cell lung cancer

• Published in: Chinese medical journal Vol. 116; no. 5; pp. 727 - 730
• Main Authors: Li, Qingchang, Dong, Xin, Gu, Wei, Qiu, Xueshan, Wang, Enhua
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China Department of Pathology, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China%Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China 01.05.2003
• Subjects: Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - metabolism; Endothelial Growth Factors - biosynthesis; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Lung Neoplasms - metabolism; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 - biosynthesis; lung cancer; VEGF-C; VEGFR-3; metastasis
• ISSN: 0366-6999; 2542-5641

To investigate the relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) expression, VEGFR-3 expression, lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Seventy-six NSCLC samples were stained for VEGF-C, VEGFR-3 and CD34 with immunohistochemical methods. Assessment of lymphatic vessel density (LVD) and microvessel density (MVD) was performed. The expressions of VEGF-C in 24 fresh NSCLC samples were determined with Western blot assay. Of the 76 NSCLC cases, 55 were VEGF-C positive and 40 were VEGFR-3 positive in cancer cells. A significant positive correlation was found between VEGF-C expression and VEGFR-3 expression in cancer cells (P < 0.05). VEGF-C expression was negatively associated with differentiation of tumor cells (P < 0.05). VEGF-C expression and VEGFR-3 expression were positively associated with lymph node metastasis and lymphatic invasion (P < 0.05). LVD was positively related to VEGF-C expression, lymph node metastasis, lymphatic invasion and clinical stage (P < 0.05). There was a significant correlation between LVD and MVD (R = 0.732, P < 0.05). Patients with positive VEGF-C expression had worse outcomes than those with negative VEGF-C expression (P < 0.01). In NSCLC, VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 are related to the lymphangiogenesis, angiogenesis, and occurrence and development of lung cancers. VEGF-C expression could be a useful predictor of poor prognosis in NSCLC.