Expression and clinical significance of VEGF-C, FLt4 and tuberculosis infection L-type in prostate carcinoma.

Objective To explore the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor-C(VEGF-C) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor [VEGFR-3(Flt4)] in prostate carcinoma as well as the detection rate of L-type Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and its clinical significance.Methods Immunohistochemistry,in situ hybridization and acid-fast stain were performed to 65 cases of prostate cancer(carcinoma of prostate,PCa) and 30 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia(benign prostatic hyperplasia,BPH) for the expressions of VEGF-C,VEGFR-3(Flt4) and mRNA as well as the detection rate of TB L-type.The main clinical data for pathological classification parameters of prostate cancer were compared with χ2 test for statistical analysis.Results The positive expressions of VEGF-C,Flt4 protein and mRNA as well as the L-TB detection rate of prostate cancer were significantly higher than those of benign prostatic hyperplasia(P0.001~0.05).The positive expressions of VEGF-C,Flt4 protein and mRNA as well as the L-TB detection rate of prostate cancer at different clinical stage,histological grade were significantly different(P0.05).The positive expressions of VEGF-C,Flt4 and mRNA as well as the L-TB detection rate of Lymph node metastasis group were significantly higher than those of non-metastasis group(P0.01 and P0.05 respectively).Conclusion The abnormal expressions of VEGF-C,Flt4 and mRNA in prostate tumors as well as the detection rate of L-TB were positively correlated to clinical tumor stage,grade and metastasis,suggesting that both two genes can be used as the reference indicators for biological behavior of prostate cancer and prognosis of patients;L-TB infection may play synergistic tumorigenic role and be associated with the occurrence and development of prostate cancer.Researches on the relationship between prostate carcinoma and positive ex- pressions of VEGF-C and Flt4 as well as tubercular bacteria L-form infection can of important clinical significance.