Expression of VEGF-C,MMP-9 and lymphatic vessel density in breast carcinoma and their correlation

Purpose To investigate the relationship between lymphatic vessel density(LVD) and the expression of VEGF-C and MMP-9 in breast cancer.Methods 80 cases of breast invasive ductal carcinoma and 20 cases of breast proliferative lesions were collected.The expressions of LYVE-1,VEGF-C and MMP-9 were investigated using the PV-6000 immunohistochemical methods.Results LVD,VEGF-C and MMP-9 in breast carcinoma were obviously higher than that in the breast proliferative lesions(P0.01).No significant difference was observed between LVD and VEGF-C expression with tumor size,tumor grade and lymphatic metastasis status(P0.05).There was positive association between LVD and VEGF-C(r=0.398,P0.01).MMP-9 expression was higher in the tumor size2 cm group and lymphatic metastasis positive group(P0.05 and P0.01),but unrelated to tumor grades(P0.05).No significant difference was observed between MMP-9 and LVD(P0.05).Conclusions LVD in invasive ductal carcinoma is in a high level.VEGF-C promotes the lymphangiogenesis,which is an important stimulating factor for lymphangiogenesis.However,LVD may be not associated with lymphatic metastasis.In addition,MMP-9 may play an important role in the invasion and lymphatic metastasis in breast cancer.