Expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor-C and its receptor in cervical squamous cell carcinoma and their role in lymph metastasis

Objective To study the expressions of VEGF-C and its receptor VEGFR-3 in cervical squamous cell carcinoma tissues,as well as their roles in lymph metastasis.Methods Sixty-two cases of cervical squamous cell carcinoma and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia were detected by immunohistochemical staining (S-P) for the expressions of VEGF-C,VEGFR-3 and tested the expression of AE1/AE3 in lymph node to explore lymph metastasis.Results The positive rates of AE1/AE3 by immunohistochemical staining in lymph nodes of cervical carcinoma were all more than those of routine H-E staining.The difference of positive expressive rate of VEGF-C between the cervical squamous cell carcinoma and CIN Ⅰ,CIN Ⅱ was statistically significant,but not to CINⅢ.The difference between the cervical squamous cell carcinoma and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in VEGFR-3 expression was statistically significant.The expression level of VEGF-C in cervical squamous cell carcinoma was positively correlated with the positive number of lymphatic vessels stained by VEGFR-3.VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 were all related to lymph node metastasis.Conclusion The detection of AE1/AE3 may be much easier to find out the LN with micrometastasis;VEGF-C facilitates invasion and metastasis in cervical squamous cell carcinoma by promoting lymphangiogenesis.