Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-C and its Receptor VEGFR-3 and its Clinical Significance in Cervical Carcinoma

Objective: To study the relationship between the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C and its receptor VEGFR-3 with lymphatic metastasis and prognosis in uterine cervical cancers. Methods: 59 parafin-embedding specimens were identified immunohistochemically by antibodies against VEGF-C and VEGFR-3, respectively. The density of VEGFR-3 positive vessel was assessed quantitatively by Computer-assisted video analysis system. Results: In uterine cervical cancers, VEGF-C protein was expressed in 66.1% of patients that positively correlated with lymphatic metastasis significantly (P=0.005). The survival rate were higher for patients in the negative VEGF-C groups than those in the positive group(P=0.006), VEGFR-3 was mainly expressed on the vessel structure, VEGFR-3 positive vessel density was significantly higher in the VEGF-C positive tumors and in the positive-lymph node metastasis than in the negative tumors and in the non-metastasis group, respectively(P=0.015, P=0.001). Conclusions: VEGF-C expression in uterine cervical cancers triggers lymphatic angiogenesis, which may result in a higher risk for lymph node metastasis. VEGF-C expression affects the patient's survival in cervical carcinomas.