The relationship between the expression of VEGF-C and lymph angiogenesis in pancreatic carcinomas and lymphatic metastasis

Objective:To determine vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) and its receptor VEGFR-3 expression in pancreatic carcinomas and the relationship of the expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 with lymph angiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis.Methods:Specimens of pancreatic carcinoma were immunohistochemically stained for VEGF-C and VEGFR-3. Lymphatic vessels were displayed by immunohistochemical double staining.And lymphatic vessel density (LVD) were counted.The correlations among VEGF-C expression,VEGFR-3 expression and LVD in tumors with or without lymph node metastasis were statistically analyzed.Results:VEGF-C expression was observed in the cytoplasm of carcinoma cell,and VEGFR-3 expression was observed in the cytoplasm of endothelial cell of lymphatic and micro vessel.The VEGF-C expression rate,VEGFR-3 expression rate and LVD of tumors with lymph node metastasis were higher than those of tumors without lymph node metastasis.LVD correlated with the expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3.Conclusion:The high expressions of VEGF-C and VEGFR3 in pancreatic carcinomas suggest their involvement in lymph angiogenesis.VEGF-C,VEGFR-3 and LVD are associated with lymphatic metastasis and may besignificant prognostic factors for lymphatic metastasis in pancreatic carcinomas.This implies that it is an effective option to control lymphatic metastasis of pancreatic carcinomas to inhibit the effect of VEGF-C or VEGFR-3.