Expression of VEGFR-3 in tumor cells,blood vessel endothelium and lymphatic endothelium in gastric cancer and their correlation with metastasis

Objective To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3(VEGFR-3) in tumor cells,blood vessel endothelium and lymphatic endothelium in gastric cancer and their correlation with metastasis.Methods The expression of VEGFR-3 and VEGF-C were detected by immunohistochemistry and the presence of lymphatic vessels and blood vessels were determined by 5′-nucleotidase-Alkaline phosphatase(5′-Nase-Alpase) double staining respectively in tissues close together from the same patients of 50 fresh primary gastric cancers.To observe the expression of VEGFR-3 in tumor cells,blood vessel and lymphatic endothelium,counting the microvascular density(MVD) and lymphatic vessel density respectively(LVD).Results VEGFR-3 were expressed in lymphatic endothelium, vascular endothelium and 38% of gastric cancer cells.VEGFR-3 expression in gastric cancer cells correlated with VEGF-C expression,lymphatic invasion,lymph node metastasis and venous invasion(P0.05).VEGFR-3 expression in vascular vessels has the significant correlation with venous invasion and distant metastasis,while its expression in lymphatic endothelium has the correlation with VEGF-C expression,lymphatic invasion and lymph node metastasis(P0.05).Conclusion VEGFR-3 expression in different places in gastric cancer have the double roles in lymphatic metastasis and hematogenous metastasis.