The relationship between the expression of VEGF-C,microvessel density and lymphatic microvessel density,and their role in metastasis of rectal carcinoma.

Objective To explore the relationship between the expression of VEGF-C and microvessel density(MVD)and lymphatic microvessel density(LVD),and their role in the metastasis of rectal carcinoma.Methods The expressions of VEGF-C mRNA in 60 rectal carcinoma tissue specimens and 20 normal colonic tissues were determined by RT-PCR.Immunohistochemistry(SP)was used to detect the expression of CD105 and VEGFR-3 in the tissues.MVD and LVD were counted.Results The positive expression rate of VEGF-C in positive lymph node was significantly higher than that in negative lymph node(88% vs 15%,P0.05);Compared with that without lymph node metastasis,LVD in positive lymph node increased significantly(6.14±1.62 vs 3.83±1.78,P0.05),but MVD did not increased significantly.LVD in positive VEGF-C was significantly higher than that in negative VEGF-C(5.99±1.88 vs 4.12±1.69,P0.05),but MVD was not significantly different.Conclusion VEGF-C can promote the invasion of rectal carcinoma and lymphatic proliferation,mediate tumor cells to the lymphatic vessel and further the whole body.It is an important factor influencing the prognosis of rectal carcinoma and threatening patients lives.