COX-2 and VEGF-C expression in gastric cancer and their relationship with lymph node metastasis

Objective To investigate the expression of cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor-C(VEGF-C) in gastric cancer and their relationship with tumor behavior. Methods The expression of COX-2 and VEGF-C in 54 gastric cancer samples were detected by immunostaining and their relationship with lymph node metastasis were analyzed. Results The expression rates of COX-2 and VEGF-C were 70.4%(38/54), 66.7%(36/54) respectively in 54 gastric cancer specimens. The expression of COX-2 and VEGF-C were significantly correlated with lymphatic metastasis (P0.01), The expression of COX-2 and VEGF-C was not correlated with tumor clifferentiation and serosea invasion (P0.01). The expression of VEGF-C was signiticantly correlated with tumor TNM stage. Conclusion In gastric cancer, the expression of COX-2 and CEGF-C are significantly associdted with lymphatic metastasis, COX-2 may up-regulate the expression of VEGF-C, which induces lymphangiogenesis and accordingly contritutes to lymphatic metastasis.