Impact of VEGF-C expression on MVD,MLVD and lymph-node metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma

Objective To investigate the relationship of vascular endothelial growth factor-C(VEGF-C),microlymphatic vessel density(MLV),microvessel density(MVD) and lymph node metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma.Methods The expression of VEGF-C mRNA was detected by semi-quantitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction method and the expression of VEGF-C,MLVD and MVD was assayed by immunohistochemistry in 36 cases with lung adenocarcinoma.Results Expression of VEGF-C mRNA was higher in lung cancer than that in normal lung tissue.Among 36 cases of lung adenocarcinoma,the positive rate of VEGF-C mRNA was 72.2%(26/36).The expression of VEGF-C in cancerous invasive edge was significantly higher than that in the center of cancerous tissues(P=0.015).Ⅲ～Ⅳstages of lung adenocarcinoma showed strong expressions of VEGF-C than Ⅰ～Ⅱ stages(P=0.026).The MVD,MLVD and positive lymph node in positive VEGF-C group were higher than those in the negative group.Conclusions Expression of VEGF-C mRNA is high,and the expression of VEGF-C is related with the angiogenesis,lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma.