Expressions of VEGF-C, D/VEGFR-3 in pancreatic cancer and their clinical significance

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the relationship between VEGF-C,VEGF-D,MLVD,MVD and lymph node metastasis in pancreatic cancer, and elucidate the mechanism and significance of the cancerous peripheral tissue lymphatic.METHODS: The expressions of VEGF-C,VEGF-D,MLVD,MVD were assayed by means of immunohistochemistry in 30 patients with pancreatic carcinoma. RESULTS: The positive rates of VEGF-C,VEGF-D were 73%(22/30), 57%(17/30) respectively in pancreatic cancer.The expressions of VEGF-C and VEGF-D in cancerous invasive edge were significantely higher than those in the center of cancerous tissues (P0.05). There was no correlation between the expressions of VEGF-C,VEGF-D and the site, differentiation, histology types. Ⅲ,Ⅳ stages of pancreatic cancer showed strong expressions of VEGF-C,VEGF-D than Ⅰ,Ⅱ stages of pancreatic (P0.01). The MVD,MLVD and positive lymph node in positive VEGF-C group were higher than in the negative group. The MLVD and positive lymph node in positive VEGF-D group were higher than those in the negative group.CONCLUSIONS: VEGF-C participates in the regulation of angiogenisis and lymphangiogenisis in pancreatic cancer, but VEGF-D only participates in the regulation of lymphangiogenisis. VEGF-C and VEGF-D induce lymphangiogenisis in pancreatic cancer and promote the tumor cell lymph metastasis.