Relationship among VEGF-C and lymphangiogenesis, CT signs of lymph node metastasis in lung cancer

Objective To explore the relationship among VEGF-C and lymphangiogenesis,lymphatic metastasis in lung cancer.Methods 42 cases of nonsmall cell lung cancer diagnosed by thoracoscope surgery and pathology(lung cancer group) and 20 cases of lung benign diseases (control group) were collected.The patients underwent CT scan before surgery.Tumor tissue was immunohistochemically stained for VEGF-C,VEGFR-3.VEGF-C and LVD were compared in the 2 groups.The relationship between VEGF-C expression and lymph node metastasis in lung cancer group was evaluated.Results NSCLC Group had significant higher VEGF-C positive rate(69.0％ vs 5.0％,P＜ 0.01) and LVD level was significantly higher than that of control group[(11.67 ± 2.93) vs (3.81 ± 1.39),P ＜ 0.01)].CT signs of lymphatic metastasis demonstrated lymphangitis carcinomatosa,lymph node metastasis in lung hilum and mediastinal.Lymph-node-metastasis positive had a higher VEGF-C expression than negative(90％ vs 31.8％,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion The high expression of VEGF-C may accelerate lymphatic metastasis in lung cancer by lymphangiogenesis. Key words: Lung cancer;  Vascular endothelial growth factor C;  Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3;  Lymphangiogenesis;  Lymphatic metastasis