乳腺癌VEGF-C的表达与淋巴管生成的相关性

目的探讨乳腺癌血管内皮生长因子C(vascular endothelial growth factor C,VEGF-C)的表达与乳腺癌肿瘤淋巴管生成及淋巴结转移的关系。方法用免疫组化SP法对60例乳腺浸润性导管癌进行VEGF-C染色,并用D2-40标记肿瘤淋巴管。取15例乳腺纤维腺瘤标本做对照。结果乳腺癌组VEGF-C阳性表达率明显高于对照组(P<0.01)。VEGF-C表达与乳腺癌淋巴管密度(lymphatic vessel density,LVD)和腋淋巴结转移相关;VEGF-C表达阳性组肿瘤淋巴管密度大(P<0.05),腋淋巴结转移组VEGF-C表达水平高。乳腺癌组所有病例均有不同程度的淋巴管染色,以肿瘤间质组织中淋巴管生成为主。淋巴管密度与乳腺癌腋淋巴结转移呈正相关,腋淋巴结转移组的肿瘤淋巴管密度比无淋巴结转移组高(P<0.05)。结论乳腺癌中存在淋巴管生成,且主要发生在肿瘤间质组织中;VEGF-C表达与肿瘤淋巴管生成及腋淋巴结转移相关。

VEGF-C expression and lymphangiogenesis in breast cancer

Objective To study the expression of VEGF-C in breast cancer and its correlation with lymphangiogenes is and lymph node metastasis. Methods Immunohistochemical SP method was adopted in detecting the VEGF-C protein expression in 60 cases of breast cancer, and the lymphatic vessels were labeled with D2-40. We took 15 cases of breast fibroadenoma as controls. Results The rate of VEGF-C positive expression in breast cancer was higher than that in the control group (P<0.01). VEGF-C expression was positively correlated with lymphatic vessel density (LVD) and axillary lymph node (both P<0.05). VEGF-C was significantly higher in lymph node-positive group than in lymph node-negative group. Different levels of lymphangiogenesis occurred in all the cases of breast cancer; LVD was significantly higher in VEGF-C positive group than that in the negative group, but it was mainly located in tumor stroma, and apparently mature lymphatic vessels were not found in cancer nests. LVD was positively related to the lymph node metastasis in breast cancer. It was obviously higher in lymph node-positive group than in lymph node-negative group (P<0.05). Conclusion Lymphangiogenesis occurred in the tumor stroma tissue predominantly. The expression of VEGF-C was positively correlated with lymphangiogenesis and axillary lymph node metastasis in primary breast cancer.