Association between VEGFR-3 expression and lymph node metastasis in non-small-cell lung cancer

Li,Jie; Yi,Han; Liu,Zhidong; Zhang,Haiqing; Zhang,Dezong; Yue,Wentao; Jia,Hongyan; Xu,Shaofa; Li,Baolan

doi:10.3892/etm.2014.2091

February-2015 Volume 9 Issue 2

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February-2015 Volume 9 Issue 2

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Article

Association between VEGFR-3 expression and lymph node metastasis in non-small-cell lung cancer

Authors:
- Jie Li
- Han Yi
- Zhidong Liu
- Haiqing Zhang
- Dezong Zhang
- Wentao Yue
- Hongyan Jia
- Shaofa Xu
- Baolan Li
View Affiliations / Copyright

Affiliations: Department of Medical Oncology, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Tongzhou, Beijing 101149, P.R. China
Pages: 389-394
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Published online on: November 26, 2014

https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2014.2091
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Abstract

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-3 is considered to be associated with lymphangiogenesis. The aim of the present study was to identify the clinical significance of VEGFR‑3 expression and lymph node metastasis in patients with non‑small‑cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Lung tumor tissue samples and 196 lymph nodes from 52 patients with NSCLC were analyzed. In addition, lung tissue samples and 8 lymph nodes from 10 patients with lung diseases other than cancer were included as controls. Semiquantitative multiplex reverse transcription technology was applied to measure the mRNA expression levels of VEGFR‑3, while VEGFR‑3 protein expression levels were assessed immunohistochemically. The total number of lymphatic vessels was counted and the microlymphatic vessel density (MLVD) was calculated. The results indicated that the VEGFR‑3 mRNA expression level in lymph node tissue from the group with lymph node metastasis was significantly lower compared with the group without lymph node metastasis (0.281±0.166 vs. 0.158±0.158; t=4.849; P<0.001). The VEGFR‑3 mRNA expression levels in the lung tumor tissue of the NSCLC patients exhibited no statistically significant difference between the lymph node metastasis and lymph node non‑metastasis groups (0.139±0.137 vs. 0.142±0.123; t=0.08; P>0.05). In addition, in the lymph node metastasis group, there was no statistically significant difference between the metastasis‑positive and ‑negative lymph nodes (0.158±0.158 vs. 0.123±0.115; t=0.993; P>0.05) with regard to VEGFR‑3 mRNA expression. Morphologically, VEGFR‑3 immunoreactivity was primarily localized in the cytoplasm of the lymphatic endothelial cells, as well as a number of the cancer cells. MLVD was much higher in the lung tissue surrounding the tumor than in the tumor tissue, and was significantly higher in the lymph node metastasis group than in the lymph node non‑metastasis group. VEGFR‑3 expression levels were shown to correlate with lymph node metastasis in NSCLC patients, thus, may be a useful biomarker for lymph node metastasis prediction in NSCLC. MLVD is a key indictor of lymphatic vessel metastasis in NSCLC. An enhanced MLVD indicates lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic node metastasis, and may be an important predictor for tumor monitoring and prognosis.

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Journals

International Journal of Molecular Medicine

International Journal of Oncology

Molecular Medicine Reports

Oncology Reports

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine

Oncology Letters

Biomedical Reports

Molecular and Clinical Oncology

World Academy of Sciences Journal

International Journal of Functional Nutrition

International Journal of Epigenetics

Medicine International

Association between VEGFR-3 expression and lymph node metastasis in non-small-cell lung cancer

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