Expression levels of VEGF‑C and VEGFR‑3 in renal cell carcinoma and their association with lymph node metastasis

Li,Xiuming; Song,Dianbin; Liu,Hui; Wang,Zhiyong; Ma,Guang; Yu,Man; Zhang,Yong; Zeng,Yu

doi:10.3892/etm.2021.9986

Expression levels of VEGF‑C and VEGFR‑3 in renal cell carcinoma and their association with lymph node metastasis

Authors:
- Xiuming Li
- Dianbin Song
- Hui Liu
- Zhiyong Wang
- Guang Ma
- Man Yu
- Yong Zhang
- Yu Zeng
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Affiliations: Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University, Chengde, Hebei 067000, P.R. China, Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Center on Translational Neuroscience, School of Pharmacy, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, P.R. China, Department of Pathology, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, Liaoning 110042, P.R. China, Department of Urology, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, Liaoning 110042, P.R. China
Published online on: March 26, 2021 https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.9986
Article Number: 554
Copyright: © Li et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common form of kidney cancer. Vascular endothelial growth factor‑C (VEGF‑C) and its receptor, VEGFR‑3, are involved in lymphangiogenesis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression levels of VEGF‑C and VEGFR‑3 in RCC, and their association with lymphatic vessel density (LVD) and lymph node metastasis. The mRNA expression levels of VEGF‑C in 40 RCC tissues and 10 normal renal tissues were determined by reverse transcription‑semiquantitative PCR. The differential expression of VEGF‑C and VEGFR‑3 was examined by immunohistochemistry. Using an anti‑D2‑40 antibody as a lymphatic marker, the morphology and structure of lymphatic vessels in tissues was examined, and the LVD was calculated. VEGF‑C mRNA expression in RCC tissues was higher than that in normal renal tissues, and VEGF‑C mRNA expression in the lymph node metastasis group was higher than that in the non‑lymph node metastasis group. The positive expression rate of VEGF‑C and VEGFR‑3 in RCC tissues was significantly higher than that in normal renal tissues. VEGF‑C expression in the lymph node metastasis group was significantly higher than that in the non‑lymph node metastasis group, and the positive expression of VEGF‑C was associated with the clinical staging of RCC. In addition, there was a correlation between VEGF‑C and VEGFR‑3 expression in tumor cells. The LVD around the tumor was higher than that in the center of the tumor tissues and normal renal tissues, and it was closely associated with lymphatic invasion and lymph node metastasis. Overall, the current findings demonstrated that the VEGF‑C/VEGFR‑3 signaling pathway promoted lymphangiogenesis around the tumor and provided an approach for tumor lymphatic invasion and lymph node metastasis. Therefore, VEGFC and VEGFR‑3 expression may serve an important role in the initiation and development of RCC.

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