The Expression Of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C,Platelet-derived Growth Factor BB In Human Non-small Cell Lung Cancer And Their Clinical Significance

Objective:To detect the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C,platelet-derived growth factor BB in human non-small cell lung cancer, and to explore their clinical significance.Especially to discuss the relationship among VEGF-C,PDGF-BB,lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis and to find out the association between the expression of VEGF-C and PDGF-BB.Methods:Forty cases of NSCLC patients and ten cases of lung benign diseases were included.Tumor samples were immunostained for vascular endothelial growth factor-C,platelet-derived growth factor BB and the lymphatic endothelial marker Podoplanin.Lymphatic vessel density(LVD) was evaluated within NSCLC.The data was analysed by using SPSS12.0 software. Results:①Both positive rate of VEGF-C and PDGF-BB in the NSCLC group were significantly higher than that in the lung benign diseases group(P＜0.05).But in NSCLC there was no statistically significant information from the expression of VEGF-C and PDGF-BB in gender, age,tumor size and histologic type(P＞0.05).The expression of VEGF-C in tumor differentiation and TNM stage was proved to be statistically significant(P＜0.05),which difference was not found from the expression of PDGF-BB(P＞0.05).In NSCLC the positive rate of VEGF-C in the positive lymph node group was significantly higher than that in the negative lymph node group(P＜0.05).However,no significant correlation was found between the expression of PDGF-BB and lymph node status(P＞0.05).②No statistical difference was found from LVD in tumor size,histologic type and tumor differentiation in NSCLC.But the LVD in the positive lymph node group and the later TNM stage group was respectively significantly higher than that in the negative lymph node group and the earlier TNM stage(P＜0.05).Furthermore,LVDs in the positive VEGF-C and PDGF-BB group were significantly higher as compared with the negative expression group(P＜0.05).③Using Spearman correlation analysis,in NSCLC the significant association was found between LVD and lymph metastasis,among VEGF-C,LVD and lymph metastasis(P＜0.05).But the significant association was only found between PDGF-BB and LVD(P＜0.05),not between PDGF-BB and lymph metastasis(P＞0.05).Moreover,there was statistical correlation between VEGF-C and PDGF-BB in human NSCLC(r_s= 0.422,P＜0.05).④The NSCLC patients with lymph metastasis and VEGF-C positive expression were shown lower survival rate than those in negative groups(P＜0.05).But no statistical difference was found between PDGF-BB expression and survival rate(P＞0.05).Cox proportional hazards regression showed that VEGF-C and lymph node status were two independent prognosis factors.Conclusion:①In NSCLC VEGF-C and LVD may be the effective indexes for predicting prognosis and lymphatic metastasis,and be more valuable than PDGF-BB.②Lymphangiogenesis is a significant factor for tumor lymphatic metastasis.VEGF-C may accelerate lymphatic metastasis in human NSCLC by inducing lymphangiogenesis.However, PDGF-BB may not be necessary for lymphatic metastasis in human NSCLC despite mediating lymphangiogenesis.③There might be similar mechanism between VEGF-C and PDGF-BB on mediating lymphangiogenesis.