Research On Lymphatic Vessel Density And The Expression Of Endothelial Vascular Growth Factor-D In Bladder Transitional Cell Carcinoma

OBJECTIVE:1)To investigate expression and clinical significance of VEGF-D in Bladder Transitional Cell Carcinom.2)To determine tumoral lymphatic vessel density(LVD)in BTCC and its correlation with clinical findings.3)To evaluate the relationship of the expression of VEGF-D and LVD.METHOD:1)We assessed the expression of VEGF-D by immunohistochemistry in 50 Bladder Transitional Cell Carcinomas.The relationship VEGF-D expression and established clinicopathological parameters was assessed.2)Lymphatic vessels was immunostained with D2-40 and LVD evaluated in tumoral areas.We assessed the relationship LVD and established clinicopathological parameters.3)To analyze the relationship of the expression of VEGF-D and LVD.RESULTS:1)VEGF-D expression was identified in 42 cases(84%)with in immunohistochemistry.Higher expression of VEGF-D was significantly correlated with poor histologic grade,clinical stage and tumor size (P＜0.05).2)The LVD was significantly higher in stromal tissue of tumors than in that of normal tissues(P＜0.001).LVD was significantly higher in high-grade tumors than that in low-grade tumors(P＜0.05).LVD was not associated with pT stage and tumor size(P＞0.05).3)The level of VEGF-D expression significantly correlates with LVD(P＜0.05).CONCLUSIONS:1)There was significant correlation between the level of VEGF-D expression and tumor grade,tumor size and pT stage of patients with BTCC.it may be a novel prognostic factor in BTCC2)LVD was significantly associated with tumor grade of patients with BTCC,not with pT stage.3)VEGF-D may be a useful decision-making biomarker for the treatment of BTCC.Anti-VEGF-D and anti-lymphangiogenic treatment may be new and effective therapy against BTCC.