A Clinical Study Of The Expression Of VEGF-C And Its Correlation VEGFR-3 In Breast Cancer Lymphatic Metastasis

Breast cancer is a kind of very common disease in rural region. Lymphatic metastasis is the more common metastasis in breast cancer and lymphatic metastasis significantly influences prognosis of breast cancer patients. It is well established that angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is necessary for the growth and metastatic spread of solid tumours, and tumour induced lymphangiogenesis, the formation of new lymphatic vessels, has been recently considered important for metastatic spread and prognosis of malignant tumours. Vascular endothelial growth factor-C ( VEGF-C)is a member of the VEGF superfamily, and involves physiological and pathological lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis via vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-2 and VEGFR-3. VEGF-C play a important role in lympatic metastasis. VEGFR-3 belongs to the VEGF tyrosine kinase receptor family, isexpressed predominantly in the endothelium of lymphatic vessels, and has beenproposed to be a specific molecular maker for lymphatic endothelial cells.Objective: To explore the role of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 in the process oflymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis in tumor and in para-cancertissues (nearer-tumor region and further-tumor region)in breast cancer.Method:Immunohistochemistry method was used to detected the expressionof VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 in 62 breast cancer operative specimens(tumor , nearer-tumor region and further-tumor region). The positive ratewere calculated and compared statistically.Results:1. VEGF-C expression in tumor and in nearer-tumor region are higher in the cases with lymphatic metastasis than those of without lymphatic metastasis respectively. In tumor /=11.5725, P=0. 0007 ( a =0. 0500) ; In nearer-tumor region /=10. 9985, P=0. 0009 (a =0.0500) .2. VEGFR-3 expression in nearer-tumor region is higher in the cases with lymphatic metastasis than those of without lymphatic metastasis respectively. ^=5. 7124, P=0. 0168 (a =0.0500) .3. With VEGF-C expression and VEGFR-3 expression(in three region) highly together, lymphatic metastasis is increased. (P<0. 05)Conclusion:1. In tumor and nearer-tumor region VEGF-C expression is very important in breast cancer lymphatic metastasis.2. In nearer-tumor region VEGFR-3 expression is significantly correlated with breast cancer lymphatic metastasis.3. VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 expression is significantly correlated with breast cancer lymphatic metastasis. High VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 expression is one of important mechanism in breast cancer lymphatic metastasis.4. In breast cancer lymphatic metastasis not only the lymphangiogenesis factors in tumor are substantial but also the lymphangiogenesisfactors in para-cancer tissues.