VEGF-C And VEGFR-3 Expression And Significance In Uterine Endometrial Carcinoma

Object: To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C and its receptor VEGFR-3, and the association of VEGF-C /VEGFR-3 expression with axillary lymph node metastasis and clinic- opathological characteristics in Uterine Endometrial Carcinoma.Methods: 1.Immunohistochemical staining of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 were detected with PV-9000 system in specimens, including 10 samnles of normal endometria, 22 samoles of SCAHs and 70 samples of endometrial carcinomas. 2.Analyze the association of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 expression with lymph node metastasis and clinicopathological char- acteristics by SPSS12.0 software.Results:1. The expression of VEGF- C and VEGFR-3 was rarely positive in normal controls of endometrium.2. The degree being expressed by VEGF-C Protein developed gradually in normal endometria,SCAHs,stage I/II and III/IV of EC. Their positive staining all located in cytoplasm. In groups of SCAHs,stage I/II and III/IVof EC, VEGF-C respectively showed significant difference in expression levels between each two groups (P<0.05),but there was no significance between normal endometria and SACHs (P>0.05). The expression of VEGF-C showed a significant correlation with surgicopathological stage,myometrial invasion,servical invasion and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). However, VEGF-C was not correlated with age and histological grade (P>0.05). About lymph node metastasis,the positive rate of VEGF-C in positive group and negative group were 85.7% and 44.9% respectively. There was significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). The same happencd in less than l/2 (75%) group and more than l/2 (45.2%) group in myometrial invasion (P<0.05). The positive rate of VEGF-C was 83.3% in positive group,which was much higher than 48.1% in negative group in servical invasion (P<0.05).3. The degree being expressed by VEGFR-3 developed gradually in EC. VEGFR-3 respectively showed significant difference in expression levels between III/IV of EC and the other (P<0.05). The expression of VEGFR-3 showed a significant correlation with surgico-pathological stage,myometrial invasion and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). About lymph node metastasis,the positive rate of VEGF-C in positive group and negative group were 71.4% and 32.7% respectively. There was significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).4. The expression of VEGF-C was significantly positive correlated with that of VEGFR-3 (P<0.05).Conclusion: The expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 were found in EC,The expression of VEGF-C was significantly positive correlated with that of VEGFR-3. They maybe plays an important effect on spread and lymph transform of EC as an accelerating factor.