Expression Of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-C And Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 With Lymphangiogenesis In Ovarian Tumor

Purpose: To investigate the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3) and their correlation with lymphangiogenesis in epithelial ovarian carcinoma.Methods:1. The expressions of VEGF-C, VEGFR-3 and microlymphatic density (MLD) were detected in 116 specimens of epithelial ovarian neoplasm immunohistochemical staining, including 31 samples of benign ovarian neoplasm, 24 samples of borderline ovarian neoplasm and 61 samples of epithelial ovarian carcinoma.2. Analyze the association of the expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 and the count of MLD in epithelial ovarian neoplasm with clinic pathological characteristics such as clinical stage, histological types and grade, ascites and lymph node metastasis by SPSS11.0 software.Results1. The positive expression of VEGF- C are yellow or brown yellow granule, which located in cytoplasm. The degree being expressed by VEGF-C Protein developed gradually in benign ovarian neoplasm, borderline ovarian neoplasm and epithelial ovarian carcinoma. In groups of benign ovarian neoplasm, borderline ovarian neoplasm and epithelial ovarian carcinoma. VEGF-C respectively showed significant difference in expression levels between each two groups (P<0.05).although the positive expression rate of VEGF- C in epithelial ovarian carcinoma was higher than that in borderline ovarian neoplasm, there was no significance between them (P>0.05). The positive expression of VEGF-C had strong correlation with clinical stage, histological grade, ascites and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05), but it didn't correlate with age or histological types(P>0.05).2.The positive expression of VEGFR-3 are brown yellow granule, which located in cytoplasm and had obvious demarcation with caryon. The degree being expressed by VEGFR-3 Protein developed gradually in benign ovarian neoplasm, borderline ovarian neoplasm and epithelial ovarian carcinoma. In groups of benign ovarian neoplasm, borderline ovarian neoplasm and epithelial ovarian carcinoma.VEGF-C respectively showed significant difference in expression levels between each two groups (P<0.05). The positive expression of VEGFR-3 had strong correlation with clinical stage, histological grade, ascites and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05), but it didn't correlate with age or histological types(P>0.05). 3. The microlymphatic density (MLD) of ovarian carcinoma were calculated according to the method which was recommended by Weidner. The count of MLD developed gradually in benign ovarian neoplasm, borderline ovarian neoplasm and epithelial ovarian carcinoma. In groups of benign ovarian neoplasm, borderline ovarian neoplasm and epithelial ovarian carcinoma , MLD respectively showed significant difference in count between each two groups (P<0.05). The count of MLD showed a significant correlation with clinical stage, histological grade, ascites and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05), However, it was not correlated with age or histological types (P>0.05).Conclusion: The expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 were found in ovarian epithelial carcinoma. VEGF-C may stimulate lymphangiogenesis via VEGFR-3.