Detection Of Lymphatic Microvessel Distribution In Colorectal Carcinoma And Its Clinicopathological Significance

Objective To investigate the relationship of the lymphatic microvessel distribution and density with lymphatic metastasis and prognosis of primary colorectal cancer. Methods 102 patients with colorectal cancer were studied. Monoclonal antibody D2-40 was used immunohistochemically to detect the lymphatic microvessel density(LMVD) of the primary colorectal cancer, peri-tumoral area of colorectal cancer and normal colorectal tissue, and analysis the relationship among the lymphatic microvessel density(LMVD), lymphatic invasion, lymph node metastasis and other clinicopathological parameters of the primary colorectal cancer. Results The shape of lymphatic microvessel in the intra-tumoral area and superfic lymphatic vessel were strip-like, while those in the peri-tumoral area were tubular distented. LMVD in the peri-tumoral area (21.6±5.6) of colorectal cancer was significantly higher than that in near tumoral area(6.7±3.4) and in nomal colorectal tissue(5.4±2.8)(P<0.01). LMVD in the peri-tumoral area of colorectal cancer was significantly associated with lymphatic invasion, lymph node metastasis and its clinical prognosis (P < 0.05). Conclusion Lymphangiogenesis occurred in human colorectal carcinomas. LMVD in the peri-tumoral area was significantly associated with lymphatic invasion and lymph node metastasis, and detection of LMVD in peri-tumoral area can be used for the prediction of lymph node metastasis and serves as a prognostic indicator for the progression of colorectal cancer.