Vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) expression in human colorectal cancer tissues (original) (raw)

Br J Cancer. 2000 Oct; 83(7): 887–891.

K Akagi

Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan

Y Ikeda

Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan

M Miyazaki

Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan

T Abe

Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan

Find articles by T Abe

J Kinoshita

Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan

Y Maehara

Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan

K Sugimachi

Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan

Received 2000 Feb 10; Revised 2000 May 31; Accepted 2000 Jun 8.

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Abstract

Vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) functions specifically to induce lymphangiogenesis. We examined the relationship between expression of VEGF-C and clinicopathological features in patients with colorectal cancer. The expression of VEGF-C in the 99 primary tumours and 18 metastatic lymph nodes from colorectal cancer patients was examined immunohistochemically. To verify VEGF-C mRNA expression, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was carried out. The expression of VEGF-C correlated with lymphatic involvement, lymph nodes metastasis, and depth of invasion. On the other hand, correlations were nil with regard to gender of the patients, histologic type, venous involvement, and liver metastasis. The expression of VEGF-C in metastatic lymph nodes was fairly consistent with this expression in the primary tumour. Survival time was shorter for VEGF-C positive groups than for VEGF-C negative ones, but with no statistically significant difference. RT-PCR findings revealed that the expression of VEGF-C mRNA correlated mostly with that of VEGF-C protein expression. VEGF-C may play an important role in lymphatic spread of colorectal cancer. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaign

Keywords: VEGF-C, lymphatic involvement, lymph nodes metastasis, colorectal carcinoma

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