J Breast Cancer.  2006 Mar;9(1):47-54. 10.4048/jbc.2006.9.1.47.

Expression of VEGF-C and LYVE-1 in breast cancer tissues

• Chun HA
• Son BH
• Kwak BS
• Ahn SH
• Gong GY
• Yoon HS

• KMID: 1976168
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4048/jbc.2006.9.1.47

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to assess the expression of VEGF-C (vascular endothelial growth factor-C) and LYVE-1 (lymphatic vessel endothelial HA receptor-1) mRNA in human breast cancer, and to compare the expression of VEGF-C protein and VEGF-C, LYVE-1 mRNA with the clinico-pathological outcomes.
METHODS
RT-PCR was carried on the VEGF-C, LYVE-1 mRNA drawn from three samples of adjacent normal breast tissues, the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line and 39 breast cancer tissues. Immunohistochemical staining was done to detect the expression of VEGF-C protein in 39 cancer tissues and in 5 benign tissues with using well preserved, paraffin embedded tissues. The clinico-pathological findings were retrospectively reviewed for menopausal status, lymphatic invasion, hormonal status, the expression of p53 and c-erbB2.
RESULTS
RT-PCR analysis revealed the expression of VEGF-C mRNA in 22 of 39 (56.4%) and LYVE-1 mRNA in 19 of 39 breast cancer tissues (48.7%). The expression of VEGF-C mRNA was positive in all cases except for one in LYVE-1 mRNA positive case, this revealed good correlation between the two molecules. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that VEGF-C protein was expressed only in the breast cancer cells, with specific VEGF-C staining evident in 10 of 39 (25.6%). There was no significant correlation between VEGF-C, LYVE-1 mRNA expressions and the other pathologic variables. However, VEGF-C protein expression was negative in the group with a postmenopausal status, positive estrogen receptor and negative c-erbB2 significantly.
CONCLUSIONS
VEGF-C mRNA seems to be related to the lymphangiogenetic marker-LYVE-1 mRNA and the amplification of the VEGF-C may be correlated with some clinico-pathological factors in the breast cancer.

Keyword

Breast cancer; VEGF-C; LYVE-1

MeSH Terms

Breast Neoplasms*
Breast*
Cell Line
Estrogens
Humans
Paraffin
Retrospective Studies
RNA, Messenger
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C*
Estrogens
Paraffin
RNA, Messenger
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C

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