J Korean Surg Soc.  2007 Nov;73(5):406-411.

The Significance of the Lymphatic Micro Vessel Density and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor- C Expression for Colorectal Cancer

• Kim TH
• Kim YS
• Choi YC
• Kim BK
• Lee TJ
• Park YG

Abstract

PURPOSE: Studying the prognostic factors of distant metastasis is quite important for predicting these patients' prognosis and also for providing standards for post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy. Microbiological studies currently enable researchers to look for new predictors of distant metastasis in patients with colon cancers. In this study, the VEGF-C expression and stain rate of D2-40 were investigated as prognostic factors.
METHODS
79 Specimens were collected from the patients who underwent colorectal operation and they were pathologicaly diagnosed with cancer at Chung-Ang University hospital from March, 2003 to Sept. 2005. The specimens were immunohistochemically stained to detect the VEGF-c expression and the D2- 40 stain rate.
RESULTS
The VEGF-C expression was related to lymph node metastasis, tumor embolism and the frequency of the T- stage, but it was not related to progression of cancer. The D2-40 stained lymphatic density was significantly increased in the cases with lymph node metastasis and in the tumor embolism cases; furthermore, the density became higher in relation to the increased T-stage and progression of cancer.
CONCLUSION
The VEGF-C expression and lymphatic vessel density appear to be prognostic factors for colon cancer.

Keyword

Colorectral cancer; VEGF-C; D2-40; Lymphatic microvessel density

MeSH Terms

Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
Colonic Neoplasms
Colorectal Neoplasms*
Humans
Lymph Nodes
Lymphatic Vessels
Neoplasm Metastasis
Neoplastic Cells, Circulating
Prognosis
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C