J Korean Surg Soc.  2007 Oct;73(4):315-320.

Angiogenic and Lymphangiogenic Microvessel Density in Terms of the Expression of CD31 and D2-40 in Colon Cancer

• Youn SI
• Kim BG
• Cha SJ
• Park SJ
• Chang IT
• Park SI
• Lee TJ

Abstract

PURPOSE: Angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis play important roles in the growth, progression and metastasis of colon cancer. We performed this study in order to investigate the significance of the CD31 and D2-40 expressions as prognostic factors in colon cancer.
METHODS
The angiogenic and lymphagiogenic microvessel density was assessed by immunohistochemical staining of CD31 and D2-40 on samples that were resected from 66 patients with colorectal cancer.
RESULTS
Strong correlation was observed between the CD31 microvessel density and being positive for having tumor emboli and lymph node metastasis (P=0.001, P=0.003). The D2-40 lymphatic vessel density was correlated with being positive for having tumor emboli (P=0.0001), the depth of invasion (P=0.0001), lymph node metastasis (P= 0.0001) and the cancer stage (P=0.0001). The D2-40 lymphatic vessel density was also correlated with the CD31 count (P=0.003).
CONCLUSION
These results suggested that the CD31 and D2-40 expressions are useful predictors of lymph node metastasis and they are prognostic factors for colon cancer.

MeSH Terms

Colon*
Colonic Neoplasms*
Colorectal Neoplasms
Humans
Lymph Nodes
Lymphangiogenesis
Lymphatic Vessels
Microvessels*
Neoplasm Metastasis