Impact of vascular endothelial growth factor-C and -D expression in human pancreatic cancer: Its relationship to lymph node metastasis

• Published in: Clinical cancer research 2004-12, Vol.10 (24), p.8413-8420
• Main Authors: KURAHARA, Hiroshi, TAKAO, Sonshin, MAEMURA, Kousei, SHINCHI, Hiroyuki, NATSUGOE, Shoji, AIKOU, Takashi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - metabolism; Adenocarcinoma - pathology; Adenocarcinoma - surgery; Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic agents; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal - metabolism; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal - pathology; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal - surgery; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas; Lymphatic Metastasis; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Invasiveness - pathology; Pancreatic Neoplasms - metabolism; Pancreatic Neoplasms - pathology; Pancreatic Neoplasms - surgery; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Prognosis; Survival Rate; Tumors; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C - metabolism; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D - metabolism
• ISSN: 1078-0432; 1557-3265
• DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-04-0379

The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C and -D in pancreatic cancer and to reveal its relation to lymph node metastasis. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks were obtained from 58 patients with pancreatic head cancer. All of the patients underwent a curative resection. The total number of resected lymph nodes was 1,058. The expressions of VEGF-C and -D were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. To evaluate the relation to lymph node metastasis, the expressions of VEGF-C and -D between the marginal and central portions in the tumor were compared. When >25% of the tumor cells showed distinct staining, the portion was judged as high expression. The two groups with high expression of VEGF-C (P = 0.015) and VEGF-D (P = 0.020) in the marginal portion had a significantly higher incidence of lymph node metastasis compared with the groups with low expression, respectively. Furthermore, the group with high expression of both VEGF-C and -D in the marginal portion had a higher incidence of lymph node metastasis compared with the group with low expression (P = 0.007). The 5-year survival rate of patients with high expression of both VEGF-C and -D in the marginal portion was significantly lower than that of patients with low expression of both VEGF-C and -D (P = 0.017). VEGF-C and -D expression in tumor cells in the marginal portion of the tumor significantly associated with lymphatic metastasis and prognosis in patients with pancreatic head cancer.