Intratumoral lymphangiogenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and relationship with regulatory factors and prognosis

• Published in: Pathology international 2008-10, Vol.58 (10), p.611-619
• Main Authors: Inoue, Akemi, Moriya, Hiromitsu, Katada, Natsuya, Tanabe, Satoshi, Kobayashi, Nobuyuki, Watanabe, Masahiko, Okayasu, Isao, Ohbu, Makoto
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - metabolism; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - mortality; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - secondary; D2-40; Disease-Free Survival; Esophageal Neoplasms - metabolism; Esophageal Neoplasms - mortality; Esophageal Neoplasms - pathology; esophagus; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; lymph node metastasis; Lymph Nodes - pathology; Lymphangiogenesis; Lymphatic Metastasis; Lymphatic Vessels - pathology; Male; p53; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor - genetics; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor - metabolism; platelet-derived growth factor-A; prognosis; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; squamous cell carcinoma; Survival Rate; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - genetics; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - metabolism; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - genetics; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - metabolism; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C - genetics; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C - metabolism; vascular endothelial growth factor-A; vascular endothelial growth factor‐A, ‐C
• ISSN: 1320-5463; 1440-1827
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1827.2008.02279.x

The clinical and pathological significance of intratumoral lymphangiogenesis (ITL) with human esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCC) remains unclear, as does the role of signaling molecules such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)‐A,C, platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF)‐A, and p53, in the regulation of ITL. Lymphatic vessel density (LVD) was significantly increased in VEGF‐A and VEGF‐C immunohistochemical score 1 and 2–3 groups as compared to the score 0 group and also with high of VEGF‐A, VEGF‐C and PDGF‐A mRNA expression. Both LVD and blood vessel density (BVD) were significantly greater in the p53 gene mutant group than in the wild‐type group. Lymph node metastasis was significantly more frequent with than without ITL and Kaplan–Meier analysis indicated a significantly poorer prognosis. Multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazard method showed that invasion depth, lymph node metastasis and ITL were independent prognostic factors.