Vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) expression in human colorectal cancer tissues

Vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) functions specifically to ind uce lymphangiogenesis. We examined the relationship between expression of V EGF-C and clinicopathological features in patients with colorectal cancer. The expression of VEGF-C in the 99 primary rumours and 18 metastatic lymph nodes from colorectal cancer patients was examined immunohistochemically. T o verify VEGF-C mRNA expression, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain rea ction (RT-PCR) was carried out. The expression of VEGF-C correlated with ly mphatic involvement, lymph nodes metastasis, and depth of invasion. On the other hand, correlations were nil with regard to gender of the patients, hi stologic type, venous involvement, and liver metastasis. The expression of VEGF-C in metastatic lymph nodes was fairly consistent with this expression in the primary tumour. Survival time was shorter for VEGF-C positive group s than for VEGF-C negative ones, but with no statistically significant diff erence. RT-PCR findings revealed that the expression of VEGF-C mRNA correla ted mostly with that of VEGF-C protein expression. VEGF-C may play an impor tant role in lymphatic spread of colorectal cancer. (C) 2000 Cancer Researc h Campaign.