Abstract:

Objective  To investigate expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor C(VEGF-C) and CD44v6 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to explore their association with invasion, metastasis and prognosis of NSCLC. Methods   A rapid immunohistochemical method (streptavidin peroxidase, SP) was used to detect VEGF-C and CD44v6 protein expressions in 56 paraffin-embedded resected NSCLC tissues retrospectively. All the patients were initially treated. Results    Expression rates of VEGF-C in squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma were 65.63%(21/32) and 66.67% (16/24) respectively. The positiv rates of CD44v6 expression in squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma were 56.25%(18/32) and 62.50%(15/24) respectively. The positive expressions of VEGF-C and CD44v6 were significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage (P＜0.05), and also with post-operative hematogenous metastasis (P＜0.05). The 3- and 5-year survival rates of patients with positive VEGF-C expression were 18.79% and 7.24% respectively, whereas they were 66.23% and 59.55% in those with negative expression, and there was a significant difference in the survival rate between the two groups (P＜0.05). The 3- and 5-year survival rates were 17.73% and 11.04% in the CD44v6 positive expression group, and 68.26% and 54.33% in the negative expression group, and there was also a significant difference. VEGF-C had a correlation with the positive expression of CD44v6 (P＜0.05). Conclusion  Detection of VEGF-C and CD44v6 expressions in NSCLC is helpful to evaluate lymph node  metastasis, TNM stage and prognosis. It is also helpful to guide post-operative multiple modality therapy.

Key words: Lung neoplasms; Cell adhesion molecules; Immunohistochemistry;   Neoplasm metastasis; Vascular endothelial growth factor