Abstract:

Objective     To determine expressions of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor-c (VEGF-C)  and their relevance, and evaluate the relationship with lymphangiogenesis in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC). Methods      Applying the immunohistochemical SP method, lymphatic vessels and expressions of HGF and VEGF-C were detected in 72 non-small cell lung cancer tissues and 20 adjacent normal tissues. Lymphatic micro-vessel density (LMVD) was counted with D2-40 as the specific marker of the lymphatic endothelium. The relationship of HGF and VEGF-C with LMVD and the clinicopathological features of NSCLC were then analyzed.  Results    HGF/VEGF -C positive expression rates were significantly higher than those in adjacent normal tissues（31.94% vs 15.00%, 48.65% vs 25.00%, both P＜0.05）, and there was a positive correlation between expressions of HGF and VEGF-C（ｒ=0.170，Ｐ＜0.05）.Higher LMVD was found in NSCLC with HGF or VEGF-C positive expression ［HGF:(16.98±4.31) vs (13.06±4.28), P＜0.05; VEGF-C: ( 19.43±3.24) vs (14.66±3.51), P＜0.05］. Expressionsof HGF and VEGF-C were positively correlated with lymph node metastasis (both P＜0.05). Conclusion     In non-small cell lung cancer, co-expression of HGF and VEGF-C can promote lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis.

Key words: Carcinoma, non-small cell lung; Hepatocyte growth factor; Vascular endothelial growth factor-C