Correlation of Claudin-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor C expeession in colorectal cancer

Objective To investigate the correlation of Claudin-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) protein expression in colorectal cancer development.Methods The immunohistochemical staining [streptavid-in-peroxidase (SP) method] was done to detect the expression of Claudin-1 and VEGF-C in 45 cases of colorectal cancer tissues and the corresponding tissues adjacent to carcinoma,and 20 cases of normal colon mucosa tissues.Results The positive expression rate of Claudin-1 in cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in the tissues adjacent to carcinoma and normal tissues (60.0％,33.3％ and 10.0％).The positive expression rate of VEGF-C in cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in the tissues adjacent to carcinoma and normal tissues (64.4％,26.7％ and 10.0％).Both Claudin-1 and VEGF-C expression was correlated with tumor differentiation,depth of invasion,lymph node metastasis and TNM stage.The expression of Claudin-1 and VEGF-C had a linear correlation.Conclusion Claudin-1 is involved in the development of colorectal cancer possibly through VEGF-C signaling pathways. Key words: Claudin-1;  Vascular endothelial growth factor C;  Colorectal cancer;  Immunohistochemical staining