Expression of vascular endothelial growth factors D and its relationship to lymph node metastasis and prognosis in large intestinal carcinoma

OBJECTIVE:To explore the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor D (VEGF-D) in large intestinal carcinoma, and its relationship to clinicopathological features and prognosis.METHODS: The expression of VEGF-D in 96 cases of large intestinal carcinoma was detected by SP immunohistochemical technique and its relationship to clinicalpathological features and prognosis was analysed.RESULTS:The expression of VEGF-D was significantly higher in intratumoral tissues than in peritumoral tissues, P=0.000 1. VEGF-D positive expression was significantly correlated with the tumor differentiation, lymph node metastasis, Duke’s stage and prognosis in 96 cases of large intestinal carcinoma,P0.01 or P0.05 (P=0.026 9, 0.002 3, 0.004 2). The expression of VEGF-D was significantly lower in poorly differentiated carcinomas than in well differentiated one, P=0.026 9, and the expression of VEGF-D in A and B of Duke’s stage was also significantly lower than that in C and D, P=0.004 2. The positive expression of VEGF-D was significantly higher in tumours with lymph nodes metastasis than in those without lymph nodes metastasis, P=0.002 3. Furthermore, the 5-year survival rate was significantly lower in VEGF-D positive groups than in VEGF-D negative ones,P=0.029 1. However,the relationship of VEGF-D with age and gender of patients, the size, site and depth of invasion of tumour and organ metastasis was not found,P0.05 (P=0.142 1, 0.467 9, 0.131 9, 0.831 1, 0.107 0, 0.340 5).CONCLUSION: The overexpression of VEGF-D in large intestinal carcinoma can develop lymph node metastasis by inducing lymphangiogenesis, and it may serve as one prognostic indicator and guide the treatment.