The role of the lymphatic system and its specific growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor C, for lymphogenic metastasis in prostate cancer.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To compare prostate carcinoma, with and with no lymph node metastasis, to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) tissue for lymphatic vessel density (LVD) and the expression of the lymph-endothelial specific growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C), to determine their role in lymphogenic metastasis.

PATIENTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Lymphatic vessels were stained using lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor 1 and assessed in standard areas. The expression of VEGF-C was assessed by the number of positive epithelial cells. The data were compared with the clinical staging.

RESULTS:

The lowest LVD was found in tumorous areas as opposed to periphery and nontumorous tissue (P = 0.007; P < 0.001). The highest LVD was in BPH tissue (P < 0.001). There was no correlation with clinical staging. There was more VEGF-C staining in pN1 than in pN0 and in BPH specimens (P = 0.002).

CONCLUSION:

LVD is not a prognostic variable for the process of lymphogenic metastasis in prostate cancer. VEGF-C is up-regulated in prostate cancer and its correlation with lymph node status suggests a role for the development of lymph node metastasis, e.g. via an increased permeability of lymphatic vessels.

• Authors: Lutz Trojan, Florian Rensch, Martin Voss, Rainer Grobholz, Christel Weiss, David G Jackson, Peter Alken, Maurice S Michel
• Journal: BJU international (BJU Int) Vol. 98 Issue 4 Pg. 903-6 (Oct 2006) ISSN: 1464-4096 [Print] England
• PMID: 16978291 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C

Topics

• Aged
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Lymph Nodes (pathology)
• Lymphatic Metastasis
• Lymphatic Vessels (metabolism, pathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prostatic Hyperplasia (pathology)
• Prostatic Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology)
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C (metabolism)