The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immunoexpression of
vascular endothelial growth factor C (
VEGF-C) and
VEGF receptor 3 (VEGFR-3) and their correlation with intratumoural lymphatic density (ILD) and peritumoural lymphatic density (
PLD) in metastatic and non-metastatic lower lip
squamous cell carcinoma (LLSCC). Twenty-five LLSCC with regional nodal
metastasis and 25 LLSCC without
metastasis were selected. The percentages of
VEGF-C and
VEGFR-3 staining in each tumour core and at the deep invasive front were assessed.
PLD and ILD were determined using anti-podoplanin antibody. Immunohistochemical findings were correlated with nodal
metastasis, clinical staging, local recurrence, clinical outcome, and histological grade. Cytoplasmic immunoexpression of
VEGFR-3 in the tumour core was associated with
metastasis (P=0.009), patient death (P=0.008), and histological grade (P<0.005).
PLD, ILD, and
VEGF-C expression showed no significant associations with clinicopathological parameters (P>0.05).
PLD and ILD were not significantly correlated with the immunoexpression of
VEGF-C or
VEGFR-3 (P>0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between
PLD and ILD (P=0.004), and between cytoplasmic immunoreactivity of
VEGF-C and
VEGFR-3 (P=0.011). These results suggest an important role for
VEGFR-3 in the progression of LLSCC, and highlight the possible influence of its expression on the prognosis of these tumours. ILD and
PLD may not be associated with
lymph node metastasis in LLSCC.