ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of tumor metastasis associated genes-1 (MTA1) and vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and the relationship between them and lymphangiogenesis. MethodA total of 107 patients who received excision for ESCC in the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department of Suining Central Hospital from March 2013 through January 2014 were enrolled. And the paraffinembedded esophageal tissues in 56 healthy persons were collected. The expression of MTA1 and VEGF-C in ESCC was detected using the immunohistochemical method. And D2-40 was used to label the micro-lymphatic endothelial cells of the tumor tissues while the micro-lymphatic vessel density (LVD) was counted. Meanwhile, a statistical analysis was performed for the relationship between MTA1 with VEGF-C and clinical pathological parameters. ResultsThe expression rates of MTA1 protein and VEGF-C protein in ESCC (50.4% and 58.8%, respectively) were higher than those in normal esophageal tissues with a statistical difference (P<0.05). Besides, their high expression rates in stage T3/T4 ESCC and lymph node metastasis group were significantly higher than those in stage T1/T2 ESCC and metastasisfree group, with statistical differences (P<0.05). The high expression rates of MTA1 and VEGF-C protein in ESCC with different TNM stages were compared using Kruskal-Wallis test with statistical differences (P<0.05). Moreover, a positive correlation existed in the expression level between MTA1 protein and VEGF-C protein of ESCC (Spearman coefficient r=0.512, P=0.000). And LVD of the high expression group for MTA1 protein and VEGF-C protein was statistically different from that of the low expression group (P<0.05). ConclusionThe expression of MTA1 is positively correlated with the expression of VEGF-C in ESCC. And they may co-promote lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis in ESCC. Therefore, both can be used as the laboratory indicators to determine the prognosis of ESCC.
Objective To investigate the expressions of CXCR4 and β-catenin in pancreatic cancer, explore the relationship between them, and explore the possible biomarkers about invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer. Methods Forty-eight samples of pancreatic cancer and 20 samples of normal pancreas tissues were selected. The expressions of CXCR4 and β-catenin were examined by the immunohistological technique. Spearman, Chi-square， and rank test were used to analyze the relation between the protein expressions and clinical characteristics. Survival analysis was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier product limit method and Log-rank test. Variables were evaluated by Cox proportional hazards analysis. The size of test was 0.05. Results The positive expression rates of CXCR4 and β-catenin in pancreatic cancer tissues were 85.4% (41/48) and 75.0% (36/48), respectively. Co-expression rate of CXCR4 and β-catenin was 70.8% (34/48). There were significant differences between various CXCR4 staining and lymph node metastasis and TNM stage (P=0.012, 0.005, respectively). β-catenin positive expression was associated with lymph node metastasis (P=0.047). However, abnormal β-catenin positive expression could not determine the clinical survival. Kaplan-Meier estimated curves suggested that clinical prognosis was poor for patients with CXCR4 expression. Multivariate analysis showed that CXCR4, late TNM stage, and lymph node metastasis were independent prognostic factors for pancreatic cancer. Conclusions Both CXCR4 and β-catenin abnormally express in pancreatic cancer. CXCR4 may be an important marker for pancreatic cancer progression.
【Abstract】Objective To understand the features of lymphatic vessel, and to summarize the foundation and mechanism of the promotion and inhibition of tumor lymphangiogenesis recorded on the current studies of animal experiments and clinical researches. Methods The related literatures of the structural features of lymphatic vessel, lymphatic endothelial molecular markers, the origin of lymphatic tumors, the molecular mechanisms and regulatory factors were reviewed, and the relationship between tumor lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis, the treatment targeting at the formation of the anti-tumor lymphatic vessel and its existing problems were also analyzed. Results Hyperplasia of lymphatic vessels occurred during the process of tumor formation and progression. The structural features of the lymphatic vessels in the tumor were conducive to tumor lymphatic metastasis. In recent years, methods of anti-lymphangiogenesis and inhibition of tumor lymphatic metastasis had achieved considerable success in animal experiments. However, there were still a lot of problems need to be solved. Conclusion Tumor lymphangiogenesis has a significantly positive correlation between tumor lymphatic metastasis and patients’ prognosis, which may indicate that treatment against the formation of tumor lymphatic vessel maybe effective.