Expression of VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 in Human Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinomas and its Significance for Lymphatic Metastasis

Objectives: Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C)and vascular endothelial growthfactor feceptor-3 (VEGFR-3) in laryngeal squamous carcinoma and its relationship to lymph node metastasiswere investigated.
Methods: VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 gene expression in 30 cases of normal laryngeal mucosatissue (NLM), primary laryngeal carcinoma cell carcinomas (PLC) and cervical lymph nodes (CLN) wasexamined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Protein levels of VEGF-C expressionwere determined by immunohistochemical staining in 60 cases of PLC.
Results: Expression of VEGF-C andVEGFR-3 different among NLM, PLC and CLN in the same patient. In PLC, expression was significantlyhigher in lymph node positive group than in the lymph node negative group and associated with histologicalgrade of differentiation; Expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 was not linked with age, sex, site or T stage.
Conclusions: A close correlation was found between VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 expression and lymph node metastasisin PLC, suggesting a role in metastasis of laryngeal carcinomas.