Table 4.
Correlation of VEGF-C and VEGF-D with lymphatic metastasis
# of Patients |
Method of Analysis |
Comments | P valuea | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
177 | IHCb | VEGF-Cb was highly expressed in 37% of specimens. VEGF-C expression was associated with a higher LVDb (P=0.014), lymph node and distant metastasis (P<0.001 and P=0.008, respectively) and a shorter OSb (P= 0.028) |
P<0.001 | [68] |
123 | IHC | VEGF-C was detected in 87.3% of specimens. High VEGF-C was associated with poor DFSb and OS (P=0.0165 & P=0.0175) |
P=0.0131 | [71] |
121 | IHC | VEGF-D correlated with the presence of intralymphatic tumor cells |
[80] | |
113 | qRT-PCRb | VEGF-C mRNA level also correlated with LVD (P=0.0409) |
P=0.0074 | [70] |
105 | IHC | VEGF-Db expression was identified in 86 cases (81.9% of all cases) and highly correlated with LN metastasis |
0.0238 | [74] |
98 | IHC | No correlations were found between VEGF-C or VEGF-D expression and tumor size, grade, estrogen receptor status, axillary lymph node metastases and other parameters |
NS | [235] |
80 | IHC | VEGF-C was also significantly associated with higher peritumoral LVD, lymphatic invasion and number of positive nodes in patients with micropapillary breast carcinoma |
P=0.003 | [236] |
70 | IHC | Both VEGF-C and COX-2 correlated with LN metastasis, LVD, LVIb as well as with worse DFS and OS |
P=0.01 | [237] |
51 | IHC | There was no significant correlation between VEGF-C and LN status, LVI, tumor size, grade or other parameters |
NS | [73] |
33 | RT-PCR | VEGF-C mRNA expression and LVI or lymph node metastasis |
NS | [72] |
29 | qRT-PCR & IHC |
Intratumoral VEGF-C and VEGF-D expression by quantitative RT-PCR correlated with D2-40c but not with CD31c microvessel density |
P=0.0414 | [238] |
P value indicates association of VEGF-C or -D expression with LN metastasis.
Abbreviations: IHC, immunohistochemistry; VEGF-C and VEGF-D, vascular endothelial growth factor C or D; OS, overall survival; DFS, disease-free survival; LVD, lymphatic vessel density; qRT-PCR, quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; LVI, lymphatic vascular invasion.
D2-40 and CD31 are markers of lymphatic and blood vascular endothelial cells, respectively.