[Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C in human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MCF-7/Adr]

Vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) discovered recently is a new member of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family. Studies have shown that VEGF-C is one specific regulating factor for lymphatic endothelial cells, and it expresses in a variety of human tumors. In order to explore the role of VEGF-C in the process of human tumor formation and development, the authors designed this study to examine the expressions of VEGF-C mRNA and protein in human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 and drug resistant cell line MCF-7/Adr.

According to the VEGF-C gene sequence, A specific oligonucleotide probe labeled with digoxin was designed and constructed; Then in situ hybridization was applied to detect the expression of VEGF-C mRNA in the cultured human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MCF-7/Adr respectively; Finally immunohistochemistry was performed to examine the expression of VEGF-C protein in both cell lines.

Blue positive staining granules for VEGF-C mRNA were observed in the cytoplasm of these cells by in situ hybridization where brown positive staining granules for VEGF-C protein were also observed by immunohistochemistry. While there were no positive staining granules in neither control cells.

Human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MCF-7/Adr can transcribe VEGF-C mRNA and translate corresponding protein in their cytoplasm.