[Lymphatic vessel density in Dukes' B rectal carcinoma and its correlation to prognosis]
Xing Yang1, Li-Ren Li, Zhi-Zhon Pan
1State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China.
Background & Objective:
The prognosis of patients diagnosed with Dukes' B rectal carcinoma varies largely. Micrometastasis via lymphatic vessel may have occurred in Dukes' B rectal carcinoma although no clinical pathologic evidence of lymph node metastasis was found. This study was to investigate the correlation of lymphatic vessel density (LVD) to the prognosis of Dukes' B rectal carcinoma.
Methods:
Immunohistochemistry was used to display the lymphatic vessels with lymphatic endothelium-specific marker, lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor-1 (LYVE-1), in 54 specimens from Dukes' B rectal carcinoma. LVD in tumor, peri-tumor and normal tissues was calculated. All patients had complete clinical and follow-up data.
Results:
Of the 54 specimens, 11 (20.4%) were LYVE-1-negative in tumor, peri-tumor, and normal tissues, 43 (79.6%) were LYVE-1-positive. LVD was significantly higher in peri-tumor than in tumor and normal tissues (6.05+/-5.61 vs. 0.89+/-0.66 and 4.11+/-3.29, P<0.05), and was significantly lower in tumor than in normal tissues (P<0.05). No significant correlation was found between LVD and recurrence rate (P>0.05), or overall survival (P>0.05).
Conclusions:
Lymphangiogenesis may occur in peri-tumor tissues. LVD may not be a prognostic factor of Dukes' B rectal carcinoma.
