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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
Generation and Expansion of Primary, Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Tumor Lines
Published on: April 21, 2022
Immunohistochemical expression and distribution of VEGFR-3 in malignant mesothelioma
Adhemar Longatto Filho1, Fátima Baltazar, Carlos Bedrossian
1Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, Health Sciences School, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
Abstract:
Homogeneity of mesothelial and lymphatic endothelial cells, express some markers that are presumed to be exclusive of the endothelium was recently reported. This similarity is important to improve the diagnosis and prognosis of malignant mesothelioma (MM). Additionally, some of these markers provide the rationale for specific molecular-targeted novel therapies aimed at MM, an aggressive malignant neoplasm, with an usually dismal prognosis. The goal of our study was to determine the prevalence and expression pattern of VEGF receptor-3 (VEGFR-3) immunoreactivity in MM and whether this immunoreactivity occurs in different phenotypes of this neoplasm. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded samples from 29 MM cases and 5 metastatic carcinomas were immuno-stained for VEGFR-3 according to the streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase complex technique using a primary antibody (Zymed Laboratories, CA, USA) diluted at 1:200. Lymphatic vessels (LV) were outlined mainly in the peripheral area surrounding the neoplasms. Blood vessels were only rarely positive for VEGFR-3 in a pattern easily distinguishable from LV. In 25 out of 29 cases (86.2%) LV were strongly positive for VEGFR-3: 14 cases (48.2%) exhibited positive VEGFR-3 reactivity in malignant cells. Epitheliod MM showed a moderate to intense VEGFR-3 positive reaction in LV from 8 out of 19 cases. Among the other histological subtypes, a positive VEGFR-3 reaction was noted in malignant cells from two cases of transitional and one case of pleomorphic MM. Malignant cells from two out of three biphasic and one out of three sarcomatoid MM were also positive for VEGFR-3. Interestingly, one case of the multicystic subtype was negative for VEGFR-3 in malignant cells and faintly positive in an occasional LV. All cases of metastatic carcinoma were negative for VEGFR-3 in the neoplastic cells. In conclusion, VEGFR-3 was expressed in malignant cells from different subtypes of MM, reinforcing the putative role of this marker as a potential therapeutic target in this group of neoplasia.
Insights
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 (VEGFR-3) is expressed in malignant cells of various malignant mesothelioma (MM) subtypes. This finding supports VEGFR-3 as a potential therapeutic target for MM.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Pathology
Background:
- Mesothelial and lymphatic endothelial cells share markers, impacting malignant mesothelioma (MM) diagnosis and prognosis.
- Novel molecular-targeted therapies for MM are being developed based on these shared markers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and expression pattern of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 (VEGFR-3) in MM.
- To determine if VEGFR-3 immunoreactivity differs across MM histological subtypes.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical staining for VEGFR-3 on 29 MM samples and 5 metastatic carcinomas.
- Utilized the streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase complex technique with a primary antibody.
Main Results:
- Lymphatic vessels (LV) surrounding neoplasms were strongly positive for VEGFR-3 in 86.2% of MM cases.
- Malignant cells showed positive VEGFR-3 reactivity in 48.2% of MM cases, across various histological subtypes.
- Metastatic carcinomas were negative for VEGFR-3 in neoplastic cells.
Conclusions:
- VEGFR-3 is expressed in malignant cells of diverse MM subtypes.
- VEGFR-3 expression in MM supports its potential as a therapeutic target for this neoplasm.