Expression of IGF-1R, VEGF-C and D2-40 and their correlation with lymph node metastasis in endometrial adenocarcinoma

Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) regulates carcinogenesis and tumor development and is expressed in normal endometrium. Vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) promotes lymph node metastasis. We investigated IGF-1R, VEGF-C and D2-40 in endometrial adenocarcinoma and the association between IGF-1R and lymphatic metastasis, using an immunohistochemical S-P method with 40 cases of endometrial adenocarcinoma and 14 of normal endometrium. IGF-1R expression differed significantly between normal endometrium and adenocarcinoma; it was associated with histological grade but not surgical stage. IGF-1R overexpression was associated with metastasis, but expression was not. VEGF-C expression was greater in normal endometrium than in adenocarcinoma and was associated with metastasis but not with surgical stage or histological grade. IGF-IR and VEGF-C expression were correlated in endometrial adenocarcinoma, and lymphatic vessel density was closely related to both. Abnormal IGF-IR and VEGF-C expression may be important in lymph node metastasis of endometrial adenocarcinoma and might be used to evaluate the prognosis.