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Updated: Jun 11, 2025
Author Spotlight: Advances in Quantifying Microvascular Density in Aging Murine Lungs
Published on: January 3, 2025
High microvessel and lymphatic vessel density predict poor prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell
Li Wen Qi1,2, Yu Fang Xie1,3, Wei Nan Wang1
1Pathology, Shihezi University School of Medicine/The First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.
Background:
Microangiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis are essential for tumor growth in the tumor microenvironment, contributing to tumor invasion and metastasis. Limited literature exists on these processes in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the impacts of microangiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis on the occurrence, progression, and prognosis assessment of ESCC.
Methods:
Surgical specimens and paraffin-embedded human tissues were procured from ESCC patients, encompassing 100 ESCC tissues and 100 cancer-adjacent normal (CAN) tissues. CD34 and D2-40 were utilized as markers for microvessel endothelial cells and lymphatic vessel endothelial cells, respectively. Microvascular density (MVD) and lymphatic vessel density (LVD) were evaluated through immunohistochemical quantification.
Results:
We found that tumor tissues in ESCC patients had significantly higher MVD and LVD than cancer-adjacent normal (CAN) tissues. High MVD and LVD were associated with lymph node metastasis and advanced tumor clinical stages. Additionally, both high MVD and high LVD were strongly linked to poorer prognosis among cancer patients. Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between high MVD and high LVD (p < 0.05). The presence of these markers individually indicated a worse prognosis, with their combined assessment showcasing enhanced prognostic value.
Conclusions:
Overall, the increased MVD and LVD indicates higher invasion and metastasis of ESCC, closely correlating with unfavorablefor poor prognosis of ESCC patients.
