Expression of Lymphangiogenic Factors and Evidence of Intratumoral Lymphangiogenesis in Pancreatic Endocrine Tumors

摘要: Lymphangiogenesis is thought to promote the progression of malignant tumors. Because lymphangiogenic factors vascular endothelial factor (VEGF)-C and -D are expressed in endocrine cells, we investigated their expression pancreatic tumors (PETs) correlated these data intratumoral lymph vessel density (iLVD) with clinicopathological features. Lymph vessels were identified anti-podoplanin antiserum podoplanin/proliferating cell nuclear antigen double labeling. PETs (n = 104) by immunohistochemical staining for VEGF, basic fibroblast growth factor, VEGF-C expression. VEGF-D mRNA quantified real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. showed higher iLVD than normal pancreata, but did not discriminate between benign PETs. In proliferating identified. High was associated invasion it more frequent angioinvasive/metastatic grossly invasive as well glucagon polypeptide show lymphangiogenesis, which tumor cells. The association features suggests that lymphangiogenesis may PET first human entity VEGF-C-related has been demonstrated.