Expression and Significance of VEGFR-3 and LYVE-1 in gastric carcinoma

Objective To select the most specific lymphatic endothelial marker through expression between LYVE-1 and VEGFR-3 in gastric cancer.MethodsThe expression of CD34,VEGFR-3,and LYVE-1 was quantified in 53 sections and the normal tissues using immunohistochemistry.Micro-lymphatic vessel density(MLD) and microvessel density(MVD) were measured.The specificity of lymphatic vessel endothelium markers was compared between LYVE-1 and VEGFR-3.ResultsA positive correlation was found between the number of CD34 and VEGFR-3 positive vessels(r=0.387,P=0.003),while a negative correlation was found between CD34 and LYVE-1(r=-0.181,P=0.232),indicating that most VEGFR-3 vessels and few LYVE-1 positive vessels were blood vessels,while most LYVE-1 positive vessels were lymphatic vessels.Thus LYVE-1 showed to be the more specific marker of lymphatic vessel endothelium.ConclusionLYVE-1 is a more specific lymphatic endothelial marker.It is also suggested that peritumoral lymphangiogenesis might promote lymph node metastasis.