VEGF-C is associated with lymphatic status and invasion in oral cancer

Background: Nodal metastasis is a major prognostic indicator for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) progression. Recently, it has been revealed that lymphangiogenic growth factor VEGF-C and its receptor Flt-4 play an important role for invasion and metastasis in cancer cells.
Aim: To examine VEGF-C expression and its correlation with lymphatic status, including the number of lymph vessels and lymphatic invasion, tumour invasion and metastasis in OSCC.
Methods: Intratumoural and peritumoural lymphatic vessels were examined using D2-40 in 54 OSCC cases and correlated with VEGF-C expression and clinicopathological findings. The histological pattern of invasion and pathological findings were compared.
Results: High expression of VEGF-C was frequently observed in OSCC and was associated with increased number of lymph vessels and lymphatic invasion. VEGF-C was well correlated with invasion pattern and metastasis.
Conclusions: Results suggest that VEGF-C may play an important role for lymphangiogenesis and invasion in the metastatic process and can be a strong predicting factor for metastasis of OSCC.

This article has been accepted for publication in Journal of Clinical Pathology, 2007 following peer review, and the Version of Record can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1136/jcp.2007.047662.