Lymphatic vessel density and its prognostic value in stage I colorectal carcinoma.

Abstract

AIMS:

The assessment of lymphatic vessel density (LVD) has been suggested as a tool to determine the metastatic risk of neoplasias. On this premise, the authors aimed to verify whether progression risk of stage I colorectal cancer may be related to LVD. The authors also evaluated and correlated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A expression with LVD revealed in the same cases in order to investigate its potential lymphangiogenic role in the early stage colorectal cancer.

METHODS:

LVD and VEGF immunoexpression were analysed and compared in series of 29 stage I surgically resected colorectal carcinomas obtained from patients showing disease progression and in a cohort of 23 stage I colorectal cancers from patients with no evidence of disease progression. The prognostic value of LVD and of VEGF expression on the progression-free survival to colorectal cancer was investigated.

RESULTS:

A high density of peritumoural lymphatics (P-LVD) was significantly associated with high VEGF expression and disease progression. Moreover, high P-LVD and high VEGF expression were significant negative prognostic parameters associated with a shorter disease-free interval in stage I colorectal cancer.

CONCLUSIONS:

If our findings are further confirmed in other studies, the assessment of P-LVD on surgical specimens might be used as a tool to identify patients with stage I colorectal cancer at higher risk of progression in order to submit them to adjuvant therapies. Since P-LVD seems to show a VEGF-A mediated regulation in stage I colorectal cancer, therapies targeting this factor might be exploited to reduce lymphangiogenesis and the progression risk of this neoplasia.

• Authors: V Barresi, L Reggiani-Bonetti, C Di Gregorio, M Ponz De Leon, G Barresi
• Journal: Journal of clinical pathology (J Clin Pathol) Vol. 64 Issue 1 Pg. 6-12 (Jan 2011) ISSN: 1472-4146 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20947870 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Neoplasm Proteins
• VEGFA protein, human
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Biomarkers, Tumor (metabolism)
• Colorectal Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology, surgery)
• Disease Progression
• Epidemiologic Methods
• Female
• Humans
• Lymphatic Vessels (pathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Proteins (metabolism)
• Neoplasm Staging
• Prognosis
• Treatment Outcome
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (metabolism)