Objective: VEGF-C,D are known to be capable of inducing proliferation of lymphatic endothelia cell and development of lymphatic vessels, so we investigated the expression of VEGF-C,D in the differentiated thyroid carcinoma tissues microarray in order to understand the significance mechanism of cervix lymphatic metastasis of thyroid cancer.
Method: A tissue microarray containing 71 specimens was constructed, including normal thyroid tissues, thyroid adenoma, papillary thyroid carcinoma with and without lymphatic metastasis, follicular thyroid carcinoma. VEGF-C, D protein expression was detected with immunohistochemistry.
Result: The expression of VEGF-C,D were not observed in normal thyroid tissues and adenoma tissues. The expression of VEGF-C,D in papillary thyroid carcinoma was significantly higher than those in follicular thyroid carcinoma (P < 0.05) and adeno ma tissues (P < 0.01). The expression of VEGF-C,D in papillary thyroid carcinoma with lymphatic metastasis was significantly higher than those in papillary thyroid carcinoma without lymphatic metastasis (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: By inducing proliferation of lymphatic endothelia cell and development of lymphatic vessels, VEGF-C,D contributed to lymphatic metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma.