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VEGF-C Expression in Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Adenocarcinoma of the Esophagus

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Abstract

Background

Vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) is the only factor known to cause lymphangiogenesis. In esophageal cancer the histologic tumor type and lymph node metastasis are independent predictors of recurrence and poor outcome. To evaluate the rule of VEGF-C expression in esophageal cancer, we investigated 113 specimens, 59 squamous cell and 54 adenocarcinomas of the esophagus.

Methods

The expression of VEGF-C was evaluated using immunohistochemistry (IHC) on 59 paraffin-embedded archival specimens from patients with squamous cell esophageal carcinomas and 54 paraffin-embedded archival specimens of patients with esophageal adenocarcinomas arising in Barrett’s mucosa. All patients had a complete tumor resection. A complete and updated follow-up was available for all patients.

Results

The expression of VEGF-C was significantly different between the two histological types of esophageal tumors. Patients with squamous cell carcinoma and lymph node metastases had a significantly higher VEGF-C expression (P < 0.01). In patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus there was no correlation between VEGF-C expression and clinicopathological parameters. High VEGF-C expression tended to be correlated with poor survival in squamous cell cancer but not in adenocarcinoma of the esophagus.

Conclusions

The present study indicates that VEGF-C may play a role in tumor progression via lymphangiogenesis in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. This seems not to be true for the adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. These data could help with the understanding of the different onset and characteristics of lymph node metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Second Department of Surgery, University of Leipzig, Germany

    Christian Möbius MD

  2. Second Department of Surgery, Santa Maria Hospital, Lisbon Medical School, Portugal

    José Freire MD

  3. Pathology Department, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Germany

    Ingrid Becker MD

  4. Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Germany

    Marcus Feith MD, Björn L. D. M. Brücher MD, FACS & J. Rüdiger Siewert MD

  5. Institute of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität Munchen, Germany

    Michael Hennig MD

  6. Department of Surgery, Salzburger Landesklinik, University Hospital Salzburg, Austria

    Hubert J. Stein MD

  7. Müllner Haupstraße 48, A-5020, Salzburg, Austria

    Hubert J. Stein MD

Authors
  1. Christian Möbius MD
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  2. José Freire MD
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  3. Ingrid Becker MD
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  4. Marcus Feith MD
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  5. Björn L. D. M. Brücher MD, FACS
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  6. Michael Hennig MD
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  7. J. Rüdiger Siewert MD
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  8. Hubert J. Stein MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hubert J. Stein MD.

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Möbius, C., Freire, J., Becker, I. et al. VEGF-C Expression in Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Adenocarcinoma of the Esophagus. World J Surg 31, 1768–1772 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-006-0373-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-006-0373-1

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