Immunoscanning electron microscopic study on the localization of lymphangiogenic factor VEGF-C in oral

淋巴管密度（LVD）和微血管密度（MVD）是评估口腔鳞癌恶性潜能和患者生存期的重要指标。本研究旨在探讨口腔鳞癌组织中LVD和MVD的临床和病理意义，以及VEGF-C在口腔鳞癌组织中的淋巴管生成和血管生成活性。采用免疫组化方法检测110例口腔鳞癌组织中LVD、MVD及VEGF-C的表达。这些参数之间的相关性和临床病理因素进行了检查。VEGF-C高表达组的LVD显著高于VEGF-C无表达组和VEGF-C弱表达组。LVD与淋巴结转移密切相关。MVD与淋巴结转移显著相关，与VEGF-C表达无相关性。相反，VEGF-C的高表达与晚期肿瘤状态显著相关。高LVD、高MVD和VEGF-C强表达的患者生存率较低。淋巴管生成最主要影响无转移生存。我们的研究结果表明，LVD是一个更有用的工具比MVD和VEGF-C决定治疗策略的口腔鳞癌。

Lymphatic vessel density (LVD) and microvessel density (MVD) are important parameters for assessing tine malignant potential of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and patient survival. This study aims to clarify the clinical and prognostical significances of LVD and MVD in OSCC, and the lymphagiogenic and angiogenic activities of VEGF-C in cancer tissues. A total of 110 OSCC tissues were evaluated for LVD, MVD and expression of VEGF-C using immunohistochemistry. Correlations among these parameters and clinicpopathologic factors were examined. LVD was significantly higher in tumors with a very high expression of VEGF-C than in those with no/week expression of VEGF-C. LVD correlated well with lymph node metastasis. MVD significantly correlated with positive lymph node metastasis, but did not with VEGF-C expression. In contrast, high expression of VEGF-C significantly correlated with advanced tumor status. Survival rate was lower in patients with a higher LVD, higher MVD and strong VEGF-C expression. Lymphangiogenesis most predominantly influences metastasis-free survival. Our results suggested that LVD is a more useful tool than MVD and VEGF-C for deciding on therapeutic strategies for OSCC.