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Erschienen in:
01.05.2010
Nerve Growth Factor-β Expression Is Associated with Lymph Node Metastasis and Nerve Infiltration in Human Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma
Erschienen in: World Journal of Surgery | Ausgabe 5/2010
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Background
Angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis are important processes in the progression of malignant tumors. Previous studies have shown that nerve growth factor-β (NGF-β) can promote the initiation and progression of many tumors. In addition, vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) has become recognized as the most important lymphangiogenic factor. In the present study, the expression of NGF-β in human hilar cholangiocarcinoma and its relationship with lymphangiogenesis, lymph node metastasis, nerve infiltration, and VEGF-C expression was investigated.
Methods
Nerve growth factor-β and VEGF-C expression were investigated by immunohistochemistry in samples from 28 cases of hilar cholangiocarcinoma. The lymphatic vessel density (LVD) in the tumor tissue that indicated lymphangiogenesis were calculated by immunostaining with the lymphendothelial-specific antibody D2-40. The relationship between NGF-β expression and VEGF-C expression, lymphangiogenesis, lymph node metastasis, and nerve infiltration was evaluated.
Results
The overexpression of NGF-β and VEGF-C occurred in 57.1% (16/28) and 46.4% (13/28) of tumor samples, respectively. Nerve growth factor-β overexpression was highly correlated with VEGF-C overexpression (P = 0.005), LVD (P < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.021), nerve infiltration (P = 0.019), and tumor stage (P = 0.040). Furthermore, VEGF-C overexpression was highly correlated with LVD (P < 0.001) and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001). However, there was no statistic significance in the relation between NGF-β expression and sex (P = 0.185), age (P = 0.387), maximal tumor size (P = 0.736), Bismuth classification (P = 0.627) as well as histological grade (P = 0.203).
Conclusions
Nerve growth factor-β might promote lymph node metastasis and nerve infiltration in human hilar cholangiocarcinoma.