Vascular endothelial growth factor-C and vascular endothelial growth factor-d messenger RNA expression in breast cancer: association with lymph node metastasis

Lymph node metastasis is a major prognostic factor for patients with breast cancer. Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF)-C and VEGF-D are capable of stimulating lymphangiogenesis, and VEGF-C enhances lymphatic metastasis. The aim of the present study was to determine whether VEGF-C and VEGF-D messenger RNA (mRNA) expression is correlated with lymphatic invasion and lymph node metastasis in patients with breast cancer. Total RNAs were isolated from 33 surgical specimens of breast cancer tissue and 7 samples of normal breast tissue. VEGF-C and VEGF-D mRNA expression was measured by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis. There was no correlation between VEGF-C mRNA expression and lymphatic invasion or lymph node metastasis. However, VEGF-D mRNA expression was decreased in cancer tissue, and it was inversely correlated with lymphatic invasion and the number of metastatic lymph nodes. An increased VEGF-C/VEGF-D ratio was also correlated with lymph node metastasis and the number of metastatic lymph nodes. Our results suggest that a decrease in VEGF-D mRNA or an increase in the VEGF-C/VEGF-D ratio may have an association with tumorigenesis and/or lymph node metastasis in breast cancer.