Myofibroblasts Correlate with Lymphatic Microvessel Density and Lymph Node Metastasis in Early-stage Invasive Colorectal Carcinoma

Abstract

Background: Recent studies have shown that the interactions between tumor cells and stromal cells are important in tumor development. A possible correlation between tumor-activated myofibroblasts, the main component cells of tumor stroma, and lymphatic microvessel density (LMVD) or other clinical parameters in carcinoma was investigated. Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemical examination of alpha-smooth muscle actin and podoplanin were performed in 83 cases of early-stage invasive colorectal carcinoma. Results: There was a good correlation between proliferation of myofibroblasts (PMpt) and LMVD (LMVDpt) in the peri-tumoral area (p=0.0034). Increased PMpt was also associated with lymphatic invasion (p=0.0051) and with lymph node metastasis (p=0.011). However, proliferation of myofibroblasts in intra-tumoral (PMit) areas was not associated with these clinical parameters. Conclusion: Proliferation of myofibroblasts in peri-tumoral areas seem to play an important role in lymphangiogenesis, and is also associated with lymph node metastasis.