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Increased Intratumoral Lymphatic Vessel Density Correlates with Lymph Node Metastasis in Early Gastric Carcinoma

  • Gastrointestinal Oncology
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Prediction of lymph node metastasis in early gastric carcinoma (EGC) is important for management and follow-up of EGC patients. Increased lymphangiogenesis has been suggested to correlate with lymphatic invasion and lymph node metastasis in various tumors.

Methods

Lymphatic vessel density (LVD) and microvessel density (MVD) of 141 EGCs were determined by double immunohistochemical staining for D2-40 and CD31. The mean values of three to five hotspots were calculated in intratumoral and peritumoral areas in digital images.

Results

The mean value of intratumoral LVD in a lymph-node-positive EGC group was 28.24/field, which was significantly higher than in a lymph-node-negative EGC group (19.43/field, P = 0.005). Peritumoral LVD, intratumoral MVD, and peritumoral MVD did not correlate with lymph node metastasis in EGCs (P > 0.05). Intratumoral LVD did not show significant differences according to lymphatic invasion and differentiation, which were positive predictors for lymph node metastasis in EGC. Using multivariate logistic regression, intratumoral LVD was an independent factor, with the above two factors and depth of invasion, for the prediction of lymph node metastasis in EGC with a relative risk of 3.570 in high-intratumoral-LVD group compared with low-intratumoral-LVD group (P = 0.022).

Conclusion

Intratumoral LVD may be a useful, independent predictor for lymph node metastasis, especially in combination with previously established predictors in EGC.

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Acknowledgment

This study was supported by grant no. 02-2007-036 from the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital Research Fund. There is no disclosure of any commercial interest that the authors may have in the subject of study or the source of any financial or material support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea

    Kyoungbun Lee MD

  2. Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea

    Do Joong Park MD & Hyung Ho Kim MD

  3. Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea

    Gheeyoung Choe MD & Hye Seung Lee MD

  4. Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Woo Ho Kim MD

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  1. Kyoungbun Lee MD
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  2. Do Joong Park MD
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Correspondence to Hye Seung Lee MD.

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Lee, K., Park, D.J., Choe, G. et al. Increased Intratumoral Lymphatic Vessel Density Correlates with Lymph Node Metastasis in Early Gastric Carcinoma. Ann Surg Oncol 17, 73–80 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-009-0707-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-009-0707-y

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