Role of lymphangiogenesis in epithelial ovarian cancer

Abstract

We investigated the significance of lymphatic count, vascular count and angiogenic growth factors using immunohistochemistry in 108 tumour specimens of epithelial ovarian cancer with antibodies to lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor (LYVE-1), platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule CD31, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and thymidine phosphorylase (TP) in epithelial ovarian cancer to understand the pathogenesis of metastasis in ovarian cancer. The effect of prognostic variables on progression-free and overall survival was assessed. On multivariate analysis, bulky residual disease after surgery was the best prognostic indicator (Po0.001) for progression-free and overall survival (Po0.001). Lymphatic count was statistically significant as a prognostic factor for progression-free (P ¼ 0.05) and overall survival (P ¼ 0.04). However, lymphatic count did not impact on survival curves. No correlation was found between lymphatic count and age, histological subtype, FIGO stage or residual disease. Vascular count, VEGF or TP expressions were not significant in either analysis. Lymphatic spread may be significant in aiding metastases in ovarian cancer but requires other biological factors to act in conjunction, as it does not have clearcut prognostic significance. Dissemination of ovarian cancer does not occur primarily through vascular or lymphatic routes but may occur through direct intraperitoneal spread of disease.

Discovery and Validation of Novel Protein Biomarkers in Ovarian Cancer Patient Urine

“…To evaluate their tumor specificity, we assessed their abundance and localization in ovarian tumor tissues in silico using data from the Human Protein Atlas (Supporting Information, Table 3) . Eight of the ten proteins were found to be expressed in ovarian tumor tissues, whilst two proteins (LYVE1 and SCGB1A1) were not stained; each of these, however, has previously been associated with ovarian cancers …”

“…In silico analysis of mRNA expression (from the Human Protein Atlas) suggests that LYPD1 is abundantly expressed in the fallopian tube, the potential origin of most high grade serious epithelial ovarian tumors . Lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor 1 (LYVE1) was previously investigated as part of a combined marker panel to evaluate lymphangiogenesis and prognosis in ovarian cancer . Using immunohistochemical staining for LYVE1, Sundar et al.…”

The Differential Role of L1 in Ovarian Carcinoma and Normal Ovarian Surface Epithelium

“…However, a significant proportion of ovarian carcinomas forms metastases in the retroperitoneal lymph nodes, most likely disseminating through the lymphatic circulation (26,27). To verify whether L1 is implicated in this route of EOC metastatic spread, we assayed for the ability of L1 to modulate the transmigration of wildtype versus L1-deficient IGROV1 cells through a monolayer of lymphatic endothelial cells.…”

Role of tumor‐associated lymphatic endothelial cells in metastasis: A study of epithelial ovarian tumor in vitro

“…( 14 ) However, lymphangiogenesis in EOC had not been seen before. ( 15 ) There were many questions: was TLEC the same as NLEC (normal LEC from normal tissues such as newborn foreskin and other organs with abundant lymphatics)? If lymphangiogenesis was doubtable as the former study, ( 15 ) was LEC absent in the metastatic spread of ovarian cancer?…”

“…( 15 ) There were many questions: was TLEC the same as NLEC (normal LEC from normal tissues such as newborn foreskin and other organs with abundant lymphatics)? If lymphangiogenesis was doubtable as the former study, ( 15 ) was LEC absent in the metastatic spread of ovarian cancer? In order to help answer these questions, TLECs from EOT were isolated and cultured in vitro , and their effects on ovarian carcinoma cell line CAOV‐3 were detected in this study.…”