Detection of D2-40-positive lymphatic microvessel density and its clinical significance in lung cancer

Objective: To detect the expression of D2-40 in lung cancer, observe the distribution and structural characteristics of D2-40-marked lymphatic microvessels, and study the role lym- phangiogenesis played in the oncogenisis, development and metastasis of lung cancer. Methods: The expressions of lymphatic endothelial marker D2-40 and vascular endothelial marker CD34 were detected by SP immunohistoc hemistry in 65 samples of lung cancer containing tumor center, paraneoplastic tissue and roughly normal tissue. The relationship between D2-40-LMVD and CD34-MVD was investigated by spearman correlation analysis. The paraneoplastic LMVD were analysed together with clinicopathological parameters. Results: Spearman correlation analysis cued that D2-40-LMVD and CD34-MVD were not correlated (P>0.05). Lymphangiogenesis was active in lung cancer; paraneoplastic LMVD was not associated with genders, ages, tumor location and size, tumor histological types and differentiation degrees, but associated with clinical stages as well as metastasis(P<0.01). Conclusion: D2-40 is so reliable that can be used as an ideal lymphatic endothelial marker. Lymphangiogenesis may play an important role in the oncogenisis, development and metastasis of cancer. The therapy against lymphangiogenesis may open up a new strategy for tumor treatment.