[Expression of VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3 in papillary renal cell carcinoma and their relationship with prognosis].

Objective: To detect the expression of VEGF receptors in papillary renal cell carcinoma and to explore the correlation between their expression and clinical prognosis.

Methods: Expression of VEGF receptors and PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) were evaluated in 82 patients with papillary renal cell carcinoma using tissue microarray and SP immunohistochemical staining.

Results: The expression of VEGFR-1 in papillary renal cell carcinoma was 82.93%, VEGFR-2 63.41%, VEGFR-3 34.15% and PCNA 67.07%, respectively. Increased VEGFR-2 expression was significantly correlated with tumor size (P = 0.016), histological grade (P = 0.034) and distant metastasis (P = 0.002). VEGFR-3 expression was correlated with histological grade (P = 0.028), lymph node status (P = 0.010) and distant metastasis (P = 0.018), but not correlated with gender, age, location, tumor size and TNM staging. VEGFR-1 expression had no correlation with any clinic and pathologic factors. PCNA expression was correlated with histological grade (P = 0.011), but not correlated with other factors. The expression of VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3 in death cases were higher than that in surviving patients.

Conclusion: Both VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3 can serve as markers for prognosis of papillary renal cell carcinoma. Differently, VEGFR-3 is a predictor of lymph node metastasis, increased VEGFR-2 expression could be used to predict a potential blood dissemination.