Abstract: Objective To investigate the differences on lymphatic vessel density (LVD) among esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and normal esophageal tissues, and analyze the clinical significance.
Methods Twenty samples of EAC, 24 samples of ESCC and 20 cases of normal esophageal tissues were obtained at the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College from January 2004 to January 2011. D2 〖KG*9〗40 was used for immunostaining of lymphatic vessels in EAC, and antibodies of D2 〖KG*9〗40 and Ki 〖KG*9〗67 were used together to detect proliferation of lymphatic vessels. The differences in the LVD among EAC, ESCC and normal esophageal tissues were analyzed. All data were analyzed using the analysis of variance or t test.
Results D2 〖KG*9〗40 staining could identify the lymphatic vessels, and antibodies of D2 〖KG*9〗40 and Ki 〖KG*9〗67 could detect the proliferation of lymphatic vessels. The LVD of EAC, ESCC and normal esophageal tissues were (3.3±1.7)/0.17 mm 2, (4.6±1.2)/0.17 mm 2 and (3.8±1.2)/0.17 mm 2, respectively, with significant differences ( F=5.44, P< 0.05). The LVD of EAC was significantly lower than that of ESCC ( t=3.074, P <0.05), while there was no significant difference in the LVD between the EAC and normal esophageal tissues ( t= -1.022, P >0.05). There were significant differences in the LVD between the ESCC and normal esophageal tissues ( t=2.395, P <0.05). There were significant differences in the LVD between EAC patients with deglutition discomfort and those with pain ( t=3.092, P <0.05). There were significant differences in the LVD between EAC patients with course< 6 months and those with course≥6 months ( t=3.092, P <0.05). No statistical difference in clinicopathological parameters including gender, age, site of lesion, tumor diameter, pathological morphology, T stage, N stage, G stage, TNM clinical stage and lymph node metastasis were detected ( t=1.130, 1.020, F=0.082, t=0.799, F=0.692, t=0.694, 1.820, 0.353, 0.969, 0.969, P >0.05).
Conclusions The LVD of EAC is lower than that of ESCC, but is similar to that of normal esophageal tissues. The LVD of EAC is correlated with the symptoms and course of patients.