Lymph vessel density in seminomatous testicular cancer assessed with the specific lymphatic endothelium cell markers D2-40 and LYVE-1: correlation with pathologic parameters and clinical outcome.

Journal article

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the role of lymph vessel density (LVD) and lymphangiogenesis in seminomatous testicular cancer (STC) by using the lymphatic endothelial cell (LEC) markers LYVE-1 and D2-40. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Paraffin embedded tumor specimens from 40 patients with STC were stained by specific D2-40 and Lyve-1 antibodies. LVD was measured in different representative and standardized areas. Fluorescence double immunostaining for Lyve-1 and Ki-67 was performed and results were correlated with clinicopathologic data. The median follow-up period was 55 (range 10-135) months. RESULTS: Mean intratumoral LVD (D2-40: 1.30 ± 1.99; Lyve-1: 1.82 ± 2.34) was significantly lower than peritumoral LVD (D2-40: 4.94 ± 2.58; Lyve-1: 4.62 ± 2.73) and LVD in nontumoral areas (D2-40: 4.81 ± 3.79; Lyve-1: 4.22 ± 3.19). There was no significant difference between LVD measures when using D2-40 or LYVE-1. Detection rates of lymphatic vascular invasion (LVI) were significantly higher than in conventional HE-stained sections (77.5% vs. 52.5%). No proliferating lymphatic vessels were found. CONCLUSIONS: We found that LVD is decreased within tumor areas of STC. Despite a higher peritumoral LVD, no signs of proliferating endothelial cells were observed, suggesting a lack of lymphangiogenesis in STC. Detection of LVI can be optimized by specific D2-40 or LYVE-1 staining.

Authors: Heinzelbecker, J; Kempf, K; Kurz, K; Steidler, A; Weiss, C

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Urologic oncology
• Volume: 31
• Issue: 7
• Pages: 1386-1394
• Publication date: 2013-10-01
• DOI: 10.1016/j.urolonc.2011.08.006
• EISSN: 1873-2496
• ISSN: 1078-1439
• Language: English
• Keywords: Humans; Testicular Neoplasms; Adult; Vesicular Transport Proteins; Middle Aged; Ki-67 Antigen; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; Tumor Markers, Biological; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Lymphatic Vessels; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Follow-Up Studies; Endothelial Cells; Lymphangiogenesis