HER2eu expression correlates with vascular endothelial growth factor-C and lymphangiogenesis in lymph node-positive breastn cancer

摘要

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) is the main inducer of lymphangiogenesis. VEGF-C overexpression is associated with lymphovascular tumor cell invasion, an increased rate of lymph node metastasis and adverse prognosis in various human cancers. However, little is known about the upstream inducers of VEGF-C expression. Recent studies have shown that human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2eu) overexpression is associated with high VEGF-C levels in human breast cancer cells. In addition to blocking of HER2eu, tyrosine kinase significantly decreased VEGF-C expression in vitro.