PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Georgia Hardavella AU - Vasiliki Siozopoulou AU - Anna Batistatou AU - Petros Galanis AU - Yiotanna Dalavanga AU - Manos Alchanatis AU - Dimitrios Stefanou AU - Stavros Constantopoulos TI - Comparing LYVE-1 and D2-40 expression in small cell lung carcinomas (SCLC); association with clinical parameters and lymphatic invasion DP - 2011 Sep 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - p3819 VI - 38 IP - Suppl 55 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p3819.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p3819.full SO - Eur Respir J2011 Sep 01; 38 AB - Introduction: Lymphangiogenesis is actively facilitating tumor metastasis.LYVE-1 and D2-40 are two new lymphatic endothelial markers;their expression and prognostic impact in SCLC still remain vague.Aim: To investigate the lymphangiogenetic expression in SCLC we measured the intratumoral lymphatic microvessel density (ILMVD), the lymphatic invasion (L.I) and their correlation with clinical parameters.Materials and methods: Retrospective study of 55 SCLC patients (mean age:68.1 years,range 40-89). Histological specimens from all patients were immunohistochemically stained for D2-40 (epitope of podoplanin) and LYVE-1 (CD44 homolog). Calculation of ILMVD and assessment of L.I were performed and correlation with clinical data followed.Results: D2-40 and LYVE-1 were expressed in all specimens whilst L.I in 59.6%. D2-40 and LYVE-1 ILMVD were associated with the stage at diagnosis (p=0.017 and p=0.03 respectively) and L.I (p=0.00 and p=0.02 respectively). D2-40 ILMVD was particularly associated with certain target organs for metastasis (liver:p=0.001,adrenals: p=0.046,brain: p=0.007). L.I was associated with stage (p=0.00) and all target organs for metastasis (p<0.05). ILMVD D2-40 and LYVE-1 weren't associated with L.I and survival.Conclusions: D2-40 and LYVE-1 and L.I were highly expressed in SCLC and independently associated with poor patient outcome, thus presenting new insights in prognosis. D2-40 presented a more potent role by associating with certain target organs for metastases. Defining subgroups of patients with poorer prognosis at the time of diagnosis could reinforce the development and application of new targeted therapeutic strategies.