BACKGROUNDTo investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and CD44v6 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to explore their association with invasion, metastasis and prognosis of NSCLC.

METHODSA rapid immunohistochemical method (streptoavidin-peroxidase, SP) was used to detect VEGF and CD44v6 proteins expression in 43 paraffin-embedded resected NSCLC tissues retrospectively. All the patients were initially treated.

RESULTSThe expression rates of VEGF in squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma were 62.5% (15/24) and 68.42% (13/19) respectively. The positive rates of CD44v6 expression in squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma were 58.33% (15/24) and 68.42% (13/19) respectively. The positive expressions of VEGF and CD44v6 were significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage (P < 0.05), and also significantly correlated with postoperative hematogenous metastasis (P < 0.05). The 3- and 5-year survival rates of patients with VEGF positive expression were 19.23% and 6.41% respectively, whereas those with negative expression were 67.41% and 58.82%, there was signi-ficant difference of survival rate between the two groups (P < 0.05). The 3- and 5-year survival rates of CD44v6 positive expression group and negative expression group were 18.67%, 10.67% and 67.83%, 53.50%, there was also significance difference of survival rate between two groups (P < 0.05). The positive expression of VEGF was significantly correated with the positive expression of CD44v6 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSDetection of VEGF and CD44v6 expression in NSCLC is helpful to evaluate the lymph node metastasis, TNM stage and prognosis. It is also helpful to guide postoperative multiple modality therapy.