BACKGROUNDVascular endothelial growth factor-C(VEGF-C) plays a critical role in tumor-induced lymphangiogenesis and contributes to lymph node metastasis.Human antigen R(HuR) is one of the firstly identified RNA-binding proteins.It can increase the stability of a variety of growth factors and cytokines and upregulate protein expression.The aim of this study is to investigate the expression of HuR and VEGF-C protein in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC),and explore the relationship between the expression of HuR and VEGF-C and clinicopathological factors.

METHODSHuR and VEGF-C protein levels were detected in 81 NSCLC tissues and 15 control benign pulmonary lesion tissues by immunohistochemistry method(SP method).

RESULTSIn NSCLC tissues,positive rate of cytoplasmic HuR,nuclear HuR and VEGF-C was 45.7%(37/81),82.7%(67/81) and 70.4%(57/81),respectively.There was a significant difference in positive expression of HuR and VEGF-C between NSCLC and benign pulmonary lesion tissues(P < 0.05).The expression of cytoplasmic HuR was closely related to pTNM stages,differentiation degree and lymph node metastasis(P < 0.05),but not correlated with sex,age and histological classification(P > 0.05).Furthermore,cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for HuR protein(P < 0.05) but not nuclear HuR expression(P > 0.05) was associated with high VEGF-C expression.

CONCLUSIONSCytoplasmic HuR and VEGF-C are overexpressed in NSCLC,and are related to tumor development.HuR may mediate the modulation of VEGF-C gene expression in NSCLC.