OBJECTIVETo investigate relationship between the expression of heparanase (HPSE) and vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) and tumorigenesis, progression in human lung cancer.

METHODSThe expression of HPSE and VEGF-C protein in 65 cases of lung cancer, adjacent tissues of cancer and normal tissues was tested by immunohistochemical SABC method and analysed by clinico-pathological characteristics and prognosis of lung cancer.

RESULTSThe rate of expression of HPSE and VEGF-C protein in tumor tissues (51% and 57%) was significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues of cancer (9% and 12%) and normal tissues (5% and 6%) (chi2 = 34.6, 38.8, 26.7, 28.6; P < 0.01); It was shown that HPSE and VEGF-C protein expression did significantly not correlate with the type (chi2 = 0.39, 0.41, P > 0.05) and grade of the tumor (chi2 = 0.45, 0.04, P > 0.05); but it correlated with the clinical stage (chi2 = 26.6, 20.1; P < 0.01) and survival time of the patients (chi2 = 21.5, 22.2; P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe results suggest that there be overexpression of HPSE and VEGF-C protein in lung cancer tissues, and which perhaps participate in regulation of tumorigenesis, progression in lung cancer. The expressions of HPSE and VEGF-C protein are used as an useful marker of the biological behavior of lung cancer and as an independent prognosis factor for the patients with lung cancer.