Clinicopathological significance of peritumoral lymphatic vessel density in gastric carcinoma

Lymphangiogenesis has recently been considered important for spread of malignant tumors. In the present study, lymphatic vessel density (LVD) including peritumoral LVD (P-LVD) and intratumoral LVD (I-LVD) was determined, respectively, by immunohistochemical staining with the antibody to LYVE-1 in 63 cases of early gastric carcinoma and 105 cases of advanced gastric carcinoma. The aim of the study is to investigate whether or not increased LVD could be a risk factor for nodal metastasis and survival. We conclude that increased P-LVD, but not I-LVD, could serve as an independent risk factor for nodal metastasis, recurrence and overall survival in gastric carcinoma.