Expression and significances of vascular endothelial growth factor-C and its receptor-3 in patients with endometriosis

Objective: To investigate the expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 in endometriosis and the relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor and the mechanism of endometriosis. Methods: A total of 32 specimens of endometriosis and 25 specimens of the normal controls were evaluated by immunohistologically technique with polyclonal antibody against VEGF-C and VEGFR-3.Results: VEGF-C expressed express either in normal endometrium or eutopic and ectopic endometrium of endometriosis. There were no significant differences between them （P＞0.05）.The expression levels of VEGFR-3 in eutopic and ectopic endometrium of endometriosis were significantly higher than that of normal endometrium （P＜0.05）. The expression of VEGFR-3 in eutopic endometrium was higher than that in ectopic endometrium （P＜0.05）.Conclusion: VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 play significant roles in the regulation of lymphangiogenesis of endometriosis, which express in both eutopic endometrium and ectopic endometrium of endometriosis. VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 may play vital roles in the pathogenesis and development of endometriosis.