Vascular endothelial growth factor-C secreted by pancreatic cancer cell line promotes lymphatic endothelial cell migration in an in vitro model of tumor lymphangiogenesis.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate mechanisms underlying lymphatic node metastasis in pancreatic cancer, we examined roles of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) in tumor lymphangiogenesis.

METHODS

We measured VEGF-C secretion by pancreatic cancer cell lines using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and examined effects of different cell lines on lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) in vitro.

RESULTS

We identified VEGF-C high-secretion (MIA PaCa-2) and low-secretion cell lines (BxPC-3). The trend of enhancement of LEC proliferation by recombinant human VEGF-C (rVEGF-C) was not statistically significant. Numbers of migrating cells were increased by rVEGF-C treatment in a dose-dependent manner. The MIA PaCa-2 cell culture supernatant caused greater LEC migration than the BxPC-3 supernatant. The VEGF-C effects were significantly inhibited by rVEGF receptor 3 (rVEGF R3)/Fc chimera. In LEC/fibroblast coculture on collagen gel, LEC capillary formation was significantly enhanced by coculture with MIA PaCa-2 cells compared with BxPC-3 cells. Enhanced capillary formation with MIA PaCa-2 cells was inhibited by rVEGF R3/Fc chimera, implying VEGF-C involvement in progression of LEC sprouting in a tumor microenvironment.

CONCLUSIONS

Because VEGF-C secreted by pancreatic cancer cells plays an important role in LEC migration in pancreatic cancer lymphangiogenesis, it is possible that rVEGF R3/Fc chimera might have a role in controlling lymph node metastasis.