Primary Research Of Vasculogenic Mimicry In Esophageal Squamous Carciomna

Objective:To investigate vasculogenic mimicry (VM) in esophageal squamous carcinoma (ESC) and explore its relationship associated with patients'clinical characters.Methods:Expression of CD34 immunohistochemistry and PAS (Periodic acid-schiff reagent) dual staining combined with HE (hematoxylin and eosin) staining in 68 cases of ESC were detected. VM in ESC was accessed with the following principals:The cells which confirmed to be ESC cells (HE staining) enclosed as tubular structure, which were CD34 staining negative, and red.blood cells existing in the tubular structure.Analyze the relevant parameters of single-factor analysis, Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard model.Results:1.VM was found in 11.76% (8/68) cases of ESC. 2.VM was not correlated with sex, age, tumor location, tumor size, depth of invasion, and existence lymph node metastasis.3.VM was found to be associated with the degree of tumor differentiation degree (χ2=8.651,p =0.003)and TNM stage(χ2=5.186, p=0.023).2.44%(1/41)of well-differentiated group (G1-G2),25.93% (7/27) of the poorly differentiated group (G3);4.76%(2/42) early-medium term (TNMⅠ～Ⅱ)patients and 23.77% (6/26) in advanced cases (TNMⅢperiod) were found VM.4 Kaplan-Meier survival curves to compare the survival rate between VM positive group and VM negative group. VM(+) group survival rate was significantly lower than VM(-)group (Log-rank testχ2=6.651,p=0.010).VM(+) group's 12,24 and 36 months survival rates(62.5%,31.3% and 15.6% respectively) were significantly lower than those of VM(-) Group's (81.5%,76.3% and 48.5% respectively). 5.Cox analysis revealed that VM (F=7.795,p=0.005,relative risk =4.099),depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis and operational method were all the independent risk factors of prognosis of ESC. Conclusion:1.VM maybe a special pattern of blood supplies of ESC, and it probably play an important role in progression of ESC.2.The higher invasive ESC was easier to generate VM than the poor invasive ESC.3.VM positive patients had poorer prognosis and shorter survival time.