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Clinicopathological Analysis of Lymphatic Vessels and of Lymphangiogenesis in Human Cancer

  • Chapter
Lymphangiogenesis in Cancer Metastasis

Part of the book series: Cancer Metastasis – Biology and Treatment ((CMBT,volume 13))

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Abstract

Novel prognostic factors are needed to enhance identification of those patients with early-stage node-negative cancer that are at increased risk for relapse and should be considered for adjuvant treatment. Lymphatic invasion, lymphatic vessel density and lymphatic growth factor expression have been proposed as reliable prognostic indicators for several human malignancies. However, controversy concerning the precise role of lymphangiogenesis-associated parameters in predicting patients’ outcome still exists and this is mainly due to differences in patient selection and applied methodology and to the lack of standardization. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the current applied techniques for evaluating tumor lymphangiogenesis in solid human tumors and discuss the biological relevance of lymphangiogenesis for progression of different human malignancies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Translational Cancer Research Group, Laboratory of Pathology, University of Antwerp/University Hospital Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium

    Ilse Van der Auwera, Peter B. Vermeulen & Luc Y. Dirix

  2. Oncology Centre, General Hospital Sint-Augustinus, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium

    Ilse Van der Auwera, Peter B. Vermeulen & Luc Y. Dirix

Authors
  1. Ilse Van der Auwera
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  2. Peter B. Vermeulen
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  3. Luc Y. Dirix
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Correspondence to Ilse Van der Auwera .

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Van der Auwera, I., Vermeulen, P.B., Dirix, L.Y. (2009). Clinicopathological Analysis of Lymphatic Vessels and of Lymphangiogenesis in Human Cancer. In: Lymphangiogenesis in Cancer Metastasis. Cancer Metastasis – Biology and Treatment, vol 13. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2247-9_6

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