LYMPH AND BLOOD VESSEL ARCHITECTURE IN BENIGN AND MALIGNANT PROSTATIC TISSUE: LACK OF LYMPHANGIOGENESIS IN PROSTATE CARCINOMA ASSESSED WITH NOVEL LYMPHATIC MARKER LYMPHATIC VESSEL ENDOTHELIAL HYALURONAN RECEPTOR (LYVE-1)

Abstract

LYVE-1 is a specific lymphatic endothelial marker in benign and malignant prostate tissues. It is a useful new marker for the investigation of lymphatics. To our knowledge we report the immunohistochemical visualization and quantification of lymphatic vessels in prostatic tissue for the first time. In contrast to the stimulated angiogenesis of blood vessels in PCa, the destruction of lymphatic vessels occurs rather than lymphangiogenesis.