【Abstract】 Objective To research the significance on expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) in human breast carcinoma, benign diseases and normal mammary gland by self-constructed tissue chips and research its relationship to regional lymph node metastasis. Methods The tissue chips containing specimens of breast carcinoma, breast benign disease and normal mammary gland were designed and constructed. The expression of VEGF-C in the specimens was detected by the tissue chips and immunohistochemical method, and researched the relationship of the expression of VEGF-C in breast cancer with regional lymph node metastasis. Results The positive rates of VEGF-C in the centre and borderline of carcinoma and distant mammary gland （the distance from the tumor’s bouncary ＞3 cm） were 69.4%（68 /98）, 69.1%（67 /97） and 52.9%（36 /68）, respectively， but not in benign disease and normal mammary gland specimens. The positive rates of VEGF-C in the centre and borderline of carcinoma in lymph node metastasis group 〔75.0%（51/68）， 76.1%(51/67)〕 were significantly higher than that of no metastasis group 〔25.0%（17/68），23.9%(16/67)〕, P＜0.05. The positive rates of VEGF-C in the centre and borderline of carcinoma and distant mammary gland were no correlation with size, type and clinical stage of tumor. Conclusion The tissue chips is high efficiency and well quality control in multiple factor investigation. There are overexpression of VEGF-C in primary breast cancer, and that may play an important role in lymph node metastasis.
