A Study of Lymphangiogenesis in Colorectal and Nasopharyngeal Cancer

1. To determine the association between LVD and clinico-pathologic variables in archived colorectal cancer and Nasopharyngeal carcinoma specimens
2. To determine the association between VEGF-C,-D expression with COX-2 expression and clinico-pathologic variables in colorectal cancer and Nasopharyngeal carcinoma
3. To determine the effect of celecoxib on lymphangiogenesis in Nasopharyngeal carcinoma Lymphangiogenesis and factors modulating lymphangiogenesis are associated with clinico-pathological outcome in Nasopharyngeal carcinoma and colorectal cancer. Celecoxib down-regulates lymphangiogenesis Archival colorectal cancer and Nasopharyngeal carcinoma tumor specimens will be obtained from the Department of Pathology. To determine the effect of celecoxib on lymphangiogenesis in Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, the investigators intend to analyze archived specimens collected in a previously conducted study. Colorectal tumor and nodal specimens and Nasopharyngeal carcinoma primary will be examined for MVD, LVD and growth factor expression using established haematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical techniques. Quantification of LVD and MVD shall be performed by two pathologists blinded to clinico-pathological variables using standardised methods.

Colorectal and nasopharyngeal cancer.

• Colorectal Cancer
• Nasopharyngeal Cancer

• Stacker SA, Caesar C, Baldwin ME, Thornton GE, Williams RA, Prevo R, Jackson DG, Nishikawa S, Kubo H, Achen MG. VEGF-D promotes the metastatic spread of tumor cells via the lymphatics. Nat Med. 2001 Feb;7(2):186-91.
• Mandriota SJ, Jussila L, Jeltsch M, Compagni A, Baetens D, Prevo R, Banerji S, Huarte J, Montesano R, Jackson DG, Orci L, Alitalo K, Christofori G, Pepper MS. Vascular endothelial growth factor-C-mediated lymphangiogenesis promotes tumour metastasis. EMBO J. 2001 Feb 15;20(4):672-82.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male and female patients are eligible
• Patients 21 years or older

Exclusion Criteria:

• None