PGRN promotes lymphangiogenesis through VEGF-C and is an independent risk factor in human esophageal cancers

Lymph node metastasis is one of the most important predictor of the prognosis for esophageal cancer (EC) patients. Yet, the mechanism underlying the lymph node metastasis is largely unknown. Progranulin (PGRN) is shown to be highly expressed in various types of cancers and could promote the angiogenesis and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of cancer cells in previous studies. However, the expression status of PGRN and its effects on the lymphangiogenesis in EC is largely unclear. In this study, we show for the first time that PGRN is expressed in EC tissue samples and cell lines and could promote the expression of VEGF-C in vitro, a well-known lymphangiogenesis inducer, through the putative signaling transducers p-ERK and p-AKT.

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