Objective   To establish the uterine cervical cancer model of lymphatic metastasis using Kunming (Km) mice and to explore the clinical significance of Prox-1.   Methods   The lymphatic metastasis model was established by injection of cervical cancer cells into the left nail pads of female Km mice. The tumor formation rate

tumor growth and lymph node metastasis status were observed. At 5

10

15

and 20 d after inoculation

mice in one group were sacrificed for the specimens

including lymph nodes and tumors. Then HE dyeing and immunohistochemistry staining of cytokeratin were used for the detection of the occurrence of lymphatic metastasis or not

and fluorescent quantitation polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR) and Western-blot were used for the detection of the expressions of VEGFR-3 and Prox-1.   Results   The tumor formation rate was 100%. The lymph node metastasis was closely correlated with the inoculation time. FQ-PCR and Western blot demon-strated that Prox-1 mRNA and protein expressions in distant lymphatic metastasis group [(0.000 173±0.000 085)  and (0.108 7±0.049 9)] were significantly higher than those in sentinel node metastasis group [(0.000 058±0.000 022) and (0.012 0±0.005 7)] and non-lymphatic metastasis group [(0.000 027±0.000 010) and (0.003 8±0.001 4)] (P0.05). Expressions of VEGFR-3 mRNA and protein in sentinel node metastasis group were 0.000 147±0.000 066 and 0.123 6±0.054 8

respectively

but no significant difference was found as compared with those in distant lymphatic metastasis group [(0.000 224±0.000 101) and (0.160 7±0.075 3)] and non-lymphatic metastasis group [(0.000 134±0.000 044) and (0.082 4±0.043 2)] (P0.05).   Conclusion   The model for uterine cervical cancer lymphatic metastasis can be successfully established through the nail pad hypodermic in Km mice. It is an ideal model for the studies of the mechanisms in uterine cervical metastasis as well as antitumor therapy of lymphatic transfer. Prox-1 may be a sensitive index for the prediction of tumor lymph node metastasis and antitumor lymphatic transfer.