VEGF and EGFR expressions in invasion and lymphatic metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Objective: To evaluate the role of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) expressions in invasion and lymphatic metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.Methods: Tissue samples were collected from 38 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and 43 patients with inflammation in nasopharyngeal mucosa.Immunohistochemistry method was used to determine the expressions of VEGF and EGFR.Results: The VEGF and the EGFR expressions were higher in nasopharyngeal carcinoma than those in nasopharyngeal mucosa(P0.05),and they had some correlation with the invasion and lymphatic metastasis and with the clinical stage of nasopharyngeal carcinoma(P0.05).Conclusion: VEGF and EGFR may be useful markers for detecting the biological behavior and prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma for their relation with the invasion and lymphatic metastasis of the nasopharyngeal carcinoma.