Expression and clinical significance of vascular endothelial growth factor in esophegeal carcinoma

Objective To examine and analyze the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA in esophageal carcinoma and the relationship among VEGF,lymph node metastasis and the clinical stage.Methods The expression of VEGF was detected in 36 patients with esophageal carcinoma and 24 surrounding esophageal tissues 6 cm away from the cancer tissues by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Results In 36 esophageal carcinoma tissues,22(61.1%) cases expressed VEGF 189 mRNA,while one (4.2%) expressed VEGF189mRNA out of 24 paracancer esophageal tissues.The expression level of VEGF189mRNA was higher in the patients with lymph node metastasis (16/18,88.9%) than those without lymph node metastasis (6/18,33.3%,P0.01).VEGF189mRNA was expressed in 21.4%,84.6% and 88.9% cases of TNM stage Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ respectively.Conclusion The expression of VEGF 189 is significantly associated with the behavior of invasion and metastasis of esophageal carcinoma.