Expression and clinical significance of VEGF and D2-40 in human esophageal squamous carcinoma

Objective To observe the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and D2-40 in human esophageal squamousl carcinoma to investigate the relationship between the lymphatic vessel density(LVD) and lymph node metastasis. Methods The expression of VEGF protein and D2-40 was examined by immunohistochemistry in 67 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma which were devided into lymph node metastasis group and nonmetastatic group. Results The expression of VEGF protein was mainly detected in cytoplasm of malignant cells and D2-40 in endothelium of lymphatic vessels. The positive rates of VEGF protein and D2-40 positive lymphatic vessel density were significantly higher in lymph node metastatic esophageal squamous carcinoma compared with nonmetastatic group(P0.05), and significantly higher in lymph node metastatic group than in nonmetastatic group(P0.05). Conclusion The high expression of VEGF may closely related to the generation of lymphatic vessel and lymph node metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.