Expression of VEGF-C esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and its relation to metastasis by lymphatic-hematogenous route and prognosis

Objective To examine the expression of VEGF-C in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma,and to explore their association with lymphatic-hematogenous metastasis and prognosis.Methods Rapid immunohistochemical method(streptavidin-peroxidase SP) was used to examine VEGF-C protein expression in 43 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma not treated with radiotherapy or chemotherapy before operation.Results The expression rate of VEGF-C in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was 67.4%.The positive expression of VEGF-C was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis,TNM stage and postoperative hematogenous metastasis(P=0.01).The 3-year and 5-year survival rates of VEGF-C positive group were 24.4% and 18.7% respectively,while those of VEGF-C negative expression group were 64.7% and 58.8% respectively.There was significant difference of survival time between VEGF-C positive expression and VEGF-C negative expression groups(P(0.05)).Conclusion VEGF-C may be related to invasion,lymph node metastasis and postoperative hematogenous metastasis of the carcinoma and prognosis.