[Expression and clinical significance of VEGF-C mRNA and CD 31 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma].

To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) mRNA and CD 31 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its promotion of lymphatic metastasis. The expression of VEGF-C mRNA was examined in 43 ESCC by in situ hybridization. Intratumoral microvessel density (MVD) was assessed by immunostaining endothelial cells, using anti-CD31 antibody. The positive rate of VEGF-C mRNA expression was 41.86%. The average rank of MVD was 76.36 +/- 20.30/mm2. VEGF-C mRNA expression correlated significantly with lymph node metastasis, TNM stage and depth of invasion (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) in statistic, but not with histological grade (differentiation) (p > 0.05). MVD correlated significantly with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage (p < 0.05) in statistic, but not with depth of invasion and histological grade (differentiation) (p > 0.05). MVD was significant higher in the VEGF-C positive tumors than negative tumors (p < 0.05). The present study indicated that VEGF-C might play a role in lympatic metastasis via lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis in ESCC.