title: [Expression of VEGF-C and its correlation with cervical lymph nodes metastasis of oral cancers].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) is known to be capable of inducing cell proliferation of lymphatic endothelia and development of lymphatic vessels. Thus, in the current study the expression of VEGF-C was investigated to understand the mechanism of lymphatic metastasis of oral cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  VEGF-C protein expression in benign and malignant oral lesions was investigated with an immunohistochemical staining assay, followed by light microscopic examination and image analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunohistostaining of VEGF-C was observed in normal, benign and malignant epithelia, as well as in some lymphatic vessels. The VEGF-C positive rate was significantly higher in squamous carcinomas than in normal tissues and benign lesions. It was also noted that in squamous carcinomas the expression level of VEGF-C correlated well with pathological grades and stages of lymph node metastasis, but not with clinical grades.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that VEGF-C may promote lymphatic metastasis of oral cancer, and it is possible to be used as a predictor for the lymphatic metastasis and prognosis of oral cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Stomatology, West China University of Medical Sciences.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C