title: [VEGF-C mRNA expression and its relationship with clinicopathological parameters in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To detect the expression of VEGF-C mRNA and to investigate its relationship with clinicopathological parameters in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR was used to measure the level of VEGF-C mRNA in the tumor tissue and corresponding normal mucosa in ESCC patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The VEGF-C mRNA expression in tumor tissue was significantly higher than that in the corresponding normal mucosa (6.30 vs. 2.81, P = 0.02), and also significantly higher in the patients with lymph node metastasis than that in those without lymph node metastasis (10.11 vs. 4.15, P = 0.04). Among the patients with metastatic lymph nodes, VEGF-C mRNA expression was 62.19 in the patients with > or = 4 metastatic lymph nodes versus 6.30 in those with < 4 (P = 0.01), and 18.98 in the patients with > or = 3 metastatic lymph node stations versus 4.92 in those with < 3 (P = 0.04). In terms of stage, VEGF-C mRNA expression was significantly higher in the stage II b + III + IV than that in the stage I + II a (9.99 vs. 3.80, P = 0.03). Logistic binary regression analysis showed that VEGF-C mRNA was an independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis in ESCC (P = 0.01). In survival analysis, 2-year survival rate was not related with VEGF-C mRNA expression (P = 0.46). It was showed by COX regression model that the number of metastatic lymph node stations was the only independent risk factor for survival (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression of VEGF-C mRNA play an important role in lymph node metastasis of human ESCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, China.
authors.forename: Xu-feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Guo-liang
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: Wen-tao
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Wen-hu
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015996:Survival Rate; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C