title: Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C correlates with a poor prognosis based on analysis of prognostic factors in patients with cervical carcinomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to specifically investigate the clinicopathological role of expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) as well as the correlation with clinical outcomes in cervical cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a comparative analysis of data from a prospective observational study of 82 patients with cervical carcinomas who underwent radical hysterectomy with bilateral adnexectomy and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy from January 2001 to January 2005.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VEGF-C mRNA was identified in tumor tissues from 42 patients. In univariate analysis by Fisher's exact probability test, VEGF-C expression was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis (LNM) (pN1) (P < 0.01). In multivariate analysis by Binary logistic regression analysis, LNM was the independent relevant factor for VEGF-C mRNA expression in tumor tissues. In univariate analysis by the log-rank test, the overall 5-year survival rate of the patients with VEGF-C mRNA expression in tumor tissues was significantly lower than that of the patients without VEGF-C mRNA expression (47.6% vs. 87.5%; P < 0.01). The overall 5-year survival rate of the patients with LNM was significantly lower than that of the patients without LNM (50.0% vs 80.4%; P < 0.01). According to Cox regression multivariate analysis, VEGF-C mRNA expression in tumor tissues and LNM were independent, relevant factors for 5-year survival rate, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expression of VEGF-C is related to lymph node metastasis (pN1), and is a prognostic indicator for cervical cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Second Hospital of Shandong University, Shandong University, Jinan, China. themademei66@126.com
authors.forename: De-mei
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yong-ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary*; D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C