title: VEGF-C: an indicator of lymph node metastasis for patients that underwent esophagectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) and its relationship to lymph node metastasis in esophageal squamous cell cancer after esophagectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of VEGF-C protein was detected by immunohistochemistry. Kaplan-Meier method was performed to calculate the survival rate. Cox regression multivariate analysis was performed to determine independent prognostic factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The difference of VEGF-C protein expression in Tl, T2 and T3 patients was statistically significant (p=0.031). The expression of VEGF-C protein in patients with lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than those without metastasis (p=0.004). VEGF-C protein expression correlated with significantly worsened 5-year survival for all patients as well as those with T3 tumors and N1 nodal status. The result of Cox analysis demonstrated that N stage and VEGF-C protein expression were independent prognostic factors; the multivariate analyses indicated that the N classification is the independent pathological risk factor of VEGF-C expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VEGF-C expression was found to be significantly associated with T stage and N stage. The patients with VEGF-C protein expression had a significantly lower 5-year survival rate than without VEGF-C protein expression. Lymph node metastasis and VEGF-C protein expression were independent prognostic factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China. slyywxh@163.com
authors.forename: Xiaohang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016015:Logistic Models; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015854:Up-Regulation; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C467486:VEGFC protein, human; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C