Correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor C expression and prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinomas after Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) expression and prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).


METHODS
In all, 92 ESCC specimens were re-evaluated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction to detect VEGF-C mRNA. Correlations between VEGF-C expression and clinicopathological factors were analyzed using χ(2) test. The log-rank test was used to calculate survival rate and disease-free survival. A Cox regression multivariate analysis was performed to determine independent prognostic factors.


RESULTS
VEGF-C mRNA expression was correlated with tumor invasion (P < 0.01), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.025), tumor stage (P < 0.01) and lymphatic invasion (P < 0.001). The 5-year survival rate in patients was significantly associated with tumor invasion (P < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001), tumor stage (P < 0.001) and VEGF-C mRNA expression (P = 0.001). The 5-year survival rate of patients without VEGF-C mRNA expression was significantly higher than that of the patients with VEGF-C mRNA expression (P = 0.001). Cox regression multivariate analysis confirmed that tumor invasion was the only relevant independent factor. The 5-year disease-free survival rate of patients without VEGF-C mRNA expression in esophageal cancer tissues was also significantly higher than that of the patients with VEGF-C mRNA expression (P < 0.001). Cox regression multivariate analysis confirmed that tumor invasion and VEGF-C mRNA expression were independent factors for 5-year disease-free survival.


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF-C expression correlates with poor survival in ESCC patients. However, it is not an independent prognostic factor.
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China.
Zhi-Gang
ZG
Sun
Zhou
Z
Wang
Min
M
Zhang
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C