title: The overexpression of VEGF in esophageal cancer is associated with a more advanced TMN stage: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to quantitatively assess the impact of VEGF overexpression on prognosis in patients with esophageal cancer (EC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A meta-analysis was performed on studies reporting overall survival (OS) or clinicopathological parameters to compare the outcomes of EC patients with VEGF overexpression to the outcomes of patients without VEGF overexpression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significantly increased risk for patients with VEGF overexpression to have an advanced stage of the disease (III and IV) with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.14. Additionally, patients with VEGF overexpression had a 2.03-fold increased risk for distant metastasis and shorter OS (HR=1.55).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VEGF overexpression is associated with a more advanced TMN stage and shorter OS in EC patients.
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang Cancer Research Institute, Zhejiang Province Cancer Hospital, Zhejiang Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Ling
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Zhi-Qiang
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ya-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Wei-Min
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Mao
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016017:Odds Ratio; D017594:Publication Bias; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A