title: Overexpression of VEGF-C correlates with a poor prognosis in esophageal cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prognostic value of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) in patients with esophageal cancer (EC) remains controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis was to clarify the association of VEGF-C with survival in EC patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a meta-analysis that included eligible studies to expound the effect of VEGF-C in EC survival. Eligible studies published until November 2015 was identified using available databases. STATA 12.0 was performed in this meta-analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 13 studies, including 1203 patients, in this meta-analysis. The combined hazard ratio of 1.70 (95% CI, 1.43-2.03, P < 0.001) shows that VEGF-C overexpression was significantly correlated with poor overall survival in EC patients. Furthermore, the results suggested a significant relationship between VEGF-C expression and overall survival was also showed in studies with patient source, patient number ≥ 70, methods detecting VEGF-C by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) or ELISA and histology type. Moreover, combined odds ratio of VEGF-C displayed that VEGF-C overexpression was significantly association with stage, depth of tumor invasion, lymph node status and metastasis of EC (P < 0.05). However, it has no correlation with differentiation degree of EC (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VEGF-C overexpression shows an unfavorable prognosis for EC patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Suzhou Dushuhu Hospital (Clinic Center, Soochow University), Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.|Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Suzhou Dushuhu Hospital (Clinic Center, Soochow University), Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Haifeng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.|Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Suzhou Dushuhu Hospital (Clinic Center, Soochow University), Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Ji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Suzhou Dushuhu Hospital (Clinic Center, Soochow University), Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Shaomu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Suzhou Dushuhu Hospital (Clinic Center, Soochow University), Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Haitao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Yaozeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Suzhou Dushuhu Hospital (Clinic Center, Soochow University), Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Haitao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011379:Prognosis; D017594:Publication Bias; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
keywords: VEGF-C; esophageal cancer; meta-analysis; prognosis