VEGF-C: An Indicator of Lymph Node Metastasis for Patients that Underwent Esophagectomy

Abstract

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. 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. 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. 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.