Correlation between Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C Expressior and Lymph Node Micrometastasis and Prognosis in Patients with pNO Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinomas.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor C expression and lymph node micrometastasis and prognosis in patients with pN0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

METHODOLOGY

A total of 528 lymph nodes obtained from the 87 patients with pN0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy were reevaluated by reverse transcriptasepolymerase chain reaction to detect mucin 1 mRNA. Vascular endothelial growth factor C mRNA was detected in esophageal cancer issues also by re-evaluated by reverse transcriptasepolymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

Vascular endothelial growth factor C mRNA expression was correlated with tumor invasion (P < 0.01) and lymphatic invasion (P = 0.000). In univariate analysis by log-rank test, the 5-year survival rate in patients after operation was significantly associated with tumor invasion (P = 0.026), mucin 1 mRNA expression (P = 0.000) and vascular endothelial growth factor C mRNA expression (P = 0.020). The results of Cox regression multivariate analysis confirmed that tumor invasion status and mucin 1 mRNA expression were the independent relevant factors.

CONCLUSION

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C is related to tumor invasion and lymphatic invasion and is not related to lymph node micrometastasis in patients with pN0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.