[Expression and clinical significance of VEGF-C mRNA and CD 31 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma]
To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) mRNA and CD 31 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its promotion of lymphatic metastasis. The expression of VEGF-C mRNA was examined in 43 ESCC by in situ hybridization. Intratumoral microvessel density (MVD) was assessed by immunostaining endothelial cells, using anti-CD31 antibody. The positive rate of VEGF-C mRNA expression was 41.86%. The average rank of MVD was 76.36 +/- 20.30/mm2. VEGF-C mRNA expression correlated significantly with lymph node metastasis, TNM stage and depth of invasion (p 0.05). MVD correlated significantly with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage (p 0.05). MVD was significant higher in the VEGF-C positive tumors than negative tumors (p
