Open AccessVascular endothelial growth factor C is an indicator of lymph node metastasis in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinomas and its role in long‐term survival after surgery
Author(s) -
Pan Xufeng,
Mao Teng,
Fang Wentao,
Chen Wenhu
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
thoracic cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 1759-7714
pISSN - 1759-7706
DOI - 10.1111/1759-7714.12094
Subject(s) - medicine , metastasis , stage (stratigraphy) , vascular endothelial growth factor c , proportional hazards model , vascular endothelial growth factor , esophageal squamous cell carcinoma , oncology , univariate analysis , carcinoma , pathology , vegf receptors , vascular endothelial growth factor a , cancer , multivariate analysis , biology , paleontology
Background To define the role of vascular endothelial growth factor C ( VEGF ‐ C) on lymph node ( LN ) metastasis of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma ( ESCC ), and to investigate its impact on overall survival. Methods Real‐time polymerase chain reaction was introduced to quantify the expression of VEGF ‐ CmRNA . One hundred and eight samples (59 tumor tissue and 59 paired normal tissue) were analyzed. Results VEGF ‐ CmRNA expression was significantly higher in tumor tissues than in normal mucosa ( P = 0.02). VEGF ‐ CmRNA expression was significantly higher in LN (+) patients than in LN (‐) patients ( P = 0.04). VEGF ‐ CmRNA expression was related to a positive LN number ( P = 0.06) and a positive LN station number ( P = 0.04). VEGF ‐ CmRNA expression was significantly higher in stage III and IV patients than in stage I and II patients ( P = 0.03). A logistic regression model showed that VEGF ‐ CmRNA and T status were independent risk factors for LN metastasis( P < 0.05). In univariate analysis, survival tended to be poorer in the VEGF ‐ CmRNA high expression group (22.0 months vs. 44.0 months, P = 0.08). A Cox regression model revealed that a positive LN station number was the only independent risk factor for overall survival ( P < 0.01). Conclusion VEGF ‐ C was a useful indicator for LN metastasis in human ESCC , and it might have some influence on long‐term survival by affecting LN metastasis.