Abstract: Objective: To investigate the expression and significance of c-met, vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) and lymphatic microvessel density (LMVD) in esophageal squamous carcinoma. Methods: Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of c-met and VEGF-C, and LMVD was calculated by D2-40 in 25 cases of normal esophageal mucosa and 60 cases of esophageal squamous carcinoma; and the relationships between c-met, VEGF-C, LMVD and clinicopathologic features of esophageal squamous carcinoma were also analyzed. Results: The expression of c-met, VEGF-C and LMVD in esophageal squamous carcinoma were significantly higher than normal esophageal mucosa (P<0.05). c-met and VEGF-C expression in esophageal squamous carcinoma were related to lymph node metastasis and TNM stage (P<0.05); while LMVD was related to infiltration depth, lymph node metastasis and TNM stage (P<0.05). Conclusions: c-met, VEGF-C and lymphoangiogenesis may play important role in development, invasion and metastasis of esophageal squamous carcinoma.

Key words: Esophageal squamous carcinoma, c-met, VEGF-C, LMVD

摘要： 目的: 探讨肝细胞生长因子受体（c-met）、血管内皮细胞生长因子C（VEGF-C）和微淋巴管密度（LMVD）在食管鳞癌中的表达及临床意义。方法: 采用免疫组化法检测25例食管正常黏膜、60例食管鳞癌c-met、VEGF-C的表达情况和LMVD值（用D2-40标记微淋巴管）,并分析三者与食管鳞癌临床病理特征的关系。结果: 食管鳞癌组织c-met、VEGF-C表达和LMVD值均明显高于食管正常黏膜（P<0.05）。并且,食管鳞癌c-met、VEGF-C表达与淋巴结转移和TNM分期有关（P<0.05）;LMVD值与浸润深度、淋巴结转移和TNM分期有关（P<0.05）。结论: c-met、VEGF-C和微淋巴管形成可能在食管鳞癌的发生、侵袭和转移过程中发挥重要作用。

关键词: 食管鳞癌, 肝细胞生长因子受体, 血管内皮生长因子C, 微淋巴管密度