ABSTRACT
Objective To introduce the current studies of the role of vascular endothelial growth factor-C(VEGF-C) and VEGF-D in lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis of gastrointestinal neoplasma.Methods The related literatures in recent 5 years were reviewed.Results The growth factors VEGF-C and VEGF-D enhance lymphangiogenic metastasis of gastrointestinal neoplasma with the property of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis.In gastric adenocarcinoma,VEGF-C mRNA and tissue protein expression correlate with lymphatic invasion,lymph node metastasis,venous invasion and reduced 5-year survival rates.The role of VEGF-C in esophageal squamous cancer and colorectal cancer and VEGF-D in colorectal cancer is not certain,with conflicting reports in the published literatures.Conclusion The VEGF-C,VEGF-D/VEGFR-3 signal pathway may become the ideal target for inhibition of tumor proliferation and metastases,antilymphangiogenesis therapy may be a novel potential strategy in tumor biological therapy.