OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C), C-erbB-2, p53, estrogen receptor (ER), and progesterone receptor (PR) in breast cancer tissue and their clinical significance.

METHODSThe expressions of C-erbB-2, p53, ER, and PR in 60 breast cancer tissues were detected using immunohistochemistry, and their clinical significance was analyzed.

RESULTSThe positivity rates of VEGF-C, C-erbB-2, p53, ER, and PR in the 60 breast cancer tissues were 56.7%, 38.3%, 46.7%, 48.3% and 53.3%, respectively. The expressions of VEGF-C and C-erbB-2 differed significantly in relation to the lymph node status (P<0.05), but not to the patient's age or tumor volume (P>0.05). The expression of VEGF-C was positively correlated to that of C-erbB-2 (P<0.05). The expression of p53 was positively correlated to the tumor volume (P<0.05). The expressions of ER and PR were not correlated to the patient's age, tumor volume and lymph node status (P>0.05), but were inversely correlated to C-erbB-2 expression (P<0.05) independent of VEGF-C and p53 expressions (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe high expressions of VEGF-C and C-erbB-2 are closely related to lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients, and may cooperate in promoting lymph node metastasis of breast carcinoma. Combined detection of VEGF-C, C-erbB-2, p53, ER and PR may help clinical treatment and prognostic evaluation of breast cancer patients.