Inhibition of expression of CCR7 can reduce the migration and invasion and suppress the expression of VEGF-C, VEGF-D and VEGF-R3 <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>.
However, VEGF-D mRNA expression was decreased in cancer tissue, and it was inversely correlated with lymphatic invasion and the number of metastatic lymph nodes.
The present study has assessed the expression of VEGF-C and VEGF-D, and their receptor VEGFR-3, in 152 cervical lesions (33 CIN 1, 33 CIN 2, 37 CIN 3, and 49 squamous cell carcinomas) to determine whether expression of lymphangiogenic factors occurs prior to invasion.