Several stimulating molecules of neovascularization have been characterized, between them, is the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is a powerful mitogen involved both in angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. VEGF plays its angiogenic and lymphangiogenic functions by activating the tyrosine kinase receptors VEGFR-1 (Flt-1), VEGFR-2 (Flk-1/KDR) and VEGFR-3 (Flt-4), being expressed in some types of human cancer. The binding between VEGF-C and its specific receptor, VEGFR-3 (Flt-4), results in lymphangiogenesis. Data coming from a recent study have shown that the association between VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 enhanced the cancer cells mobility and their invasiveness, promoting metastasis. These observations suggest that the VEGFR-3/VEGF-C axis can affect the cancer development or its progression by acting directly in cancer cells. The aim of this study is to present the importance of VEGF-C expression in lymphangiogenesis in several types of cancer. This review is justified of great importance, because it’s an incentive for oncological professionals to introduce the detection of the VEGF-C in prevention of tumor dissemination, develop new drugs and treatments to cancer. This study consists in a literature review, and the articles were searched in some database (Pubmed, Lilacs, Bireme, Medline, Scielo) by using keywords based on DeCS (Descritores em Ciência da Saúde) published by BIREME. The literature review was held from August 2011 to June 2012.
Keywords: Lymphangiogenesis, Metastasis, Vascular endothelial growth factor
