Coexpressed High Levels of VEGF-C and Active MMP-9 Are Associated with Lymphatic Spreading and Local Invasiveness of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

摘要

Objectives: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (FTC) usually has a good prognosis, but some patients develop an aggressive course of the disease, leading to a poor outcome. Vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) have been shown to play roles in tumor progression in various human malignancies.