Abstract:

Objective To investigate the expression of Survivin，NF-κB，and VEGFR-2 as well as their relationships with treatment effects of Apatinib and with microvascular density and micro-lymphatic vessel density in small-cell carcinoma of esophagus. Methods Immunohistochemistry was used to assess expression of Survivin，NF-κB and VEGFR-2 as well as microvascular density and micro-lymphatic vessel density in 36 cases of small-cell carcinoma of the esophagus. The results were compared with Apatinib treatment efficacy. Results Rates of positive expression were 22.22% for Survivin，66.67% for NF-κB and 80.56% for VEGFR-2. Lymphatic metastasis did not correlate with expression of Survivin，micro-lymphatic vessel density or tumor invasion depth. Lymphatic metastasis did correlate with expression of VEGFR-2，NF-κB and microvascular density，but not with tumor invasion depth. Microvascular density was higher in samples positive for NF-κB expression than in negative samples. Treatment effects of Apatinib were better in patients positive for NF-κB and VEGFR-2 expression than in expression-negative patients；treatment effects，however，did not vary with Survivin expression status. Conclusion Tumor lymphatic metastasis correlated significantly with VEGFR-2，NF-κB and microvascular density. NF-κB and VEGFR-2 may play an important role in small-cell carcinoma and may be useful biomarkers in Apatinib therapy.

Key words: Esophageal neoplasms, Survivin, NF-κB, VEGFR-2, Microvascular density, Micro-lymphatic vessel density, Apatinib