VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and VEGFR-3 and their roles in lymphatic metastasis of tumors

Lymphatic metastasis is one of the critical metastatic routes of malignant tumors, and the involvement of lymph nodes is usually one of the key predictors of prognosis. In recent years, studies on animal models and clinical studies have suggested that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C/VEGF-D/VEGF receptor-3 (VEGFR-3) signaling system plays important roles in the process of lymphatic metastasis of tumors. In this article, we have reviewed the recent advances in research on the roles and mechanisms of VEGF-C/VEGF-D/VEGFR-3 signaling system in lymphatic metastasis of tumors.