Lymphatic metastasis is the main prognostic factor for survival of patients with breast cancer
and other epithelial malignancies. Mounting clinical and experimental data suggest that
migration of tumor cells into the lymph nodes is greatly facilitated by lymphangiogenesis, a
process that generates new lymphatic vessels from pre-existing lymphatics with the aid of
circulating lymphatic endothelial progenitor cells. The key protein that induces
lymphangiogenesis is vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3), which is …