ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFC), Flt-4 and lymph node metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).MethodsImmunohistochemical staining (SP) was used for detecting the expression of VEGFC and Flt4 in 80 specimens of NPC and 62 of normal tissues. The microvessel density was counted in all specimens. Their relationship between tumor’s clinicopathologic characteristics and lymph node metastasis was analyzed.ResultsThe positive rates of VEGF-C and Flt-4 in NPC were significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.05). The positive rate of VEGFC in NPC specimens with lymph node metastasis was obviously higher than that withno lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). The vessel count with positive Flt4 in NPC specimens with lymph node metastasis was also higher than that in specimens withno lymph node metastasis (P<0.05).ConclusionsVEGF-C and Flt-4 might promote lymphatic metastasis by inducing lymphangiogenesis in NPC tissue.