Comparing the expression of VEGF-C of the epithelial component between malignant infiltrating (St I+II) and non-infiltrating tumours (St0), a higher significant difference was noted in the intratumoral than extratumoral fields in infiltrating tumours (Spearman: P = 0.036), but not in non-infiltrating neoplasms (Spearman: P = 0.31) (figure 5). This evidence concerns the gene VEGFC and neoplasm.