NOTCH1 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Moreover, a multiple factors analysis of VEGF-C, which is a key factor in tumor-induced lymphangiogenesis, revealed a positive association of VEGF-C status in ESCC tissue with the expression of NF-κB and a negative association with the expression of Notch1, independent of T stage, sex, age, and tumor cell differentiation status (Table 4).