ECM1 and breast cancer: Furthermore, the LMVD in both ECM1- and VEGF-C-positive tumor specimens was statistically higher than that noted in the both of the ECM1- and VEGF-C-negative ones as well as the ECM1- or VEGF-C-positive ones; this suggests that ECM1 and VEGF-C might have a synergistic effect on lymphangiogenesis in breast cancer.