VEGFD and neoplasm: In order to determine the relevance of the VEGFR-2 activating pathway for CC metastasis we investigated the protein expression profiles of the total and phosphorylated forms (Tyr1175 and Tyr1214) of this receptor and its ligands VEGF-C and VEGF-D in tumor cells as well as the main components of the tumor microenvironment, namely tumor-associated vasculature and inflammatory response in non-metastatic, lymphogenous- and haematogenous-metastatic sporadic CC.