It was reported in tongue SCC that the high immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR-3), CCR7 and semaphorin 3E (SEMA3E) are predictors of metastasis. The gene discussed is VEGFC; the disease is tongue squamous cell carcinoma.