Abstract: Objective: To study the relationship between plasma level of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and clinicopathological parameters and prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC).Methods: ELISA was used to examine the plasma level of VEGF in 86 patients with ESCC.The clinicopathological parameters of every patient were recorded.Results: The patients were divided into two groups according to the degree of lymph nodes resection.The average number of resected lymph nodes and the average time of operation were significantly different between the extend lymph node dissection group and the esophagectomy group(P<0.01),but the difference was not significant in the occurrence of complications(P>0.05).In the esophagectomy group,l year relapse or metastasis rate in patients with plasma VEGF positive was significantly higher than that with negative ones(P<0.05).In the extent lymph node resection group,l year relapse or metastasis rate,number of positive lymph node in plasma VEGF positive patients were significant higher than that of plasma VEGF negative patients(P<0.01).Conclusions: Plasma VEGF is significantly related to the clinicopathological parameter and prognosis of ESCC,and can provide valuable reference to the choice of operation and adjuvant therapy.