['To investigate the differences in microvessel densities (MVD) and the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF-C and VEGF receptor-3 (VEGFR-3) between prostate cancer (PCa) tissues and adjacent benign tissues, and to explore the correlations among MVD, Jewett-Whitmore staging, Gleason scores and expressions of VEGF, VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 in the progression of PCa.', 'An immunohistochemical approach was adopted to detect the expressions of CD34, VEGF, VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 in both cancer areas and peripheral benign areas of 71 primary prostatic adenocarcinoma specimens. A statistic analysis was then performed according to the experimental and clinic data.', 'Significantly upregulated expressions of VEGF, VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 were all found in malignant epithelium/cancer cells compared with adjacent benign epithelium (P<0.01). Patients in stage D had a significantly higher score than patients in stage A, B or C when comparing the expression of VEGF-C or VEGFR-3 in the tumor area (P<0.01). In addition, significant correlations were observed between Jewett-Whitmore staging and VEGF-C (r(s)=0.738, P<0.01), clinical staging and VEGFR-3 (r(s)=0.410, P<0.01), VEGF-C and Gleason scores (r(s)=0.401, P<0.01), VEGFR-3 and Gleason scores (r(s)=0.581, P<0.001) and MVD and VEGF (r(s)=0.492, P<0.001).'] Are increased expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF ) , VEGF-C and VEGF receptor-3 in prostate cancer tissue associated with tumor progression?