ObjectiveTo explore the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2(VEGFR-2) protein in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and to analyze the relationship between VEGFR-2 and prognostic of esophageal cancer in Uygur of Xinjiang. MethodsThe expression of VEGFR-2 protein including 72 patients with ESCC[with 56 males and 16 females at age of 57 (43-79) years] and paracarcinomatous tissues of 28 patients were detected by immunohistochemistry staining (SP) between January 2007 and september 2009 in this hospital. The Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards analysis were used to analyze the prognosis of ESCC. ResultsThe positive expression rate of VEGFR-2 protein in 72 patients with ESCC was 80.56% (58/72) and 0 in paracarcinomatous tissues. The expression of VEGFR-2 protein in the ESCC was much higher than that in paracarcinomatous tissues with a statistical difference (P<0.05). The expression of VEGFR-2 protein was significantly correlated with depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis and TNM staging (P<0.05). Tumor size was no correlation with expression of VEGFR-2 protein (P>0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that five-year survival rate in positive expression of VEGFR-2 was higher than that in the negative group. Lymph node metastasis, TNM staging, and the positive expression of VEGFR-2 protein were independent prognostic factors. ConclusionVEGFR-2 protein is expressed more in ESCC and might be used as the index to predict prognosis and metastasis of esophagedal carcinoma in Uygur.