The expressions of VEGF-C mRNA, VEGFR-3 and CD31 were studied in order to investigate the correlation between them and neoangiogenesis, hyperplasia of micro-lymphatics and tumor metastases. 34 cases of prostate cancer tissue and 12 cases of adjacent nontumorous tissue specimens were tested. They were marked by VEGFR-3 and CD31 with immunohistochemistic staining and analyzed with image, the micro-lymphatics count (MLC) and microvessel density (MVD) were counted using Weidner's highest vessel density count method; the expression of VEGF-C mRNA was inspected in situ hybridization. The expression of VEGF-C mRNA was 44.12% positive in 34 cases of prostate cancer, the MLC (8.26 +/- 2.73)mm2 and MVD (74.82 +/- 11.76)mm2 in prostate cancer were significantly higher than those in adjacent nontumorous tissue (MLC, 4.82 +/- 3.48/mm2; MVD, 32.86 +/- 5.41/mm2). In addition, there was a correlation between the expression of VEGF-C mRNA and micro-lymphatics metastases and there was a positive correlation between the expression of VEGFR-3 and CD31. The expressions of VEGF-C mRNA , MLC, MVD in stage III and IV and those who have lymph metastasis were higher than those in stage I and II and those who have no lymph metastasis; the expressions of VEGFR-3 and CD31 in VEGF-C mRNA positive groups were significantly higher than those in negative groups. The difference of histopathologic grading in prostate cancer had no statistical significance. VEGF-C could accelerate the hyperplasia of micro-lymphatics and neoangiogenesis induced by tumor and play an important role in tumor lymph metastases. There was a close correlation between the expressions of VEGFR-3, CD31 and tumor metastases. The increase of MLC and MVD on prostate cancer indicated the hyperplasia of new micro-lymphatics and neoangiogenesis in the tumor tissue, which could also be a signal to determine the tumor metastases in clinic.