Objective:To explore the relationship among vascular endothelial growth factor C(VEGF-C),platelet-derived growth factor BB(PDGF-BB),lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis in human non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC). Methods:Forty cases of NSCLC with complete follow-up information and ten cases of lung benign diseases were included. Tumor samples were immunostained for vascular endothelial growth factor-C(VEGF-C),platelet-derived growth factor BB(PDGF-BB) and the lymphatic endothelial markers Podoplanin. Lymphatic vessel density(LVD) was evaluated within NSCLC. Results:Both of the positive rate of VEGF-C and PDGF-BB in the human NSCLC group were significantly higher than that in the lung benign diseases group(VEGF-C:62.5% vs 10%,P < 0.05;PDGF-BB:60% vs 10%,P < 0.05). In NSCLC the positive rate of VEGF-C in the positive lymph node group was significantly higher than that in the negative lymph node group(94.1% vs 39.1%,P < 0.05). However,no significant correlation was found between the expression of PDGF-BB and lymph node status(76.5% vs 47.8%,P > 0.05). In NSCLC the LVD in the positive lymph node group was significantly higher than that in the negative lymph node group(16.58 ± 2.38 vs 9.88 ± 1.93,P < 0.05). LVDs in the positive VEGF-C and PDGF-BB group were significantly higher as compared with the negative expression group(VEGF-C:14.74 ± 3.62 vs 9.37 ± 1.35,P < 0.05;PDGF-BB:13.84 ± 4.23 vs 11.06 ± 2.90,P < 0.05). Furthermore,there was significant correlation between VEGF-C and PDGF-BB in human NSCLC(rs = 0.422,P < 0.05). Conclusion:Lymphangiogenesis is a significant factor for tumor lymphatic metastasis. PDGF-BB may not be necessary for lymphatic metastasis in human NSCLC despite mediating lymphangiogenesis. VEGF-C may accelerate lymphatic metastasis in human NSCLC by inducing lymphangiogenesis,and it may be more valuable than PDGF-BB for forecasting the status of lymphatic metastasis in human NSCLC. There might be similar mechanism between VEGF-C and PDGF-BB on mediating lymphangiogenesis.