Summarizing the aggregated analyses and their corresponding heterogeneity tests.

<p>Abbreviations: HR, hazard ratio; RR, relative risk; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; VEGFR, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor; LVD, lymphatic vascular density; NA, not applicable; Q, test for heterogeneity; P, the p-value calculated for Q; TAU², an estimate of the total amount of heterogeneity; I², the proportion of total variation in study estimates attributed to heterogeneity; H², the total variability or within study variance.</p><p>Values for unadjusted, leave1out (test conducted without the one study introducing the most heterogeneity) and adjusted (test conducted with the inclusion of studies assumed missing in case of funnel asymmetry).</p

Results of the quality assessment of the included studies by marker.

<p>Abbreviations: LNM, Lymphatic node metastasis; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; VEGFR, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor; LVD, lymphatic vascular density.</p><p>Maximal score for any given category is 1.</p

Illustration of the literature search and inclusion processes.

<p>Abbreviations: VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; VEGFR, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor; LVD, lymphatic vascular density.</p

Forest plots of the survival meta-analyses for; A) VEGF-C, B) VEGF-D, C) VEGFR3, D) LVD, Funnel plots showing the relationship between the observed HR and the standard deviation in the survival meta-analyses for; E) VEGFR3, F) LVD.

<p>Abbreviations: VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; VEGFR, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor; LVD, lymphatic vascular density; N, number: HR, hazard ratio.</p