The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C in oral squamous cell carcinoma and its associations with angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis.
- Author:
Si-xiu CHEN
1
;
Xiao-yu LI
;
Xiang-li KONG
;
Yun FENG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Humans; Lymph Nodes; Lymphangiogenesis; Lymphatic Metastasis; Lymphatic Vessels; Mouth Neoplasms; Neovascularization, Pathologic; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
- From: West China Journal of Stomatology 2010;28(3):319-323
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo study the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its relation to angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, as well as lymph node metastasis.
METHODSSixty-seven archival specimens from patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma were investigated, whose clinicopathologic data were completely conserved. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the expression of VEGF-C, microvessel density (MVD), lymphatic vessel density (LVD). The correlations between VEGF-C expression and MVD, LVD, as well as other clinicopathological features were measured.
RESULTSAlthough no correlation between VEGF-C expression and tumor location, histological grade, or gender of the patients was observed (P > 0.05), OSCC patients with more advanced clinical stages and lymph node metastasis were prone to have high expression of VEGF-C (P = 0.015 and P < 0.001, respectively). Cases with high-expression of VEGF-C also showed significantly more often higher LVD (P = 0.001) but not MVD (P = 0.125). In addition, cases with lymph node involvement presented higher LVD than other cases (P = 0.026).
CONCLUSIONVEGF-C may promote lymph node metastasis by inducing lymphangiogenesis in OSCC.
