OBJECTIVETo research the expression of CD31, CD34 and CD105 in squamous cell carcinoma of tongue (TSCC) and discuss their relationships with lymph node metastasis.

METHODSAll the specimens' segments were stained by immunohistochemical method SP, and then the tumor's microvessel density (MVD) marked by CD31, CD34 and CD105 were counted by the Weidner's method.

RESULTSThe expression of CD31, CD34 and CD105 in the tumor's tissue was much higher than that in the normal tissue (P<0.01). There was no obvious difference between the MVD values marked by CD31 and CD34 (P>0.05), but they were obviously different from which marked by CD105 (P<0.01). The MVD values between the male and female patients had no statistical difference (P>0.05). The MVD values marked by CD31 and CD34 had no statistical difference in different pathological grades and clinical stages (P>0.05), but there was statistical difference in different pathological grades and clinical stages marked by CD105 (P<0.05). Although the MVD value of the cases with lymph node metastasis was different from that without metastasis marked by CD31 and CD34 (P<0.05), there was much higher difference between the cases with lymph node metastasis and those without metastasis marked by CD105 (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONCD105 is a more satisfying vascular endothelial marker than others. It can predict the metastasis possibility of the TSCC patients, thus it may be particularly important in the development of TSCC.