Microvessel density in advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma before and after chemotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
Studies of tumor angiogenesis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in regard to correlation with prognostic significance have yielded inconclusive results. To determine whether the microvessel density (MVD) within the tumor of advanced (Stages III and IV) HNSCC has any impact on tumor response to 2-3 courses of paclitaxel (Taxol) and carboplatin, we prospectively studied pre-chemotherapy specimens from patients with previously untreated, advanced stage HNSCC. We also attempted to study residual tumors after chemotherapy to determine if the MVD within the tumor had changed.


METHODS
The MVD within the tumor was obtained by immunohistochemical staining of the tumors with Q-Bend 10 (CD34). The "hot-spot" areas of each tumor (ie., areas with most intense blood neovascularization) were considered for evaluation. Results were expressed as the Average number of microvessels identified in 5-400x microscope fields (ie., the number of microvessels counted in 5-400x microscope fields divided by 5).


METHODS
Tertiary University Medical Center.


METHODS
Two to 3 courses of chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin.


METHODS
Progression-free and overall survival with 5 years follow-up,


RESULTS
The tumoral MVD in 32 HNSCC specimens before chemotherapy ranged from 4.0-39.0 (mean, 14.8; median, 14.2). Eight out of 32 patients achieved pathologically complete remission; their tumoral MVD revealed a mean of 10.9. The 24 remaining patients had pathologically-confirmed residual tumor post-chemotherapy; their tumoral MVD revealed a mean of 16.5.


CONCLUSIONS
Statistical analyses revealed no evidence of a relationship between remission and a MVD > or < 10 or > or < 16.5. There was no correlation of tumoral MVD with overall or progression-free survival. In 15 patients, tumoral MVD results were also available on the post-chemotherapy specimens. The greater the difference of the tumoral MVD between the pre- and post-chemotherapy specimens, the shorter the patients overall and progression-free survival (p = 0.042).
Dunphy
Frank
F
Division of Medical Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. dunphyfr@aol.com
Stack
Brendan C
BC
Boyd
James H
JH
Dunleavy
Teresa L
TL
Kim
Han J
HJ
Dunphy
Cherie H
CH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage
D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel