Correlations of oral tongue cancer invasion with matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression.
OBJECTIVE
In oral tongue cancer, the degree of tumor invasion has a significant effect on the prognosis. We hypothesized that the destruction of extracellular matrix and neovascularization are related to tumor infiltration mechanism. By studying the tissues of early stage oral tongue cancer patients, we are intending to clarify the invasion-related factors.


METHODS
To demonstrate the invasion process in early T-stage oral tongue cancer, the expressions of extracellular matrix destruction-related molecules (MMP-2, MMP-9) and neovascularization-related molecule (VEGF) were observed by immunohistochemical study. Also, staining of CD31 was done for quantification of neovascularization. We analyzed relationship between expression of each substances and tumor invasion depth, tumor free survival rates, and cervical lymph node metastasis rate.


RESULTS
The expression rates of MMP-2, MMP-9, VEGF in 38 early oral cancer patients were 52.6%, 78.9%, and 52.6%, respectively. Significant correlation was found between the VEGF expression and microvessel density showed by CD31 immunohistochemical staining (P < 0.001). VEGF expressions were significantly related with tumor invasion depth (P = 0.002). The tumor-free survival rate of those patients with VEGF-positive tumors was significantly poorer than in those with VEGF-negative tumors (P = 0.019).


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that VEGF is a useful marker for predicting the tumor invasion in patients with early tongue cancer.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yonsei University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Se-Heon
SH
Kim
Nam Hoon
NH
Cho
Kyubo
K
Kim
Jin Seok
JS
Lee
Bon Seok
BS
Koo
Jeong Hong
JH
Kim
Jung Hyun
JH
Chang
Eun Chang
EC
Choi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9