title: Antiangiogenic effects of radiotherapy but not initial microvessel density predict survival in inoperable oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the predictive value of intratumoral microvessel density (MVD) in patients with locally advanced, primarily inoperable oropharyngeal cancer (OPCC) treated with irradiation alone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tumor samples of 35 patients with OPCC subjected to radiotherapy were taken before and after 20 Gy irradiation. Histological grade, mitotic activity index and MVD of OPCC were determined. Correlations with response and survival were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stage and posttreatment MVD decrease showed significant correlation with objective response. Postirradiation MVD decrease correlated significantly with response to irradiation and overall survival, and a trend could be seen for progression-free survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has shown that the change in MVD after irradiation can be an indicator of the success of radiotherapy in locally advanced OPCC, and may serve as a predictive factor thus helping to select patients who could benefit from more aggressive treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: József
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lövey
authors.forename: Júlia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lukits
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Remenár
authors.forename: Krísztina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koronczay
authors.forename: Miklós
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kásler
authors.forename: György
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Németh
authors.forename: József
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tímár
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors