Histopathological and lymphangiogenic parameters in relation to lymph node metastasis in early stage oral squamous cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Lymph node metastasis from oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) correlates with a poor prognosis. Therefore, accurate assessment of lymph node status is crucial in treatment planning. Furthermore, prediction of delayed neck metastasis (DNM), especially in early stage tumors with a clinically negative (N0) neck, will determine the need for neck dissection or irradiation. In this study, we assess various clinical, histopathological and lymphangiogenic parameters in early stage oral SCC and their association with DNM.


METHODS
Clinical, histological, and immunohistochemical analyses were undertaken for 29 patients with T1N0M0 or T2N0M0 oral SCC affecting the tongue or floor of mouth and correlated with the development of DNM.


RESULTS
Tumor thickness, nuclear pleomorphism, pattern of invasion, and immunohistochemical expression of the lymphangiogenesis-associated molecules VEGFR-3 and VEGF-C were associated with DNM.


CONCLUSIONS
Analysis of these parameters may help to identify patients who would benefit from a neck dissection or irradiation by predicting the likelihood of lymph node metastasis.
Warburton
Gary
G
Oral Infection and Immunity Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-4532, USA.
Nikitakis
Nikolaos G
NG
Roberson
Patrick
P
Marinos
Nancy J
NJ
Wu
Tianxia
T
Sauk
John J
JJ
Ord
Robert A
RA
Wahl
Sharon M
SM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012372:ROC Curve; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3