[Is microvascular density an independent prognostic factor in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue?].
BACKGROUND
The relationship between tumour angiogenesis and prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas remains controversial in the literature. This study was designed to determine the role of tumour vascularization in tongue squamous cell carcinoma behaviour.


METHODS
Tumour vascularization was evaluated in 43 patients with primary squamous cell carcinomas of the tongue. Anti-endothelial cell antigen (CD31) was used to stain the specimens. The correlation between tumour vascularization and both survival rate and tumour recurrence was established to determine the prognostic value of microvessel density (Cox proportional-hazards survival regression).


RESULTS
Adequate staining was achieved in all specimens with anti-CD31. Mean microvessel density was 30.6 (x400 field), and the median was 27. After a 5-year follow-up, a local, regional, or distant recurrence of the tumour occurred in 29 patients (67.4 %). Twenty patients (46.5 %) were alive with or without tumour, while 23 patients (53.5 %) had died due to tumour recurrence. Statistical analysis failed to demonstrate any correlation between microvessel density and 5-year survival (P = .59) and recurrence rate (P = .31).


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the controversy, these results suggest that microvascular density is not a valid independent prognostic indicator in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.
Fernández
Mario M
MM
Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Juan Canalejo, A Coruña, España. mario_fernandez@canalejo.corg
García-Rozado
Alvaro
A
Parente
Pablo L
PL
D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*