title: Density and migration of mast cells in lip squamous cell carcinoma and actinic cheilitis.
abstract: Mast cells (MCs) display a diversity of roles that may contribute to the stromal microenvironment alterations during tumor progression. The aim of this study was to investigate MC populations expressing tryptase and c-kit in lip squamous cell carcinoma (lip SCC) (n=37), actinic cheilitis (AC) (n=15) and normal lip mucosa (control) (n=6), as well as their relationship with microscopic parameters (collagen degeneration, elastin changes, angiogenesis and proliferative index). Tryptase, c-kit, CD31 and Ki-67 expressions were analyzed by means of immunohistochemistry and collagen and elastic fibers were visualized with Picrosirus and Verhoeff's stain, respectively. The numbers of tryptase+ MC were significantly higher in lip SCC when compared with control (P=0.01), while a similar density of these cells was observed in AC and lip SCC (P=0.09). The density of c-kit+ MC was similar in all groups examined (P=0.65). MC migration (c-kit+/Tryptase+ relationship) was 69% in lip SCC, 60% in AC and 100% in control. The number of CD31+ blood vessels was significantly higher in the lip SCC when compared with control and AC (P<0.01). The increase of MCs and angiogenesis in lip SCC may reflect an important modification in the tumor microenvironment during squamous photo-carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nádia Lago
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Angélica Ferreira
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Oton-Leite
authors.forename: Adonai Peixoto
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Cheim-Júnior
authors.forename: Rita de Cássia Gonçalves
authors.initials: Rde C
authors.lastname: Alencar
authors.forename: Glória Oton Jabur
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Bittar
authors.forename: Tarcília Aparecida
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Aline Carvalho
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Batista
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002465:Cell Movement; D002613:Cheilitis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D004549:Elastin / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008048:Lip Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000378:metabolism; D053802:Tryptases / Q000378:metabolism; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D003094:Collagen; D004549:Elastin; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D053802:Tryptases