[Significance of a reversal expression of the angiopoietin-1 and 2 in oral squamous cell carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the significance of Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) expression in angiogenesis, vessel maturation, progress and prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).


METHODS
The expression of Ang-1, Ang-2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), CD34 and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) were studied in 62 human OSCCs, 30 adjacent noncancerous oral tissues and 10 normal oral mucosa by conventional immunohistochemistry. Microvessel density (MVD) and vessel maturation index (VMI) were also assessed with double-labeling immunohistochemistry staining against CD34, a marker of pan-endothelial cells, and that against alpha-SMA, a marker of mural cells (pericytes/smooth muscle cells). The images were analyzed with BioMias system.


RESULTS
Ang-1/Ang-2 protein expression ratio were significantly lower in OSCC than that in adjacent noncancerous oral tissues and normal oral mucosa (t were -5.42 and -6.234, all P<0.01). There were significantly different Ang-1/Ang-2 protein expression ratio in different tumor' lymph node metastasis status and MVD groups and VMI groups, respectively (t were 3.421, -3.221, 3.824, all P<0.01). The patients with low Ang-1/Ang-2 protein expression ratio and high VEGF protein expression were found to have a significantly higher MVD when compared to others (t were 2.055, 2.345, 2.985, all P<0.05). Ang-1/Ang-2 protein expression ratio had a tendency to be a prognostic factor (chi2=3.383, P=0.066).


CONCLUSIONS
The reversion of Ang-1 and Ang-2 expression may plays an important role in the development and progression of OSCC. It is closely associated with the angiogenesis, vessel maturation and prognosis of OSCC.
Li
Chao
C
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Cancer Institute, Sichuan Cancer Hospital, Chengdu 610041, China.
Zhang
Bing
B
Wang
Zhao-hui
ZH
Chen
Jian-chao
JC
Li
Bin
B
Wang
Shao-xing
SX
Chen
Jin
J
Li
Chun-hua
CH
Wang
Wei
W
Song
Yu-feng
YF
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D042683:Angiopoietin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D042702:Angiopoietin-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011379:Prognosis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
C541116:ACTA2 protein, human; C467630:ANGPT1 protein, human; D000199:Actins; D042683:Angiopoietin-1; D042702:Angiopoietin-2; D018952:Antigens, CD34; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A