[Detection and clinical significance of lymphatic microvessel density in supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
Lymphatic microvessels may play an important role in tumor metastasis. This study detected lymphatic microvessel density (LVD) in supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma to find its correlation to clinicopathologic characteristics, and to assess its prognostic significance in supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma.


METHODS
Clinical data of 51 supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma patients who underwent primary lesion resection were reviewed. Immunohistochemical staining was performed with podoplanin monoclonal antibody to recognize lymphatic microvessels. The correlations of LVD to clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis were analyzed.


RESULTS
The mean LVD was 3.25+/-2.37, with a median of 3, in the 51 specimens of supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma. LVD was significantly higher in the patients with cervical lymph node metastasis than in those without (P=0.009). The overall 5-year survival rate was 54.9%. The 5-year survival rate was significantly lower in the patients with poorly differentiated tumor, stages T3-4 disease, lymph node metastasis, stages III-IV disease and high LVD than in their counterparts. Cox regression analysis revealed that LVD, T classification, and differentiation were independent factors for survival.


CONCLUSIONS
LVD is related to lymph nodes status, and is an independent factor for prognosis of supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma.
Yang
Lei
L
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P.R. China.
Guo
Zhu-Ming
ZM
Chen
Wen-Kuan
WK
Zeng
Zong-Yuan
ZY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005931:Glottis; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000098:blood supply*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate