[Prognostic value of synchronized detection of microvascular and lymph vessel density in nasopharyngeal carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the distribution patterns of microvascular density(MVD) and lymph vessel density (LVD) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and to discuss their relationships with tumor recurrence-metastasis and prognosis.


METHODS
One hundred and six patients with pathologically proved nasopharyngeal carcinoma were included in this study. Immunostainings for the vascular endothelial marker CD34 and the lymph vessel marker D2-40 were performed. The microvascular and lymph vessels within the tumor and the peritumoral area were respectively quantified with computer assisted morphometric analysis.


RESULTS
Both microvascular and lymph vessels were positive in the specimen of 106 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients, with MVD and LVD higher in the peritumoral area than in the tumor. Univariate analysis showed that intra-tumor MVD,intra-tumor and peritumor LVD were correlated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma recurrence-metastasis (P < 0.05), while no significant correlation was found between tumor recurrence-metastasis and age, gender, T stage, lymph node stage, clinical stage and peritumor MVD (P > 0.05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that intra-tumor MVD and peri-tumor LVD were two independent risk factors of nasopharyngeal carcinoma recurrence-metastasis. Higher intra-tumor MVD was associated with adverse prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
High MVD and LVD may be of significance in predicting poor prognosis in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Intra-tumor and peri-tumor microvessels may play different roles in the tumor recurrence and metastasis. Intra-tumor MVD and peri-tumor LVD should be the therapeutic targets in the nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Department of Radiation Oncology, Eye Ear Nose Throat Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China. liji19781124@yahoo.com.cn
Ji
J
Li
Shengzi
S
Wang
Shuyi
S
Wang
Lifen
L
Zou
Xiaojun
X
Yan
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011379:Prognosis; D055815:Young Adult