Poor prognostic clinicopathologic features correlate with VEGF expression but not with PTEN expression in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.
The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted in chromosome ten (PTEN), angiogenesis and clinicopathological parameters of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.


METHODS
We examined immunohistochemical expression of VEGF and PTEN and CD34 for microvessel density (MVD) in sections of formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue blocks of 140 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. The intensity of VEGF and PTEN staining and the proportion of cells staining were scored.


RESULTS
The tumor grade was not significantly related to PTEN expression, but it was to VEGF expression (p = 0.400; p = 0.015, respectively). While there was no significant relationship between PTEN expression and tumor size and cartilage invasion (p = 0.311, p = 0.128), there was a significant relationship between the severity of VEGF expression and tumor size (p = 0.006) and lymph node metastasis (p = 0.048) but not cartilage invasion (p = 0.129). MVD was significantly higher in high-grade tumors (p = 0.003) but had no significant relationship between MVD, lymph node metastasis, and cartilage invasion (p = 0.815, p = 0.204). There was also no significant relationship between PTEN and VEGF expression (p = 0.161) and between PTEN and VEGF expression and the MVD (p = 0.120 and p = 0.175, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Increased VEGF expression may play an important role in the outcome of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. PTEN expression was not related to VEGF expression and clinicopathological features of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.
Sullu
Yurdanur
Y
Ondokuz Mayis University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Samsun, Turkey. yurdanursullu@yahoo.com
Gun
Seda
S
Atmaca
Sinan
S
Karagoz
Filiz
F
Kandemir
Bedri
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002196:Capillaries / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000098:blood supply / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D007825:Laryngectomy; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase / Q000032:analysis*; D011379:Prognosis; D015854:Up-Regulation; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis*
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; C494929:PTEN protein, human