title: Mast cell density and angiogenesis in oral dysplastic epithelium and low- and high-grade oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the 10 most common malignant tumors and SCC accounts for approximately 94% of all oral malignancies. The risk of malignant transformation in dysplastic lesions is greater than that of normal oral mucosa. The definite roles of mast cells and angiogenesis in OSCC have been under debate. The aim of this study was to compare mast cell count (MCC) and microvessel density (MVD) among normal oral mucosa, oral dysplastic epithelium and low- and high- grade OSCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 42 specimens of OSCC (21 high- and 21 low-grade) were collected, along with six normal and 22 dysplastic oral mucosa. The mean MCC and MVD, as well as the correlation between them, were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant increases in mean MCC and MVD were observed between normal oral mucosa and epithelial dysplasia, normal oral mucosa and OSCC and epithelial dysplasia and OSCC (P < 0.05), but there were no statistically significant differences in MCC and MVD between low- and high-grade OSCC. Also, the Spearman's correlation coefficient showed a significant correlation between MCC and MVD (r = 0.727, P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The significant correlation found between MCC and MVD is in agreement with the idea that mast cells promote tumor progression via upregulation of angiogenesis. MCC and the degree of angiogenesis can potentially be used as indicators of the evolution of SCC from epithelial dysplasia.
authors.affiliation: Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology Department, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences and Dental Research Center, Iran.
authors.forename: Nooshin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mohtasham
authors.forename: Shahab
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Babakoohi
authors.forename: Jahanshah
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salehinejad
authors.forename: Laleh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Montaser-Kouhsari
authors.forename: Mohammad Taghi
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Shakeri
authors.forename: Setareh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shojaee
authors.forename: Noorieh Sharifi
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Sistani
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Firooz
mesh_terms: D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D002452:Cell Count; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004848:Epithelium / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D016591:Histocytological Preparation Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D055806:Microvessels / Q000473:pathology; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D053802:Tryptases / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D053802:Tryptases