title: Biological distinctions between juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma and vascular malformation: an immunohistochemical study.
abstract: The exact nature of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) is still in dispute. In recent years, the main controversy of its nature has focused on hemangioma and vascular malformation. In this study, the immunolocalization of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptor-1/fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (VEGFR-1/Flt-1), VEGF receptor-2/fetal liver kinase-1 (VEGFR-2/Flk-1), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and CD34 was investigated in 28 cases of JNA and 20 cases of orbital cavernous hemangiomas (OCH). The immunostaining levels of VEGF, Flt-1, and Flk-1 were higher and more frequent in vascular endothelial cells of JNA than those of OCH (p<0.05). The average microvessel density (MVD) marked by CD34 in JNA was (49.3 ± 9.1)/HPF (high power field), which was higher than OCH (29.1 ± 6.7)/HPF (p<0.05). Immunoreactivity of PCNA was localized in both endothelial and stromal cell components of JNA, but was predominantly seen in the stromal cells. However, no PCNA immunoreactivity was identified in any of the stromal and endothelial cells in cases of OCH. The immunostaining levels of CD34, VEGF, Flt-1, Flk-1, and PCNA in JNA were higher than those in OCH. These data support the view that JNA has biological characteristics of an angiogenic histogenetic tumor. In the future, anti-angiogenic therapy may represent a novel treatment strategy for JNA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, China.
authors.forename: Mengjun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xicai
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Huapeng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Dehui
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018322:Angiofibroma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009383:Neoplasms, Vascular Tissue / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D015415:Biomarkers; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor