Vascular endothelial growth factor and thymidine phosphorylase expression in salivary gland tumors with distinct metastatic behavior.
BACKGROUND
Metastasis of salivary gland tumors has a negative impact on survival. Angiogenesis and its factors are potential markers for predicting metastasis in different malignant tumors, but this is not the case for salivary gland tumors.


METHODS
Salivary gland tumors of distinct biologic behavior were analyzed according to the semiquantitative immunoexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and thymidine phosphorylase (TP).


RESULTS
Vascular endothelial growth factor expression was predominantly weak in benign tumors. Weak TP expression was observed in 100% cases of benign tumors and in 74.3% of primary malignant tumors. High VEGF and TP expression levels were significantly associated with primary malignant tumors but not with primary non-metastasizing and primary metastasizing malignant tumors or with subtypes of malignant tumors.


CONCLUSIONS
Vascular endothelial growth factor and TP expression levels discriminate benign and malignant tumors but cannot predict metastasis from non-metastasizing tumors.
Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlandia, Uberlandia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Paulo Rogério
PR
de Faria
Roberto Araújo
RA
Lima
Fernando Luiz
FL
Dias
Paulo Antônio Silvestre
PA
de Faria
Ana Lucia Amaral
AL
Eisenberg
Kelen Christine
KC
do Nascimento Souza
Sergio Vitorino
SV
Cardoso
Adriano Mota
AM
Loyola
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D055815:Young Adult
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase