title: Angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in mucoepidermoid carcinoma of minor salivary glands.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor of salivary glands. This tumor is characterized by a great variability in clinical behavior, and little is known about the pathological mechanisms involved in its variance. Angiogenesis is an important step in tumor progression and is believed to be an essential event for metastatic dissemination.
  
  
  METHODS
  We aimed to investigate angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in mucoepidermoid carcinoma measuring the density of neoformed and lymphatic vessels using CD105 and D2-40 antibodies, respectively, and by immunohistochemical evaluation of VEGF-A and VEGF-C proteins. It was also investigated the expression of D2-40 in neoplastic cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We studied 26 cases of mucoepidermoid carcinoma, which showed great angiogenic activity measured by neoformed vessel density. However, a low density of lymphatics was observed. VEGF-A, VEGF-C, and D2-40 were commonly detected in mucoepidermoid carcinoma, but only VEGF-A expression correlated with neoformed vessel density. Recurrence and nodal metastasis were associated with low VEGF-A expression and low neoformed vessel density, indicating that impaired angiogenesis could lead to an aggressive phenotype.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Angiogenesis seems important in the modulation of mucoepidermoid carcinoma pathogenesis; however, none of the parameters analyzed could predict tumor behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery and Pathology, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Frederico Omar
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Gleber-Netto
authors.forename: Taynara Nunes Guedes
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Florêncio
authors.forename: Silvia Ferreira
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: de Sousa
authors.forename: Mauro Henrique Nogueira Guimarães
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Abreu
authors.forename: Elismauro Francisco
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Mendonça
authors.forename: Maria Cássia Ferreira
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Aguiar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000032:analysis; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D018277:Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D002423:Cause of Death; D000071063:Endoglin; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels / Q000473:pathology; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D012470:Salivary Glands, Minor / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D015996:Survival Rate; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D015703:Antigens, CD; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C064206:ENG protein, human; D000071063:Endoglin; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; C467486:VEGFC protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; C500987:monoclonal antibody D2-40