A comparative study of microvessel density in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and lip.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to comparatively evaluate the density of lymphatic vessels (LVD) and neoformed microvessels (NMVD) in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (OCSCC) and lip (LSCC). Association between LVD/NMVD and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A/-C was also assessed.


METHODS
OCSCC and LSCC were compared with regard to immunoexpression of LVD, NMVD, and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF)-A/-C. Association between VEGF-A/-C with vascularity was also assessed. Statistical analyses were performed using t test, Pearson χ(2), and Mann-Whitney tests. Statistical significance was accepted at P less than .05.


RESULTS
The NMVD and VEGF-C expressions were significantly higher in OCSCC compared with LSCC. NMVD was associated with VEGF-C in OCSCC, but not in LSCC.


CONCLUSIONS
Differences in NMVD and VEGF-C were found between OCSCC and LSCC. Positive association between VEGF-C and NMVD was observed in OCSCC, but not in LSCC, which may be one of the contributing factors that account for the distinctive clinical-biological behavior of these lesions.
Department of Stomatology (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil. helenisahelena@hotmail.com
Helenisa Helena
HH
Oliveira-Neto
Frederico Omar
FO
Gleber-Netto
Sílvia Ferreira
SF
de Sousa
Cristiane Miranda
CM
França
Maria Cássia Ferreira
MC
Aguiar
Tarcília Aparecida
TA
Silva
Aline Carvalho
AC
Batista
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008048:Lip Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009060:Mouth Floor / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000096:biosynthesis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C