title: Vasculogenic mimicry is a key prognostic factor for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma: a new pattern of blood supply.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recurrence and local lymph node metastasis affected the prognosis of patients with laryngeal cancer. The aim of this study was to analyze clinical and pathological significance of vasculogenic mimicry (VM) in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and evaluate its contribution to prognosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data of 168 cases of LSCC were reviewed retrospectively to reveal clinical pathology and prognostic significance of VM. CD31 and periodic acid-Schiff double staining was used to identify VM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VM in LSCC contributed to lymph node metastasis (P = 0.003) and clinical progression. VM correlated to histopathology grade (P = 0.001) of LSCC. VM was an adverse prognostic factor for both disease-specific survival (P = 0.039) and metastasis-free survival (P = 0.042) by univariate survival analyses. And it was an independent prognostic factor for only disease-specific survival (P = 0.003) by multivariate survival analyses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VM existed in LSCC. LSCC with VM has more potential to invasion and metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin Institute of Otolaryngology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300192, China. linpengf@sina.com
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bao-Cun
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Wen-Juan
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hong-Hua
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Chun-Rong
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jin-Mei
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies