title: VEGF: A critical driver for angiogenesis and subsequent tumor growth: An IHC study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tumors require blood supply for their growth and dissemination. It is a well accepted paradigm that tumors recruit new blood vessels from the existing circulation (angiogenesis) and this participates in tumor invasion and metastasis. Studies in the literature provide evidence for expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) by the tumor for neo-angiogenesis, which is not only required for the tumor growth but also its metastasis. Based on the literary evidences we carried out an Immuno-Histochemical (IHC) study for VEGF in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) tissues to provide a strong link between the factor and oral cancer.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the expression of VEGF in OSCC tissues of different histological grades, clinical sizes and lymph node status and to use this as an indicator for disease progression by helping in delineating a risk population, that may benefit from an attractive adjuvant therapeutic strategy for OSCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies published from 1990 till 2010 have only seen the association of VEGF with tumor angiogenesis and its possible role in metastasis. This is the first study that takes into account the clinical status of the lymph nodes and VEGF expressivity in a sample size of 30 cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  30 oral squamous cell carcinoma tissue slides were stained using Hematoxylin and Eosin stain (to confirm the diagnosis) and immunohistochemically using VEGF antibody. IHC stained slides were thereafter evaluated for the positivity and intensity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The result was subjected to statistical analysis using Chi-square test
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VEGF positivity was seen in approximately. 90% of cases which was independent of histological grade of OSCC. However the intensity increased with the clinical size of cancer and from palpable lymph node to a tender and hard lymph node.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Sri Aurobindo Dental College and Hospital, Indore (M.P), India.
authors.forename: Prakhar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kapoor
authors.forename: Rs
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deshmukh