title: Assessment of angiogenic markers and female sex hormone receptors in pregnancy tumor of the gingiva.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Oral pregnancy tumors (OPTs) arise on the inflamed gingiva of women after the first trimester of pregnancy. The expression of angiogenic markers and female hormone receptors was assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors and the expression of angiogenic factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor, fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and hypoxia inducible factors 1α and 3α (HIF1α and HIF3α). Experimental groups included 9 OPTs, 10 oral pyogenic granulomas from nonpregnant women of the same age, and 9 oral pyogenic granulomas from postmenopausal women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VEGF expression in stromal histiocytes and endothelial cells of small vessels was positively correlated in the OPT group (P < .05 by χ(2) test). VEGF receptor also was overexpressed in stromal histiocytes and endothelial cells of OPTs compared with oral pyogenic granulomas from nonpregnant and postmenopausal women (P < .005 by χ(2) test). No correlation was detected among estrogen and progesterone receptors, FGF and HIF1α and HIF3α (ER and PgR respectively) in the 3 experimental groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VEGF-associated angiogenesis is most likely involved in the pathogenesis of the lesion. These results imply that local inhibition of VEGF activity could be an adjuvant therapeutic approach for OPTs to control hemorrhage, which can be massive at the surgical excision of such lesions during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Aretaieion Hospital, Medical School of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andrikopoulou
authors.forename: Ioulia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chatzistamou
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gkilas
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vilaras
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sklavounou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis; D005887:Gingival Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D017789:Granuloma, Pyogenic / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051793:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D017698:Postmenopause; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D051793:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor