title: Intratumoral vessel density as prognostic factors in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a meta-analysis of literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to comprehensively and quantitatively summarize the prognostic value of microvessel density (MVD) and lymphatic vessel density (LVD) for the survival of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Relevant literatures were identified using Medline and EMBASE. A meta-analysis was performed to clarify the prognostic role of MVD and LVD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 18 articles (13 for MVD and 5 for LVD; n = 1279 and n = 408) were pooled for the global meta-analysis. The mortality was 1.23-fold higher for patients whose MVD counts were above the cutoff (risk ratio [RR], 1.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.99-1.52), compared with those below it, and this result was on a borderline (p = .06). The mortality of patients with high LVD counts was 2.07-fold higher (RR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.16-3.71; p = .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High counts of LVD, not MVD, are associated with worse 5-year overall survival (OS) in patients with HNSCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chunshui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xuelei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Qiongwen
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yuquan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000401:mortality*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011379:Prognosis
keywords: head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; lymphatic vessel density; meta-analysis; microvessel density; prognosis