title: Podoplanin and VEGF-C immunoexpression in oral squamous cell carcinomas: prognostic significance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study evaluated the clinical significance of podoplanin and vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  The immunohistochemical expression of podoplanin and VEGF-C were investigated in 42 well-differentiated OSCCs. The Chi-square test was used to analyze the association of biomarker expression with the clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcome, as well as with histopathological microscopic features and histopathological malignancy index. The relationship between podoplanin, VEGF-C and prognosis was also studied. Survival rates were calculated by the Kaplan Meier method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Strong podoplanin expression was associated with male gender (p=0.037) and with early clinical stage (I-II) (p=0.027). Strong podoplanin expression was more frequently found in patients with perineural infiltration. Podoplanin and VEGF-C expression were not significant prognostic factors for patients with OSCC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the strong podoplanin and VEGF-C expression by malignant cells is associated with perineural invasion in patients with OSCC.
authors.affiliation: Bauru School of Dentistry, Department of Stomatology, Section of Pathology, Alameda Octávio Pinheiro Brisolla, 9-75, CEP 17012-901, Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil. denisetostes@usp.br.
authors.forename: Aroldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: dos Santos Almeida
authors.forename: Denise Tostes
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Michele Conceição
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Simone Eloiza Sita
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Faustino
authors.forename: Suely
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nonogaki
authors.forename: André Lopes
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Luiz Paulo
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Kowalski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult; D000098853:Podoplanin
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; C117468:PDPN protein, human; D000098853:Podoplanin
keywords: Podoplanin; VEGF-C; oral cancer; oral squamous cell carcinoma; prognosis