title: The role of mast cells and angiogenesis in well-differentiated oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Neo-vascularization is vital for an expansion and metastasis of a tumor and is influenced by a number of mediators. Mast cells are believed to release many pro-angiogenic mediators that may help in tumor expansion and invasion. This study describes the role of mast cells and angiogenesis in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  It was a prospective study in which 37 biopsies of well-differentiated OSCC were obtained. Micro-vessels were stained with cluster of differentiation (CD)-34 and mast cells were counted using the Toluidine blue stain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When compared to normal oral mucosal tissue, it was seen that micro-vessel density and mast cell density indeed increases significantly in squamous cell carcinoma; however, they are not correlated to each other.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study reports that angiogenesis does increase in OSCC and mast cells also invade the peri-tumor tissue, but they are not directly correlated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Quaid-e-Azam Medical College Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tahir
authors.forename: Abdul Hannan
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Nagi
authors.forename: Ehsan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ullah
authors.forename: Omer Sefvan
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Janjua
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic