title: Significance of the expression of integrin β1, VEGF and MVD in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: This study aimed to determine the expression of integrin β1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and microvascular density (MVD) by CD105 staining in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma to determine their association with clinicopathologic characteristics, and to determine their role and the effects of their interactions in the development and progression of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas. The expression of integrin β1 and VEGF and MVD in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas and normal hypopharyngeal tissues were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. The Image-Pro Plus software was used to determine the mean optical density of the immunohistochemical images. Integrin β1 expression was significantly higher in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma tissues (78.00%) than in normal hypopharyngeal tissues (35.00%; P = 0.001) and significantly differed across pathologic grades and different T stages, and regarding the presence of cervical lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). VEGF expression was significantly higher in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma tissues (74.00%) than in normal hypopharyngeal tissues (30.00%; P = 0.002), VEGF overexpression differed significantly across different pathologic grades and different T stages, and regarding the presence of cervical lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). The MVD count was significantly higher in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma tissues (37.10 ± 5.95) than in normal hypopharyngeal tissues (8.70 ± 3.34; P = 0.000). MVD differed significantly across different pathologic grades and different T stages, and regarding the presence of cervical lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). The expression of integrin β1 and VEGF and the MVD count exhibited no significant differences in terms of age, gender, history of smoking, and clinical stages (P > 0.05). VEGF expression was positively associated with the MVD count of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (r = 0.582, P = 0.000); however, integrin β1 was not associated with VEGF or MVD (P > 0.05). Integrin β1 and VEGF are overexpressed and MVD increased in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas. VEGF is positively correlated with MVD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, China ymwgcn@163.com.
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, China.
authors.forename: Z H
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007013:Hypopharynx / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D015854:Up-Regulation; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019012:Integrin beta1; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A