title: Study of microvascular density and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors in cancerous and precancerous lesions of the eyelids.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tumor angiogenesis has been the subject of intensive research in recent years in many tumor types. Studies involving epithelial skin tumors are few to date. We evaluated tumor angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in cancerous and pre-cancerous lesions of the eyelids using immunohistochemical techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 147 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples. We studied cancerous lesions of the eyelid skin such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous and basosquamous cell carcinoma and pre-cancerous lesions such as actinic keratosis and Bowen's disease. We applied immunohistochemical staining using antibodies to investigate angiogenic and lymphangiogenic molecular factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors. We recorded the microvascular density of these tumors by using the marker CD-105, a specific antibody against endoglin protein.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data analysis showed that the molecular factors that control angiogenesis are expressed in high proportions in the tumors studied and that this expression is positively-correlated with tumor microvascular density. Furthermore, correlations emerged with the mean diameter of these tumors. We also found differences in microvascular density between pre-cancerous and cancerous eyelid lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Activation of the angiogenic molecular factors results in intratumoral and peritumoral microvascularity formation at initial tumor growth. As the tumor attains a certain size and microvascular network, some VEGF receptors appear to decrease. Tumor angiogenesis appears to be active in cutaneous malignancies of the eyelids; therefore our hypothesis of a potential anti-angiogenic therapy for the studied tumors needs investigation in future studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tzoutzos
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Batistatou
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kitsos
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Applications and Technologies, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liasko
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece dstefan@cc.uoi.gr.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stefanou
mesh_terms: D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D047368:Tumor Burden; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
keywords: Eyelid; angiogenesis; basal cell carcinoma; microvascular density; squamous cell carcinoma