title: Angiogenesis in potentially malignant lesions and carcinomas during experimental oral carcinogenesis: a preliminary study in the hamster cheek pouch.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate vascular morphology and density, angiogenic switch activation, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, and endothelial cell (EC) proliferation in the hamster cheek pouch (HCP) model of oral cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemical detection of factor VIII, 5'-Bromo-2'-Deoxyuridine (BrdU) and VEGF was performed in pre-malignant and tumoral tissues.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Activation of angiogenesis was detected adjacent to epithelial dysplasia. Vascularized area and perimeter (p<0.001) increased in dysplasias and tumors. Tumor blood vessels exhibited an enhanced vascular compression (p<0.001) and structural alterations. EC proliferation was similar in dysplasias and carcinomas. An increase in vascular density, EC proliferation and VEGF expression was found in potentially malignant tissues but not in carcinomas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The angiogenic switch occurs in the dysplastic stage preceding tumor development in the HCP model of oral cancer. In potentially malignant tissues, increased VEGF expression favors EC proliferation and an increase in vascular density. Conversely, in tumors, VEGF is no longer of pivotal importance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina romina_aromando@yahoo.com.ar.
authors.forename: Romina F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Aromando
authors.affiliation: Research Area Institute of Oncology Angel H. Roffo, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Ana R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Raimondi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiobiology, National Atomic Energy Commission, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Veronica A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Trivillin
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiobiology, National Atomic Energy Commission, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Amanda E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Schwint
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Maria E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Itoiz
mesh_terms: D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002610:Cheek / Q000473:pathology*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008647:Mesocricetus; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002273:Carcinogens; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene
keywords: Experimental carcinogenesis; angiogenesis; angiogenic switch; hamster cheek pouch; microvasculature; oral cancer