title: Tissue expression, serum and salivary levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with HNSCC.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vascular endothelial growth factor is thought to be an important angiogenic factor involved in tumor growth, progression, and metastasis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study evaluated the relation between tissue expression, serum and salivary levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, and their correlation with clinicopathologic features.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples were collected from 30 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas and 24 healthy volunteers. Immunohistochemical analysis was used for tissue expression and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure serum and salivary levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No vascular endothelial growth factor staining was observed in normal tissues, whereas vascular endothelial growth factor expression was seen in 6 patients (20%). Mean serum level of VEGF was 83.7±104.47 in patients and 50.04±32.94 in controls. Mean salivary level of vascular endothelial growth factor was 174.41±115.07 in patients and 149.58±101.88 in controls. No significant difference was found by Mann-Whitney test between controls and patients (p=0.411, p=0.944, respectively). No correlation was found between vascular endothelial growth factor tissue expression and its serum and salivary level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor was found in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients, suggesting its role in the pathogenesis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, but no relation was found between tissue expression, serum levels, and salivary levels of this marker.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Azadeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andisheh-Tadbir
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Marzieh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamzavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Gita
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rezvani
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Javad
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.affiliation: Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Javad
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fattahi
authors.affiliation: Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Department of Otolaryngology, Khalili Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Bijan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Khademi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Electronic address: feresh_876@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Fereshteh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kamali
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
keywords: Carcinoma de células escamosas; Fatores de crescimento endotelial vascular; Saliva; Serum; Soro; Squamous cell carcinoma; Vascular endothelial growth factors