title: Immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in canine oral squamous cell carcinomas.
abstract: Angiogenesis is crucial for the growth and metastasis of malignant tumours, and various proangiogenic factors promote this process. One of these factors is vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which appears to play a key role in tumour angiogenesis. The aim of the present study was to assess whether VEGF expression is associated with angiogenesis, disease progression and neoplastic proliferation in canine oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) tissue. VEGF immunoreactivity was quantified by immunohistochemistry in 30 specimens, including normal oral mucosa and OSCC tissues graded as well, moderately or poorly differentiated. VEGF expression was correlated with tumour cell proliferation, as assessed using the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) marker and microvessel density (data already published). The present results revealed that VEGF and PCNA expression increased significantly between normal oral tissue and neoplastic tissue, and between well and moderately/poorly differentiated tumours. In addition, VEGF expression was strongly correlated with PCNA expression and microvessel density. It was concluded that VEGF may promote angiogenesis through a paracrine pathway, stimulating endothelial cell proliferation and, similarly, may induce tumour cell proliferation through an autocrine pathway. The present results suggest that the evaluation of VEGF may be a useful additional criterion for estimating malignancy and growth potential in canine OSCCs.
authors: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80137, Italy.
authors: Manuela
authors: M
authors: Martano
authors: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80137, Italy.
authors: Brunella
authors: B
authors: Restucci
authors: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80137, Italy.
authors: Dora Maria
authors: DM
authors: Ceccarelli
authors: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia 71122, Italy.
authors: Lorenzo
authors: L
authors: Lo Muzio
authors: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80137, Italy.
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Maiolino
keywords: dog; immunohistochemistry; oral cancer; oral squamous cell carcinoma; vascular endothelial growth factor