title: Combined Analysis of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression with Cyclooxygenase-2 and Mast Cell Density in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and increasing mast cell density (MCD) in premalignant and malignant oral lesions have been documented. However, their correlation with clinicopathologic parameters and survival rate in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is not completely clear. This study aimed to assess these subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  VEGF, COX-2, and mast cell tryptase expression were examined immunohistochemically in 57 cases of OSCC. The relationships between the markers' expression and clinicopathologic data were assessed using bivariate and multivariate analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Spearman's rank correlation coefficient showed a significant correlation between VEGF and COX-2 expression (r = 0.462, p < 0.001), as well as between VEGF expression and MCD (r = 0.306, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed no significant correlation between the markers' immunoexpression and overall survival (OS), but a significant correlation between mode of invasion and OS [hazard ratio 0.362 (95% CI: 0.138- 0.974); p = 0.038] was observed. An association between MCD and gender (p = 0.042) was also found, as MCD was higher in males.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The significant correlation of VEGF expression with COX-2 expression and MCD may represent the roles of COX-2 and MCD in tumor angiogenesis by modulating VEGF production. However, VEGF, COX-2, and MCD are not useful indicators to predict prognosis in OSCC. Nevertheless, the mode of invasion can be considered as an independent prognostic factor in OSCC patients.
authors: Department of Basic Sciences, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Alireza
authors: A
authors: Akbarzadeh Baghban
authors: Nasim
authors: N
authors: Taghavi
authors: Maryam
authors: M
authors: Shahla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2