title: Semiquantifiable angiogenesis parameters in association with the malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aim of the study was to assess the role of angiogenesis in the process of malignant transformation of clinical diagnosed oral leucoplakia (OL).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 131 histological preparations [oral leukoplakia/hyperkeratosis without dysplasia (OL; n = 49), oral leukoplakia/hyperkeratosis with mild dysplasia (OL-SIN1; n = 33), with moderate dysplasia (OL-SIN2; n = 13) and leukoplakia-derived oral squamous cell carcinoma (OL-OSCC; n = 36)] were evaluated for microvessel density (MVD), vessel diameter as well as for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) expression. Data were compared within the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For MVD, there were significant differences between OL and OL-SIN 2/OL-OSCC (P < 0.05) and between OL-SIN 1 and OL-OSCC (P < 0.05). For OL-OSCC, vessel diameters were significantly increased compared with OL (P < 0.05). Expression of VEGF-A increased significantly gradually from OL-SIN 1 to OSCC (each P < 0.05). This was especially evident for lesions of the tongue when compared to the others.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Angiogenesis increases during the transition from OL through dysplasia to OL-OSCC. In particular, OL-OSCCs of the tongue, VEGF-A expression may be used for estimation of malignant progression of OL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Facial Plastic Surgery, University Medical Centre Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel G E
authors.initials: DGE
authors.lastname: Thiem
authors.affiliation: Private Dental Practice, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Schamiem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: Private Dental Practice, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Narayan T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Venkatraman
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Institute, Mazumdar Shaw Cancer Center, Narayana Health, Bommasandra, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Vinay V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Molecular Tumor Biology Laboratory, University Medical Centre Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brieger
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Facial Plastic Surgery, University Medical Centre Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Frerich
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Facial Plastic Surgery, University Medical Centre Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Peer W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Kämmerer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000098:blood supply / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: mean microvessel density; oral cancer; precancerous lesions; tumour progression; vascular endothelial growth factor