Abstract
PurposeMicrovessel density (MVD) corresponds to the intensity of neo-angiogenesis. MVD assessments are based on the expression levels of the vascular endothelium markers such as, e.g., CD34 or CD105. The goal of this study was to assess MVD among patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and to evaluate the predictive value of MVD in head and neck cancers.MethodsThe study included 49 patients treated for HNSCC and 11 patients with dysplasia of the upper respiratory tract epithelium. Control tissues consisted of 12 normal mucous membranes of the throat. Expression levels of MVD markers were assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using tissue microarrays (TMA). Clinicopathological factors and patients’ survival over the 5-year follow-up period were analyzed.ResultsThe MVD/CD34 values were found to be significantly elevated in the HNSCCs compared to the non-malignant control tissues (p = 0.001) and to dysplastic tissues. (p = 0.02). Significantly higher MVD/CD105 values were also seen in the tumor compared to the control tissues (p = 0.001) or the dysplastic tissues (p = 0.001). Unexpectedly, significantly lower MVD/CD34 values were seen in the tumor tissues of patients with the T3–T4 tumors compared to those with T1–T2 tumors (p = 0.01).ConclusionsHNSCCs have statistically higher MVD values compared to dysplasia of the upper respiratory tract epithelium. However, the MVD/CD34 values did not correlate with local invasiveness (the T feature) of HNSCCs. This counterintuitive observation suggests that assessments of MVD as performed on TMA by IHC using anti-CD34 or anti-CD105 antibodies considered to be specific for endothelial cell markers might underestimate the extent of the tumor vascularity in HNSCC.
Highlights
Squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (HNSCC) remains a significant therapeutic challenge, and the effectiveness of current treatments remains the same as it was years ago [1]
Similar results were obtained for the assessment of endoglin (CD105) expression
Weidner et al described a relationship between lymph node metastasis and Microvessel density (MVD) in breast cancer; many researchers have attempted to correlate MVD values with clinical and pathological factors in various types of neoplasms
Summary
Squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (HNSCC) remains a significant therapeutic challenge, and the effectiveness of current treatments remains the same as it was years ago [1]. According to a concept put forward by Folkman in 1971, tumor growth depends on local neo-angiogenesis [2]. Assessments of angiogenesis in tumors, including HNSCCs, require application of reliable indicators, or markers of angiogenesis, which may be measured using. Departments of Immunology and Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. As proposed by Weidner et al, microvessel density (MCD) is calculated as a mean number of microvessels identified using a light microscope with the known field diameter. These investigators were the first to report an association between MVD and prognosis in breast cancers [3]. This report generated much interest and initiated a search for similar associations in a variety of other neoplasms in hope of identifying new prognostic factors
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