Relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor and Notch1 expression and lymphatic metastasis in tongue cancer

Abstract

To determine the role of angiogenesis in lymph node metastasis and the depth of invasion in early tongue cancer. Retrospective analysis. The study included 51 subjects with tongue cancer. Immunohistochemical staining for vascular endothelial growth factor, Notch1, and Notch3 was performed. Microvessel density was evaluated by counting the number of CD34-stained microvessels in each pathologic specimen. Significant correlations were found between vascular endothelial growth factor and Notch1 expression and cervical lymph node metastasis (P = 0.020 and P < 0.009, respectively), tumor depth of invasion (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively), and microvessel density indicated by CD34 staining (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Nodal metastasis (P = 0.022), T stage (P = 0.002), and positive VEGF expression (P = 0.044) were statistically significant prognostic factors for disease-specific survival. Vascular endothelial growth factor and Notch1 expression are significantly related to cervical lymph node metastasis and depth of invasion in tongue cancer patients.