J Korean Assoc Maxillofac Plast Reconstr Surg.  2010 Jan;32(1):1-8.

IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY ON EXPRESSION OF LYMPHANGIOGENIC FACTORS IN ORAL CANCER

• Park YW
• Kwon KJ
• Lee JW

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C and VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-3 are involved in tumor lymphangiogenesis. Oral mucosal squamous cell carcinoma (OMSCC) preferentially metastasizes to cervical lymph nodes, so we investigated the expression and distribution of VEGFR-3 signaling proteins in OMSCC.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Tissue samples of 18 OMSCC, 10 oral mucosal leukoplakia, and 3 normal oral mucosa were evaluated for expression of VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and VEGFR-3 by immunohistochemical staining. The presence of lymphatic vessels was determined using D2-40 staining, by which we also measured lymphatic vessel density (LVD).
RESULTS
72% (13/18) and 56% (10/18) of tissue samples showed VEGF-C and VEGF-D immunopositivity in tumor cells and tumor-associated endothelial cells. VEGFR-3 was also expressed in most of OMSCC, which was up-regulated when compared with normal mucosa or with leukoplakia. Furthermore, LVD was higher in OMSCC than in leukoplakia.
CONCLUSION
Taken together, our results suggest that autocrine activation of lymphatic endothelial cell via VEGFR-3 by VEGF-C and/or VEGF-D could be involved in progression of OMSCC. Therefore, VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 signaling pathway can be a molecular target for anti-metastatic therapy in OMSCC.

Keyword

Oral mucosal squamous cell carcinoma; Lymphangiogenesis; Lymphatic vessel density

MeSH Terms

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
Endothelial Cells
Glycosaminoglycans
Leukoplakia
Lymph Nodes
Lymphangiogenesis
Lymphatic Vessels
Mouth Mucosa
Mouth Neoplasms
Mucous Membrane
Proteins
Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3
Glycosaminoglycans
Proteins
Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3