J Korean Assoc Maxillofac Plast Reconstr Surg.  2008 Jan;30(1):41-51.

Expression of the genes of vascular endothelial growth factor and von willebrand factor in salivary gland tumors

• Chung JH
• Kim JH
• Park YW

Abstract

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most common malignant salivary gland tumor which compromises about 6-8percent of all tumors followed by the adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and adenocarcinoma. Most deaths from salivary carcinomas are caused by recurrent or metastatic lesions that are resistant to conventional therapy. Therefore, knowledge of cellular properties and tumor-host interactions that influence the vascular metastasis is important for the design of more effective therapy of salivary carcinomas. Neoangiogenesis is essential for tumor growth, which is postulated to be fundamentally dependent on the induction of stromal neovascularization. However, how neovascularization takes place in live tissue has not been fully established, especially in recruitment and differentiation of endothelial cells in the salivary gland tumors. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a heparin-binding, dimeric polypeptide growth factor known to exert its mitogenic activity specifically on endothelial cells. VEGF has been shown th be directly involved in angiogenesis, which in essential for the pathogenesis of many solid tumors. von Willebrand factor (vWF) is a large multimeric protein synthesized by megakaryocytes and endothelial cells that enable platelets to adhere to exposed subendothelium and, as well, to respond to changes in the blood flow. Recent studies suggest that increased levels of vWF correlate with progression of disease, metastasis, or survival time and thus may have a prognostic significance. vWF is explained as an acute phase proteins which is increased in cancer or as a result of increased endothelial cell synthesis associated with tumor-induced angiogenesis. Due to adhesive properties of vWF, its increased concentrations may also contribute metastasis of tumor. In this study, we determined the mRNA expression of VEGF and vWF in salivary ACC, MEC and pleomorphic adenoma by in situ hybridization. As a result, stronger expression of VEGF and vWF was seen in salivary ACC and MEC which has more invasive nature than the salivary benign tumor.

Keyword

Salivary gland tumors; Vascular endothelial growth factor; von Willebrand factor; In situ hybridization

MeSH Terms

Acute-Phase Proteins
Adenocarcinoma
Adenoma, Pleomorphic
Adhesives
Blood Platelets
Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic
Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid
Endothelial Cells
Hypogonadism
In Situ Hybridization
Megakaryocytes
Mitochondrial Diseases
Neoplasm Metastasis
Ophthalmoplegia
RNA, Messenger
Salivary Glands
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
von Willebrand Factor
Acute-Phase Proteins
Adhesives
Hypogonadism
Mitochondrial Diseases
Ophthalmoplegia
RNA, Messenger
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
von Willebrand Factor