Correlation of intratumoral lymphatic microvessel density, vascular endothelial growth factor C and cell proliferation in salivary gland tumors

Abstract

Lymphatic dissemination is one of the most important pathways for metastasis in many solid tumors, including head and neck carcinomas. The lymphatic growth of cancer has been used as a significant independent adverse prognostic factor and provides information about tumor progression. Salivary gland tumors present different prognoses and have the ability to develop metastases; however, this information regarding the lymphatic spread is scarce. This paper quantifies the lymphatic microvessel density (LMD) in benign and malignant salivary gland tumors and analyzes the relationship between LMD and tumor expression of vascular endothelial growth factors C (VEGF-C) and the proliferative index. The results show that there is no correlation between LMD, VEGF-C and the proliferative index in the majority of salivary gland tumors analyzed, apart from polymorphous low-grade carcinoma which exhibits statistical correlation between LMD and the proliferative index (p < 0.05). This correlation probably does not indicate a poor prognosis for this PLGA, since this is a low metastasizing carcinoma of the salivary glands. Different from other solid tumors, such as breast or prostatic carcinomas, there is no correlation between VEGF-C and LMD in salivary gland tumors, and so these traits are not able to estimate the metastatic risk or the prognosis of these tumors.

Podoplanin expression in salivary gland carcinomas and its clinical significance. An immunohistochemical study

“…These findings were consistent with Gleber-Netto et al [38], who reported cytoplasmic reaction in the neoplastic cells and at the periphery of the tumour nests of mucoepidermoid carcinoma cases. Also, Americo et al [39] stated that podoplanin was used to stain the cytoplasm and cytoplasmatic membrane of lymphatic endothelial cells in mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Dezfuli et al [40] recorded a cytoplasmic reaction in the tumour cells of mucoepidermoid carcinoma cases in their study.…”

“…Many studies have reported the role of lymphangiogenesis in the progression of this lesion. However, the association between lymphatic micro vessel density and lymph node metastasis in SGCs is unclear, and information regarding the lymphatic spread is scarce [6].…”