Tissue expression, serum and salivary levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with HNSCC

Introduction: Vascular endothelial growth factor is thought to be an important angiogenic factor involved in tumor growth, progression, and metastasis. Objective: The present study evaluated the relation between tissue expression, serum and salivary levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, and their correlation with clinicopathologic features. Methods: Samples were collected from 30 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas and 24 healthy volunteers. Immunohistochemical analysis was used for tissue expression and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure serum and salivary levels. Results: No vascular endothelial growth factor staining was observed in normal tissues, whereas vascular endothelial growth factor expression was seen in 6 patients (20%). Mean serum level of VEGF was 83.7 ± 104.47 in patients and 50.04 ± 32.94 in controls. Mean salivary level of vascular endothelial growth factor was 174.41 ± 115.07 in patients and 149.58 ± 101.88 in controls. No significant difference was found by Mann-Whitney test between controls and patients (p = 0.411, p = 0.944, respectively). No correlation was found between vascular endothelial growth factor tissue expression and its serum and salivary level. Conclusion: Overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor was found in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients, suggesting its role in the pathogenesis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, but no relation was found between tissue expression, serum levels, and salivary levels of this marker.引言：血管内皮生长因子（vascular endothelial growth factor）被认为是参与肿瘤生长、进展与转移的重要血管生成因子。 目的：本研究旨在探讨头颈部鳞状细胞癌患者组织中血管内皮生长因子的表达、血清及唾液中该因子的水平与临床病理特征之间的关联。 方法：本研究纳入30名头颈部鳞状细胞癌患者与24名健康志愿者作为研究对象。采用免疫组织化学分析检测组织中血管内皮生长因子的表达，通过酶联免疫吸附试验（enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay）测定血清与唾液中的血管内皮生长因子水平。 结果：正常组织中未观察到血管内皮生长因子染色，而6名头颈部鳞状细胞癌患者（占比20%）的组织中可见血管内皮生长因子表达。患者组的血清VEGF平均水平为83.7±104.47，对照组为50.04±32.94。患者组的唾液中血管内皮生长因子平均水平为174.41±115.07，对照组为149.58±101.88。经曼-惠特尼检验（Mann-Whitney test）分析，对照组与患者组之间的差异均无统计学意义（血清水平p=0.411，唾液水平p=0.944）。未发现组织中血管内皮生长因子的表达与血清、唾液中的该因子水平存在相关性。 结论：头颈部鳞状细胞癌患者中存在血管内皮生长因子的过表达，提示该因子在头颈部鳞状细胞癌的发病机制中发挥作用，但未发现该标志物的组织表达、血清水平与唾液水平之间存在关联。