Expression of VEGF-C/-D and lymphangiogenesis in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma

Prognostic value of the immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factors in malignant salivary gland neoplasms: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

 The immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor is a prognostic marker in several cancer types. In salivary gland tumors, the association between vascular endothelial growth factor and prognosis remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess whether the immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with salivary gland neoplasms presents prognostic value.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Immunohistochemical studies assessing the predictive value of vascular endothelial growth factor in salivary gland neoplasms were systematically reviewed using PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases. It was assessed any survival rates. The fixed-effect model with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) as effect measures were performed in the meta-analysis. The Quality in Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies, and the evidence quality was assessed by the Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system.

RESULTS

The immunohistochemical overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with salivary gland neoplasms was associated with shortened survival (HR=5.37, 95% CI: 2.67-10.83, P = 0.00001). In addition, the presence of vascular endothelial growth factor was tightly associated with tumor size, lymph node metastasis, clinical stage, perineural invasion, vascular invasion, poor local control of the disease, and recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

The immunohistochemical overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with salivary gland neoplasms has prognostic value and was associated with decreased survival time. However, more primary well-designed studies are necessary to increase the level of evidence.

Investigation of Targeting Relationship between Micro-Rna-22 and Vegfr3 in Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma

AIM

The present study explored the clinical significance of microRNA-22 (miR-22) expression in lung squamous cell carcinoma and to explore the targeting relationship with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR3).

METHODS

A total of 49 patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma who underwent surgical treatment were selected. The expression of miR-22 was detected by fluorescence quantitative realtime PCR (qPCR), the expression of VEGFR3 was detected by Western blotting assays, and D240 labeled microlymphatic vessels density (MLVD) was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Lung squamous cell carcinoma cell line SK-MES-1 was selected and the targeting relationship between miR-22 and VEGFR3 was analyzed by double luciferase reporter gene assay. Western blotting assays were used to detect the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-D (VEGFD) and D240 in the blank control group, empty vector transfection group, miR-22 transfection group, miR-22 and VEGFR3 co-transfection group.

RESULTS

The expression range of miR-22 in lung squamous cell carcinoma was 0.8-3.5. The expression of miR-22 in lung squamous cell carcinoma was significantly different by tumor maximum diameter, lymph node metastasis, vascular invasion and TNM stage. The expression of miR-22 was linked to survival time. There was a negative correlation between miR-22 and VEGFR3, miR-22 and MLVD. Double luciferase reporter gene assays showed that miR-22 reduced the luciferase activity of pGL3-VEGFR3-WT transfected cells. Compared with the control group, the expression of VEGF-D and D2-40 in the miR-22 transfection group was significantly decreased. However, VEGF-D and D240 in the miR-22 and VEGFR3 co-transfection group reversed the changes.

CONCLUSION

We assumed that the abnormal expression of miR-22 in lung squamous cell carcinoma may be involved in the development and progression of lung squamous cell carcinoma. MiR-22 negatively regulated the target gene VEGFR3 to mediate lymphangiogenesis. The expression of miR-22 may also be linked to the prognosis of the disease.

Analyses of VEGFC/VEGF-D expressions, density and endothelial lymphatic proliferation in salivary gland neoplasms

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) and VEGF-D expressions, tumor lymphatic density (D2-40) and endothelial lymphatic proliferation (D2-40/Ki-67 double labeling) in a series of salivary gland neoplasm cases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty pleomorphic adenomas (PA), 20 adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACC) and 20 mucoepidermoid carcinomas (MEC) were assessed, as well as 10 normal minor salivary gland (SG) tissues for comparison.

RESULTS

All cases presented positive VEGF-C expression in the peritumoral and intratumoral regions, and no differences in immunoexpression were detected between groups. However, the ACC group presented a significant difference in VEGF-C immunoexpression according to the predominant histological pattern. Most cases presented poor VEGF-D labeling in the peritumoral and intratumoral regions. Concerning peritumoral, intratumoral and total lymphatic endothelial density, the assessed groups revealed an increasing gradient, with lower values for PA, followed by MEC and ACC.

CONCLUSION

No correlation was detected between VEGF-C and VEGF-D immunoexpression in relation to lymphatic tumor density and endothelial lymphatic proliferation. Western blotting (WB) revealed no difference between VEGF-C and VEGF-D expression among the lesions, corroborating the immunohistochemistry findings.

Angiogenesis and Lymphangiogenesis in Salivary Gland Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma and Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of CD31 and podoplanin in order to examine angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, respectively in common malignant tumors of salivary glands.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty formalin-fixed, paraffinated blocks (20 adenoid cystic carcinoma and 20 mucoepidermoid carcinoma blocks) were selected from the medical archives of Amir A'lam Hospital of Tehran, Iran. Sections from the blocks were stained by CD31 and D2-40 markers via immunohistochemistry. Clinical and demographic information was extracted from the patients' records.

FINDINGS

There was a significant difference between tumors in terms of intratumoral microvessel density (MVD) (P< 0.001), total MVD (P< 0.001), and intratumoral lymphatic vessel density (LVD) (P= 0.011). In mucoepidermoid carcinoma, intratumoral MVD and LVD were greater than peritumoral MVD and LVD (P= 0.001 and P< 0.001, respectively). In mucoepidermoid carcinoma, there was no relationship between histological grade with MVD (total, intratumoral or peritumoral) or LVD (total, intratumoral or peritumoral) (P> 0.05). A similar finding was reported with respect to the histopathological grade of adenoid cystic carcinoma (P> 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The higher level of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in mucoepidermoid carcinoma, specifically at the center of tumor, compared to adenoid cystic carcinoma, may be attributed to differences in the clinical behaviors and metastasis of tumors. Moreover, considering the high LVD at the center of tumor in mucoepidermoid carcinoma and infrequency of metastasis to regional lymph nodes in adenoid cystic carcinoma, it can play a significant role in metastasis to regional lymph nodes.