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Expression of thymidine phosphorylase and vascular endothelial cell growth factor in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and their different characteristics
Author(s) -
Fukuiwa Tatsuya,
Takebayashi Yuji,
Akiba Suminori,
Matsuzaki Tsutomu,
Hanamure Yutaka,
Miyadera Kazutaka,
Yamada Yuji,
Akiyama Shinichi
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(19990215)85:4<960::aid-cncr26>3.0.co;2-p
Subject(s) - thymidine phosphorylase , medicine , head and neck , head and neck squamous cell carcinoma , vascular endothelial growth factor , basal cell , cancer research , cell , thymidine , growth factor , pathology , oncology , vegf receptors , head and neck cancer , cancer , biology , dna , biochemistry , surgery , receptor
BACKGROUND Thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase) is identical to platelet‐derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD‐ECGF). dThdPase is known to promote the development of new blood vessels, which are fundamental to tumor growth and metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a 34–42 kilodalton (kD) protein that induces both angiogenesis and vascular permeability. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is a 36 kD nuclear protein, and its expression is associated with DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. METHODS The authors investigated the correlations of dThdPase and VEGF with the growth of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in 95 patients by examining PCNA expression as a marker of tumor proliferation. They also retrospectively examined the expression of dThdPase in primary HNSCC and its association with angiogenesis and clinicopathologic findings. RESULTS Microvessel count was significantly correlated with the expression of VEGF ( P = 0.046) but not with dThdPase expression. The expression of PCNA was significantly correlated with dThdPase ( P < 0.001) but not VEGF expression. A significant correlation was found between VEGF and dThdPase expression ( P = 0.003). Neither dThdPase nor VEGF correlated with clinicopathologic findings, except for the correlation between tumor location and VEGF expression ( P = 0.020). CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that VEGF is involved in angiogenesis in HNSCC. dThdPase may have effects on tumor growth other than angiogenic activity in HNSCC. Cancer 1999;85:960–9. © 1999 American Cancer Society.