Angiogenesis‐related prognosis in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma—role of the VEGF +936 C/T polymorphism

Background The aim of the study was the immunohistological assessment of VEGF ‐single nucleotide polymorphism ( SNP )‐related angiogenic activity in oral squamous cell carcinoma ( OSCC ) in correlation with prognosis. Methods Fifty OSCC samples were immunostained with CD 31‐antibodies. Mean microvessel density ( MVD ) and staining intensity were determined and associated with clinicopathological/prognostic features as well as with the VEGF +936 C / T SNP . Results A significant higher MVD could be seen for T 3 and T 4 compared with T 1 and T 2, N > 0 vs. N0 as well as G3–G4 vs. G1–G2 OSCC s (all: P  < 0.05). A higher MVD was also associated with increased and earlier rates of local relapses, more metastases, and a significant decreased overall as well as disease‐free survival (all: P  < 0.05). When comparing T 1 and T 2 samples with +936‐T‐allele with T 1&2 samples without this allele, staining intensity was significantly increased ( P  = 0.002). Conclusions Angiogenesis influences local as well as distant growth of OSCC s with a significant correlation between prognostic parameters. The correlation between VEGF +936‐ T ‐allele and increased CD 31 immunostain needs further confirmation.