THE RELATIONSHIP OF ANGIOGENESIS TO BIOLOGICAL-ACTIVITY IN HUMAN SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMAS OF THE HEAD AND NECK

Tumor angiogenesis has recently been related to tumor growth and metas tasis, which determine the clinical outcome of the patient. This study was designed to determine the relationship between angiogenesis in pr imary squamous cell carcinomas (SSC) of the head and neck and the deve lopment of recurrent or metastatic disease, or both. Different SCC of the head and neck were studied. Microvessels were selectively stained using a monoclonal antibody for factor VIII. Microvessel counts were p erformed in the tumor, in the tissues immediately adjacent, and in nor mal tissues of similar topographies. Microvessel counts were then corr elated with clinical outcome (development of recurrent or metastatic d isease, or both). Recurrent or metastatic disease, or both, developed in patients with high microvessel counts (mean, 121.25) in the tissues adjacent to the tumor 7 to 16 months after initial treatment. Those w ith low microvessel counts (mean, 33.75) were disease-free for 16 mont hs to 6 years (p < 0.01). Microvessel counts inside the tumor were als o higher in those in whom recurrences or metastasis, or both, develope d, but were not statistically significant. In this study, angiogenesis was directly related to clinical outcome. Thus, angiogenesis may be a n independent predictor of recurrent or metastatic disease, or both, w hich could help in the selection of patients with SCC of the head and neck for aggressive therapy.