Association of vascular endothelial growth factor and mast cells with angiogenesis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

We investigated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and microvascular density in 54 cases of invasive laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and in ten samples of normal laryngeal tissue using immunoh istochemistry methods. The study also focused on the distribution of mast c ells in and around the SCCs. The microvascular density in laryngeal carcino ma tissue was higher than that in normal tissue (P=0.02). VEGF was localize d in SCCs, stromal cells, endothelial cells, minor salivary glands, and non -cancer epithelium adjacent to the tumor. VEGF expression in the tumor cell s was found in 13 of 54 cases (24.1%), whereas mast cells around the carcin omas were VEGF positive in all 54 cases. Staining of VEGF in SCCs was stron g in the area of high microvascular density (P=0.0002). Using a multi-label ing subtraction immunostaining method, VEGF-positive stromal cells were cla ssified mostly as mast cells and, in a few instances, as macrophages. VEGF staining in SCCs was associated with the mast cell count (P=0.0001). There was no distinct correlation between VEGF expression and pTNM stage of an SC C. In conclusion, the results suggest that VEGF might be an important angio genic factor in cancer invasion. Laryngeal cancer cells and mast cells may control the angiogenic response by releasing VEGF.