Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in oral tissues: possible relevance to angiogenesis, tumour progression and field cancerisation

The aim of this study was to assess whether vascular endothelial growth fac tor (VEGF) expression in oral tissues is associated with angiogenesis, dise ase progression or field cancerisation. Vascularity and VEGF immunoreactivi ty were quantified in 68 archival specimens including normal oral mucosa (N OM), dysplasia (DYS) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Vascularity increas ed significantly with disease progression; it was also higher in NOM adjace nt to SCC than in NOM from healthy tissue, suggesting an association with f ield cancerisation. VEGF expression in epithelial cells was evaluated using two antibodies and three indices. VEGF indices and vascularity were not di rectly correlated. The expression of VEGF was similar in all DYS and NOM sp ecimens, whether or not adjacent to a concurrent lesion. A comparison of SC C with NOM or DYS led to opposite results, depending on the VEGF antibody a nd index used. We conclude that VEGF expression in the oral mucosa may play a physiological role, but does not appear to be associated with angiogenes is, field cancerisation or transition to dysplasia. Further studies concern ed with tumour development require examining specific VEGF isoforms and Sta ndardisation of the methodology.