Correlations of Oral Tongue Cancer Invasion with Matrix Metalloproteinases(MMPs) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor(VEGF) Expression

Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology 2005;21(1):3-9.
Published online May 30, 2005.

Se Heon Kim;Nam Hoon Cho;Jae Yul Lim;Ji Hoon Kim;Jeong Hong Kim;Jung Hyun Chang;Eun Chang Choi

Matrix Metalloproteinases(MMPs) 및 Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor(VEGF)의 발현을 통한 구강 설암의 침윤 기전 연구

김세헌;조남훈;임재열;김지훈;김정홍;장정현;최은창

Abstract

Purpose
In oral tongue cancer, the degree of tumor invasion has a significant effect on the prognosis. We hypothesized that the destruction of extracelluar matrix and neovascularization are related to tumor infiltration mechanism. By studying the the tissues of early stage oral tongue cancer patients, we are intend to clarify the invasion related factors in oral tongue cancer. Material and Methods: To demonstrate the invasion process in early T-stage oral tongue cancer, the expressions of extracellular matrix destruction related molecules(MMP2, MMP9) and neovascularization related molecule(VEGF) were observed by immunohistochemical study. Also, immunohistochemical staining of CD31 was done for quantification of neovascularization. With the experiment showed above, we analyzed relationship between expression of each substances and tumor invasion depth, tumor free survival rates and cervical lymph node metastasis rate in early T-stage oral tongue cancer.
Results
The expression rates of MMP2, MMP9, VEGF in 38 early oral cancer patients were 52.6%, 78.9% 52.6%, respectively. Significant correlation was found between the VEGF expression and microvessel density showed by CD31 immunohistochemical staining(p<0.001). VEGF expressions were significantly related with tumor invasion depth(p=0.002). The tumor free survival rate of those patients with VEGF-positive tumors was significantly poorer than in those with VEGF-negative tumors(p=0.019).
Conclusion
This results indicate that VEGF is a useful marker for predicting the tumor invasion in patients with early tongue cancer and could be used as a beneficial factors in defining operative field and prognosis.

Key Words: Oral tongue carcinoma, Tumor thickness, VEGF, MMPs