ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Tumor angiogenesis is an essential process required for growth and metastasis of cancer. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is one of angiogenetic factors, and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (CD-31) is the commonly used marker to identify the vessel. It is unclear that the degree of angiogenesis and expression of bFGF are related to the growth and metastasis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. We examined the expression of bFGF and degree of angiogenesis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and compared them to normal larynx. Relationship between bFGF and angiogenesis to growth and nodal metastasis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma was also evaluated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Immunohistochemical study for bFGF and CD-31 were performed to detect the angiogenetic factor and degree of angiogenesis in 24 squamous cell carcinoma of larynx and 6 normal laryngeal tissue. Relationship of bFGF expression and degree of angiogenesis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma were compared to that in normal larynx. We evaluated relationship of expression of bFGF and degree of angiogenesis to primary stage and nodal stage in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. RESULTS: These expression of bFGF and degree of angiogenesis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma were significantly higher than in the normal control (p<0.05). The degree of angiogensis were significantly correlated with bFGF expression (p<0.05): the bFGF expression and degree of angiogenesis were not correlated to the nodal stage, but to the primary stage in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that bFGF and angiogenesis may play an important role in the growth of larygeal squamous cell carcinoma.