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Objective@#To investigate the expression of integrin αvβ3, CXC chemokine receptor (CXCR)4 and CXCR7 and their relationship with lymph node metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN).@*Methods@#The expression of integrin αvβ3, CXCR4 and CXCR7 was detected by immunohistochemistry SABC in 92 cases of primary SCCHN, metastatic lymph node, normal oral mucosa tissues and normal lymph nodes.@*Results@#The positive rate of the expression of integrin αvβ3, CXCR4 and CXCR7 was 75% (69/92), 81%(75/92) and 76%(70/92), respectively in primary SCCHN, and was 82%(75/92), 76%(70/92) and 65%(60/92), respectively in metastatic lymph node. The expression of integrin αvβ3 and CXCR4 in primary SCCHN (r=0.813, P<0.05) and lymph node metastasis (r=0.541, P<0.05) was positively correlated. Integrin αvβ3 and CXCR7 expression in primary SCCHN (r=0.683, P<0.05) and lymph node metastasis (r=0.708, P<0.05) was positively correlated. CXCR4 and CXCR7 expression in primary SCCHN (r=0.644, P<0.05) and lymph node metastasis (r=0.707, P<0.05) had a positive correlation. The expression level was associated with tumor size (P=0.040, 0.001, 0.009), lymph node metastasis (P=0.001, 0.000, 0.000) and surrounding tissue invasion (P=0.046, 0.002, 0.001), but not related to age (P=0.097, 0.274, 0.162), gender (P=0.103, 0.309, 0.187).@*Conclusions@#The overexpression of integrin αvβ3, CXCR4 and CXCR7 in primary head and neck squamous carcinoma and metastatic lymph nodes was related to lymph node metastasis. The co-expression of integrin αvβ3, CXCR4 and CXCR7 may play a synergistic role in lymphatic metastasis of SCCHN.
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Objective To explore the feasibility of visually assessment of angiogenesis in a murine model of subcutaneous matrigel plugs with ultrasound molecular imaging(UMI) using microbubbles(MB)targeted to endothelial αv-integrins. Methods Matrigel angiogenesis was created by subcutaneous implantation of FGF-2 enriched matrigel in 10 mice. On day 10, UMI of the matrigel was performed in all mice at 6 minutes after intravenous injection of either αv-integrin targeting microbubbles(MBα) or isotype control microbubbles(MBc) in random with 30 min interval,and the video intensity(Ⅵ) was measured. To further test the specificity of the signal coming from MBα,antibody against αv-integrin was injected 10 min before microbubbles injection. Following UMI,all matrigels were harvested for histological analysis. Results As expected,VI of the matrigel was significantly higher ( P ＜0.05) for MBα (20. 5 ± 3.3)U as compared with MBc (4. 8 ± 1.5)U. After blocking with antibody against αv-integrin,a great decrease was observed in the MBα group [VI (4.6 ± 1.2) U, P ＜0.05] while no significant difference was noted for MBc [VI (4. 9 ±1.5)U, P ＞ 0.05 ]. Neovessels within matrigel was positive for αv-integrin. Conclusions UMI with microbubbles targeted to αv-integrins can be effective and specific in evaluating the angiogenesis in a murine model of subcutaneous matrigel plugs.