Tumor-Infiltrating Macrophage and Microvessel Density in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) are the main cellular component in stroma of many tumors and participate in tumor angiogenesis. The aim of present study was to compare the microvascular density (MVD) and infiltrating macrophage density (IMD) in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) with different histological grades. A histomorphometric analysis was performed after immunohistochemistry using antibodies such as von-Willebrand factor and CD68. A significant difference in MVD was found between well and moderately differentiated OSCCs (p<0.05). TAM were largely present in all studied tumors and the IMD was not different among OSCCs with different histological grades (p=0.381). Significant correlation between MVD and IMD was not observed (p=0.870). In conclusion, these results suggest that TAM and angiogenesis have an influence at different histological grades of OSCC. However, the lack of correlation between MVD and IMD could suggest that angiogenesis does not depend on the number of macrophages present in OSCC, but their predominant phenotype. Further studies involving distinct phenotypes of macrophages should be done to better understand the influence of TAM on the tumor angiogenesis.

Macrófagos associados a tumores (MAT) representam o componente principal do estroma de muitos tumores, além de participar da angiogênese tumoral. Este estudo comparou a microdensidade vascular (MDV) e densidade de macrófagos infiltrando o tumor (DMIT) em carcinoma escamocelular da boca (CEC) com diferentes graus histológicos de malignidade. Análise histomorfométrica foi empregada após técnica imuno-histoquímica para os anticorpos fator von-Willebrand e CD68. Uma diferença significante entre MDV e carcinomas bem e moderadamente diferenciados foi observada (p<0,05). MAT estavam fortemente presentes em todos os tumores estudados e a DMIT não foi diferente entre os diferentes graus histológicos de malignidade do CEC (p=0,381). Correlação significante entre MDV e DMIT não foi observada (p=0,870). Em conclusão, os resultados desse estudo sugerem a influência de MAT e angiogênese nos diferentes graus histológicos de malignidade do CEC. Entretanto, a ausência de correlação entre MDV e DMIT sugere que a angiogênese não depende do número de macrófagos presentes neste tipo de câncer, mas do fenótipo predominante. Outros estudos devem ser realizados a fim de contribuir para melhor compreensão da participação de MAT na angiogênese tumoral.

Endoglin [CD105] positive microvessel density and its relationship with lymph node metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue

Neovascularization is an important factor for predicting tumor behavior. Evidence suggests that endoglin [CD105] is a powerful marker of neovascularization and determination of microvessel density in several malignancies, and can be used as an agent to predict lymph node metastasis. However, it is controversial, particularly in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. We studied CD105-MVD in tongue squamous cell carcinoma and evaluated its correlation with lymph node metastasis in relation to sex, age, and histopathologic grade. This study analyzed a total of 40 cases of tongue squamous cell carcinoma by dividing patients into two groups, a] with meta-static lymph nodes [N+] and b] without metastatic lymph nodes [N-]. By CD105 immunostaining, microvessel density was determined in three different areas [intratumoral, invasive front and adjacent normal tissue] of all cases. Statistically, we evaluated the relation between microvessel density and lymph node involvement, in addition to other clinicopathologic factors by using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, f-test, and other analyses. CD105-MVD in the invasive front [P<0.001] and intratumoral [P<0.006] areas of the N+ group was significantly higher than in the N-group. In addition, there was a correlation between CD105-MVD and differentiation in the invasive front area [P< 0.013] No relation existed between CD105-MVD and other clinicopathologic features. CD105-MVD, as a prognostic factor, may be helpful for determining the possibility of lymph node metastasis of primary SCC of the tongue