[Is microvascular density an independent prognostic factor in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue?]. / El la densidad microvascular un factor pronóstico independiente en el carcinoma epidermoide de lengua?

BACKGROUND: The relationship between tumour angiogenesis and prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas remains controversial in the literature. This study was designed to determine the role of tumour vascularization in tongue squamous cell carcinoma behaviour. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Tumour vascularization was evaluated in 43 patients with primary squamous cell carcinomas of the tongue. Anti-endothelial cell antigen (CD31) was used to stain the specimens. The correlation between tumour vascularization and both survival rate and tumour recurrence was established to determine the prognostic value of microvessel density (Cox proportional-hazards survival regression). RESULTS: Adequate staining was achieved in all specimens with anti-CD31. Mean microvessel density was 30.6 (x400 field), and the median was 27. After a 5-year follow-up, a local, regional, or distant recurrence of the tumour occurred in 29 patients (67.4 %). Twenty patients (46.5 %) were alive with or without tumour, while 23 patients (53.5 %) had died due to tumour recurrence. Statistical analysis failed to demonstrate any correlation between microvessel density and 5-year survival (P = .59) and recurrence rate (P = .31). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the controversy, these results suggest that microvascular density is not a valid independent prognostic indicator in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.

¿El la densidad microvascular un factor pronóstico independiente en el carcinoma epidermoide de lengua? / Is microvascular density an independent prognostic factor in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue?

Objetivos: La relación entre angiogénesis tumoral y el pronóstico en carcinomas epidermoides de cabeza y cuello continúa en controversia. Se ha diseñado este estudio para determinar el papel de la vascularización tumoral en el comportamiento de los carcinomas epidermoides de lengua. Material y método: Se ha evaluado la vascularización tumoral en 43 pacientes con carcinoma epidermoide de lengua. Se emplearon anticuerpos antiendoteliales (CD31) para teñir las muestras. Para determinar el valor pronóstico de la microvascularización tumoral, se comparó la densidad microvascular con el índice de recidiva y la supervivencia (test de regresión de Cox). Resultados: Todas las muestras se tiñeron adecuadamente mediante anti-CD31. La densidad vascular media fue 30,6 (en campos x400) y la mediana, 27. Tras un seguimiento de 5 años, en 29 (67,4 %) pacientes se iniciaron recidivas local, regional o a distancia; 20 (46,5 %) permanecían vivos con o sin tumor, mientras que 23 (53 %) habían fallecido por una recidiva tumoral. El análisis estadístico no ha demostrado ninguna relación significativa de la densidad microvascular con la supervivencia a 5 años (p = 0,59) ni con el riesgo de recidiva a los 5 años (p = 0,31). Conclusiones: Aunque hay controversias, estos resultados indican que la densidad microvascular no es un indicador pronóstico independiente y válido en pacientes con carcinoma epidermoide de lengua

Background: The relationship between tumour angiogenesis and prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas remains controversial in the literature. This study was designed to determine the role of tumour vascularization in tongue squamous cell carcinoma behaviour. Material and method: Tumour vascularization was evaluated in 43 patients with primary squamous cell carcinomas of the tongue. Anti-endothelial cell antigen (CD31) was used to stain the specimens. The correlation between tumour vascularization and both survival rate and tumour recurrence was established to determine the prognostic value of microvessel density (Cox proportional-hazards survival regression). Results: Adequate staining was achieved in all specimens with anti-CD31. Mean microvessel density was 30.6 (x400 field), and the median was 27. After a 5-year follow-up, a local, regional, or distant recurrence of the tumour occurred in 29 patients (67.4 %). Twenty patients (46.5 %) were alive with or without tumour, while 23 patients (53.5 %) had died due to tumour recurrence. Statistical analysis failed to demonstrate any correlation between microvessel density and 5-year survival (P = .59) and recurrence rate (P = .31). Conclusions: Despite the controversy, these results suggest that microvascular density is not a valid independent prognostic indicator in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue