Expression of VEGF-C and COX-2 in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Correlates with Lymph Node Metastasis

BACKGROUND AND AIM:To investigate the expression of VEGF-C,VEGFR-3 and COX-2 in oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC),and the correlation with lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Immunohistochemical SP method for VEGF-C,VEGFR-3 and COX-2 were performed in 60 cases of OSCC,23 cases of precancerous change and 19 benign lesion specimens.The lymphatic vessel density(LVD) in the tumor was counted and analyzed with clinicopathologic parameters.RESULTS:Compared with benign and precancerous change,the expressions of VEGF-C,LVD and COX-2 were significantly higher in OSCC(P0.05).The expressions of VEGF-C and LVD were significantly correlated with lymphatic metastasis(P0.05);COX-2 was obviously related with clinical stage and lymphatic metastasis(P0.05).The expression of COX-2 was closely correlated with that of VEGF-C(r=0.519,P0.01),with LVD positively correlated with their expression levels(r=0.661,P0.01 and r=0.485,P0.01,respectively).CONCLUSION:The expression rates of COX-2 and VEGF-C were high in OSCC.COX-2 may participate in VEGF-C lymphangiogenic pathway and play an important role in the lymph node metastasis of OSCC.