Mast Cells and Blood Vessels Profile in Oral Carcinogenesis: An Immunohistochemistry Study

BACKGROUND: The objectives of the present study were to evaluate angiogenesis and mast cell density in oral epithelial dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an observational, retrospective and quantitative study. The samples consisted of 60 tissue specimens from patients with squamous cell carcinoma, epithelial dysplasia and controls (n=20/group). Immunohistochemistry was performed using an anti-tryptase antibody to mast cells and anti-CD31 and anti-CD34 for blood vessels and we count the number of mast cells and determine the percentage of CD31 and CD34 antibody staining (vascular density). RESULTS: The mast cells had lower density in OSCC compared to control and dysplasia (p = 0.009). In angiogenesis, the expression of CD31 showed a higher percentage of blood vessels in OSCC (p < 0.001), however, CD34 showed no difference between groups (p=0.092). The CD31 antibody presented as a high immunostaining in oral mucosa than CD34. CONCLUSIONS: The increased vascularity in squamous cell carcinoma suggests that angiogenesis begins when malignant transformation starts that seems to be inversely associated with the number of mast cells.