RESEARCH ARTICLE


Mast Cells and Angiogenesis in Oral Malignant and Premalignant Lesions



E.Z Michailidou, A.K Markopoulos*, D.Z Antoniades
Department of Oral Medicine and Maxillofacial Pathology, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece


Article Metrics

CrossRef Citations:
23
Total Statistics:

Full-Text HTML Views: 249
Abstract HTML Views: 58
PDF Downloads: 49
Total Views/Downloads: 356
Unique Statistics:

Full-Text HTML Views: 141
Abstract HTML Views: 49
PDF Downloads: 40
Total Views/Downloads: 230



Creative Commons License
© Michailidou et al.; Licensee Bentham Open.

open-access license: This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted, non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.

* Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Oral Medicine & Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Dentistry, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; E-mail: anmark@dent.auth.gr


Abstract

Mast cell contribution to neoangiogenesis during tumorigenesis in oral squamous cell carcinoma is not determined yet. Objectives: To associate numerical mast cell density (MCD) to numerical microvessel density (MVD) during the progression of oral leukoplakia without dysplasia and leukoplakia with dysplasia to squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Materials and methods: MVD was analysed immunohistochemically (mouse monoclonal anti-human CD34) in 49 paraffin-embedded specimens, 35 OSCCs, 9 leukoplakias and 5 normal oral tissues. Toluidine blue counterstaining revealed mast cells. MCD and MVD were assessed at the same optical field. Results: MVD increased between: normal oral mucosa, dysplasia (p=0.004), OSCC (p=0.001), leukoplakia and OSCC (p=0.041). MCD increased between: normal oral mucosa, dysplasia (p=0.003), OSCC (p=0.000), leukoplakia and OSCC (p=0.007). MVD was found to depend on MCD (p=0.000) in a percent 28.3% (power curve fit model). Conclusions: Mast cells are attracted at the lesion site and may turn on an angiogenic switch during tumorigenesis in OSCC.