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Published in: Annals of Surgical Oncology 1/2007

01-01-2007

Intratumoral Lymphatic Vessels and VEGF-C Expression Are Predictive Factors of Lymph Node Relapse in T1-T4 N0 Laryngopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Authors: Adolfo Hinojar-Gutiérrez, María-Encarnación Fernández-Contreras, Rocío González-González, María-Jesús Fernández-Luque, Adolfo Hinojar-Arzadún, Miguel Quintanilla, Carlos Gamallo

Published in: Annals of Surgical Oncology | Issue 1/2007

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Abstract

Background

The presence of intratumoral lymphatic vessels (ILVs) and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) in tumour cells have been studied as markers of lymphangiogenesis in order to evaluate their role in metastatic dissemination in laryngopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Methods

A retrospective study was performed in 76 patients of N0 laryngopharyngeal carcinoma. with variable tumour size (T1-T4), histological grade, and location (supraglottic, glottic and hypopharyngeal). The presence of ILVs, as revealed by the expression of PA2.26 antigen and VEGF-C expression, were determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Low-grade and high-grade lymphangiogenesis were defined by qualitative and quantitative criteria.

Results

Multivariate analysis revealed low-grade ILV and VEGF-C expression to be associated respectively with 30.3- and 16.2-fold higher probabilities of cervical lymph node relapse (P = 0.005 and P = 0.032) and with 16.2- and 8.44-fold shorter disease-free survival (P = 0.009 and P = 0.045).

Conclusions

Low-grade ILV and VEGF-C expression are independent predictive factors of cervical lymph node relapse and shortening of time to relapse in N0 laryngopharyngeal carcinoma.
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Metadata
Title
Intratumoral Lymphatic Vessels and VEGF-C Expression Are Predictive Factors of Lymph Node Relapse in T1-T4 N0 Laryngopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors
Adolfo Hinojar-Gutiérrez
María-Encarnación Fernández-Contreras
Rocío González-González
María-Jesús Fernández-Luque
Adolfo Hinojar-Arzadún
Miguel Quintanilla
Carlos Gamallo
Publication date
01-01-2007
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Annals of Surgical Oncology / Issue 1/2007
Print ISSN: 1068-9265
Electronic ISSN: 1534-4681
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-006-9201-y

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