Correlation Of Microvessel Density (MVD),Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) And Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) With Metastasis Of Hypopharyngeal Carcinoma

Objective In order to find the correlation between MVD,VEGF and MMP-2 with the metastasis of the hypopharyngeal carcinoma, the follow tasks were done. 1. To study the difference of micro vessel density and expression of VEGF, MMP-2 protein between the hypopharyngeal carcinoma and the control groups (including polyp of larynx, papilloma of larynx and the laryngeal carcinoma); 2. To investigate the expression of nm23 and PTEN protein in the hypopharyngeal carcinoma and study the possible relationship between them and MVD, expression of VEGF.MMP-2.Methods Paraffin-embedded tissues (including 32 cases of the hypopharyngeal carcinoma and 30 cases of each control groups) were collected from June, 1997 to December,2001. They were all treated surgically and detected for the expression of MVD,VEGF,MMP-2 and nm23,PTEN by two-step immunohistochemistry.Results 1.The quantity of MVD in the hypopharyngeal carcinoma was much higher than in the control groups. Also the difference of the expression between the hypopharyngeal carcinoma and control groups was significant(P<0.05). In the the hypopharyngeal carcinoma, the positive rate in those cases with cervical lymph node metastasis was much higher than the ones without cervical lymph node metastasis(P<0.05). 2. The expression of nm23 protein in the hypopharyngeal carcinoma was negative correlation with cervical lymph node metastasis, MVD number and the expression of VEGF(P<0.05). 3. The expression of PTEN protein in the hypopharyngeal carcinoma was no statistical significance with clinicopathologic manifestations and metastasis.Conclusions The abilities of vascularization and the destructiveness to basement membrane in the hypopharyngeal carcinoma were stronger than in the control groups. In the cases of the hypopharyngeal carcinoma, the abilities of vascularization and the destructiveness to basement membrane in those with cervical lymph node metastasis were stronger than in those without. Theability of anti-metastasis of nm23 gene in the hypopharyngeal carcinoma may be corrected with anti- vascularization. And the anti-oncogene PTEN may play no role in the hypopharyngeal carcinoma.