VEGF and p53 biomarkers in pediatric patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

Background: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease with abnormal accumulation of the dendritic Langerhans cells. In the localized form (single system), the disease is self-limiting but in the cases of multisystem disease, one third of the patients develop organ dysfunction with poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to examine the role of p53 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the pathogenesis of LCH and look for association of them with the extent of the disease.