Tissue expression, serum and salivary levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with HNSCC.

Introduction: Vascular endothelial growth factor is thought to be an important angiogenic factor involved in tumor growth, progression, and metastasis.

Objective: The present study evaluated the relation between tissue expression, serum and salivary levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, and their correlation with clinicopathologic features.

Methods: Samples were collected from 30 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas and 24 healthy volunteers. Immunohistochemical analysis was used for tissue expression and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure serum and salivary levels.

Results: No vascular endothelial growth factor staining was observed in normal tissues, whereas vascular endothelial growth factor expression was seen in 6 patients (20%). Mean serum level of VEGF was 83.7±104.47 in patients and 50.04±32.94 in controls. Mean salivary level of vascular endothelial growth factor was 174.41±115.07 in patients and 149.58±101.88 in controls. No significant difference was found by Mann-Whitney test between controls and patients (p=0.411, p=0.944, respectively). No correlation was found between vascular endothelial growth factor tissue expression and its serum and salivary level.

Conclusion: Overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor was found in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients, suggesting its role in the pathogenesis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, but no relation was found between tissue expression, serum levels, and salivary levels of this marker.