Abstract 2238: A novel prognostic marker in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue: high endothelial venules

• Published in: Cancer research (Chicago, Ill.) Vol. 70; no. 8_Supplement; p. 2238
• Main Authors: Lee, Ser Yee, Ooi, Aik Seng, Qian, Chao-Nan, Hwang, Siok Gek, Teh, Bin Tean, Soo, Khee-Chee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 15.04.2010
• ISSN: 0008-5472; 1538-7445
• DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.AM10-2238

Abstract AIMS: To evaluate tumor-induced vascularization in regional lymph nodes (LN) of patients with tongue carcinoma by studying the morphological and functional alterations of high endothelial venules (HEV) and its correlation to clinico-pathological features. BACKGROUND: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue is one of the most prevalent tumors of the head and neck region. The extent of LN metastasis is a major determinant for the staging and the most reliable adverse prognostic factor. Primary tumors can induce lymphatics and vasculature reorganizations within sentinel LN before the arrival of cancer cells and these key blood vessels are identified as HEV. The morphological altera[[Unsupported Character - Codename ­]]tion of HEV in the presence of a cancer, coupled with the increased proliferation rate of the endothelial cells, results in a functional shift of HEV from immune response mediator to blood-flow carrier. METHODS: This study is based on 65 consecutive patients with tongue SCC who underwent primary surgical treatment at Singapore General Hospital from January 2001 to December 2005. The patients were categorized into 2 groups (Cases and Controls) based on the presence of malignancy in their cervical lymph nodes. A review of the patients’ pathological and clinical data was performed from a prospective database. Immunohistochemical staining of the tissue blocks for HEV and high-power-field image analysis were performed and analyzed with correlation to the patients’ clinico-pathological features. RESULTS: The total number of HEVs is significantly associated to disease-free interval when controlling for the group (p=0.022) as well as combining both groups as one cohort (p=0.023). There also a similar association comparing the HEV parameters to overall survival. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the HEV possibly plays a key role in the pathogenesis of lymphatic and subsequent distant metastases. Confirmation of this hypothesis would offer a novel therapeutic approach to preventing metastasis by blocking the remodeling processes of HEV in LN. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2238.