Angiogenesis and Mast Cells Density in Oral and Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Abstract

Despite the similarities between oral and esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), the survival rate of this cancer is relatively low in the esophagus compared to the oral cavity. To our knowledge, mast cells and angiogenesis have not been simultaneously compared between oral and esophageal SCCs. However, they have been separately evaluated in each of these locations with conflicting results. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess and compare mast cell count and microvessel density between SCCs of the esophagus and oral cavity. A total of 46 oral and esophageal SCCs (23 of each) were stained immunohistochemically and histochemically with CD31 and methylene blue, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation analysis. Microvessel density was significantly higher in oral compared to esophageal tumors (P=0.02). Conversely, esophageal SCCs showed significantly higher mast cell counts than that of oral neoplasms (P=0.04). Pearson correlation analysis showed no association between these two factors in either oral SCC (P=0.51) or esophageal SCC (P=0.34). A significant difference between mean mast cell count and microvessel density in oral and esophageal SCC may be related to inherent differences in the tissues of origin and might, to some extent, be responsible for the different biological behaviors of these cancers. © 2019 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved. Acta Med Iran 2019;57(10):575-580.