The clinical value of lymphatic vessel density, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 expression in patients with oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) is an oral carcinoma prone to lymphatic metastasis. Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) as important adhesion molecules play roles in regulating cell-cell adhesion and tumor cells metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lymphatic vessel density (LVD) was evaluated by immunohistochemistry using anti-human D2-40 antibody. The expression of ICAM-1 or VCAM-1 in lymphatic vessels were measured by double immunofluorescence staining. Then both of the LVD and the expression of ICAM-1 or VCAM-1 were compared between in normal tongue and in OTSCC lymphatic vessels. In OTSCC, statistical analyses were performed to determine the prognostic correlation of ICAM-1 or VCAM-1 levels. RESULTS: LVD and expression of ICAM-1 or VCAM-1 in OTSCC lymphatic vessels was higher than those in normal tongue lymphatic vessels (LVD: 21.454 +/- 7.022, 8.498 +/- 1.679; ICAM-1: 30.241 +/- 5.639%, 5.050 +/- 1.227%; VCAM-1: 33.134 +/- 5.127%, 2.113 +/- 0.446%, in OTSCC, normal tongue tissues, respectively). High LVD and high ICAM-1 or VCAM-1 expression in lymphatic vessels was significantly associated with lymphatic node metastasis. Overall survival was significantly shorter in patients with high LVD and ICAM-1 or VCAM-1 expression in lymphatic vessels. CONCLUSIONS: LVD and expression of ICAM-1 or VCAM-1 in OTSCC was higher than that in normal tongue lymphatic vessels. Monitoring changes in the expression of ICAM-1 or VCAM-1 in lymphatic vessels may be a useful technique for assessing prognoses in OTSCC patients.