Angiogenesis-related prognosis in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma-role of the VEGF +936 C/T polymorphism.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was the immunohistological assessment of VEGF-single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-related angiogenic activity in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in correlation with prognosis. METHODS: Fifty OSCC samples were immunostained with CD31-antibodies. Mean microvessel density (MVD) and staining intensity were determined and associated with clinicopathological/prognostic features as well as with the VEGF +936C/T SNP. RESULTS: A significant higher MVD could be seen for T3 and T4 compared with T1 and T2, N > 0 vs. N0 as well as G3–G4 vs. G1–G2 OSCCs (all: P < 0.05). A higher MVD was also associated with increased and earlier rates of local relapses, more metastas…