Clinicopathologic significance of CD105 expression in squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx.

Abstract

Induction of angiogenesis is a key process in tumor growth and metastasis. We studied the CD105 (endoglin) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in hypopharyngeal cancer to evaluate their clinicopathologic significance. Seventy-three patients who underwent complete excision of hypopharyngeal cancer were included in this study. Clinicopathologic data were collected retrospectively. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed with antibodies of CD105 and VEGF. Positive-stained microvessels for CD105 were counted on hot spots of tumors. The staining intensity for VEGF was also evaluated. High expression of CD105 correlated significantly with positive nodal metastasis (p < .001) and TNM stage (p < .01). High expression of VEGF correlated significantly with advanced tumor (T) classification (p < .01). The overall 5-year survival rate was worse in patients with higher CD105 expression (p < .001), advanced TNM stage (p < .01), advanced T classification (p < .01), and positive nodal metastasis (p < .001). Furthermore, Cox regression analysis revealed that CD105 expression in microvessels of tumor tissue, advanced T classification, and nodal status were independent factors for survival. Our results suggest that expression of CD105 is a useful predictive prognostic factor in hypopharyngeal cancer.