Angiolipoma of the buccal mucosa: a possible role of mast cell-derived VEGF in its enhanced vascularity

A case of angiolipoma occurring in the buccal mucosa of a 69-year-old male is described. The patient had noticed a painless mass in his buccal mucosa for 2 years. The surgically removed tumor, measuring 9 mm in diameter, was mainly located in the submucosal layer with focal expansion into the muscle layer. Histologically, the tumor was well-demarcated and composed of proliferations of mature fat cells and fibrous connective tissue containing many small blood vessels, which were evenly distributed. There was diffuse infiltration of a large number of mast cells, which were immunopositive for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) especially around blood vessels, suggesting that VEGF produced by mast cells in angiolipomas plays an important role in the vascular proliferation in this particular tumor.     

Influences of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis on cancerous invasion in experimentally induced tongue carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Although it is clear that dissemination via the blood system involves angiogenesis, it is uncertain whether tumors also induce lymphangiogenesis or simply invade existing peritumoral vessels. The purpose of this study was to elucidate changes in tumor blood and lymph vessels in cases involving the invasion of squamous cell carcinoma in the oral cavity, and its significance. Blood and lymph vessels densities in tongue carcinomas induced in hamsters were investigated. METHODS: Tongue cancer was induced by abrading the right margin of the tongue of each hamster with an endodontic barbed broach and subsequently applying 1.0% 9,10-dimenthl-1,2-benzanthracene (DMBA) dissolved in acetone, three times a week, at the same site. Fresh frozen sections were prepared and blood vessels stained blue by perfusion with Coomassie Brilliant Blue and lymph vessels stained brown for 5'-nucleotidase. The effects on the blood vessels and lymph vessels were observed. RESULTS: The results showed that blood and lymph vessel densities were greater in the advanced carcinoma tissues than in normal tissue. These were compared in terms of the mode of cancer invasion. As tumor invasion progressed, the blood vessel density decreased but lymph vessel density tended to be higher in high-degree tumor invasion than in low-degree tumor invasion. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C was seen more frequently as tumor invasion progressed. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings indicated that angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis are affected by cancerous invasion.     

Cell–matrix adhesion in vascular development

Summary.  Vascular development requires correct interactions among endothelial cells, pericytes and surrounding cells. These interactions involve many cell adhesion interactions, including cell–matrix interactions both with basement membranes and with surrounding extracellular matrices. Investigations of the contributions of these various interactions in vascular development and angiogenesis have been rather uneven and incomplete over the past 10–15 years. There has been considerable concentration on a few receptors, matrix proteins and proteolytic fragments with the goal of finding means to control angiogenesis. Many other potential contributors have received much less attention. Even for those molecules that have been subject to intensive investigation, our knowledge is incomplete. This review will survey the spectrum of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and cell–matrix adhesion receptors (particularly integrins) that are likely to contribute to angiogenesis and discuss what is known and not known about the roles of each of them.     

Angiogenesis in invasive breast carcinoma: is it associated with parameters of prognostic significance?

Recent experimental and clinical studies suggest that tumour-induced angiogenesis may be an important step in the evolution of malignant tumours, and may be related to prognosis. In our study we examined 42 cases of breast carcinoma (mean age: 56.76 ± 13.5), 21 with lymph node metastases and 21 without. Angiogenesis was evaluated after immunohistochemical staining of tumour vessels, using polyclonal antibody to factor VIII related antigen (VIIIR-Ag) and counting of the three most active areas of neovascularization. In the same manner we counted the microvessels in lymph node metastases. The mean vessel count of node-negative cases (51.16 ± 19.32) did not differ significantly from node-positive cases (45.66 ± 17.44). In contrast patients younger than 50 years had much higher mean vessel counts (54.04 ± 16.47) than did patients older than 70 years (38.03 ± 16.73) producing a P value of ≤0.05. No association was found between tumour size and mean vessel count, nor was there any significant difference between grade I (45.94 ± 16.54), grade II (53.13 ± 23.22) and grade III tumours (51.71 ± 20.64). When we compared the mean vessel count of primary tumours with those of node metastases, we found much lower counts in the latter ( P ≤0.01). The differences in our results from previous studies, probably reflect the heterogeneity which exists between different tumours in their ability to induce angiogenesis. Additionally, there is some evidence in our study that angiogenesis is possibly related to patient age and probably depends on differences in the tumour stroma.     

胃腺癌微卫星不稳定性与VEGF蛋白表达关系的研究

目的：探讨胃癌微卫星不稳定性(MSI)与胃腺癌中皿管内皮生长因子(VEGF）之间的关系。方法：应用PCR—SSCP技术检测30例胃腺癌5个位点的微卫星不稳定性，同时应用免疫组织化学的方法检测肿瘤皿管内皮生长因子(VEGF)蛋白的表达。结果：MSI阳性率为43．4％(13／30)。VEGF阳性率为60％(18／30）。MSI—H胃癌VEGF的表达显著减少。结论：MSI—H的胃癌与MSS胃癌可能存在两种不同的胃癌及肿瘤血管新生形成的途径。MSI—H肿瘤较低的VEGF表达可能可以解释为何MSI-H胃癌有较低的侵袭性。     

环氧合酶-2及其选择性抑制剂塞来昔布对结肠癌肝转移瘤VEGF、FGF-2影响的实验研究

目的 :研究环氧化酶 2及其选择性抑制剂塞来昔布和血管生成因子VEGF、FGF 2间的关系 ,从而探讨环氧化酶 2对结肠癌肝转移瘤血管形成的影响。方法 :以细胞培养法建立稳定的结肠癌细胞株HT 2 9和HCT 116 ,利用脾切除法建立结肠癌肝转移动物模型 ,免疫组化检测结肠癌肝转移瘤VEGF、FGF 2蛋白表达。结果 :结肠癌肝脏转移率 ,HT 2 9组、HCT 116组、塞来昔布组分别为 83 33%、16 6 7%、33 33%。肝脏转移瘤VEGF、FGF 2的表达 ,HT 2 9组与HCT 116组、塞来昔布组比较均表达增强 ,有显著统计学意义 (P <0 0 1～ 0 0 5 ) ;塞来昔布组与HCT 116组比较无显著性差异 (P >0 0 5 )。结论 :环氧合酶 2与结肠癌肝转移瘤血管生成密切相关 ,其高表达促进了结肠癌肝转移瘤新生血管生成。其机制可能是上调促血管生成因子VEGF、FGF 2的表达     

基质金属蛋白酶及微血管密度和子宫内膜癌的关系

基质金属蛋白酶及其抑制剂在子宫内膜癌的侵袭和转移中发挥着重要的作用。肿瘤的新生血管对肿瘤的发生、发展、转移及预后有着重要作用。微血管密度是衡量血管生成的定量指标。基质金属蛋白酶抑制剂可抑制血管的生成和MMPs对细胞外基质的降解。现将他们与子宫内膜癌的关系综述如下。     

局部注射VEGF对大鼠正畸牙齿移动的影响

目的：观察局部注射重组鼠的血管内皮生长因子(rrVEGF)对大鼠正畸牙齿移动的影响，探讨VEGF在正畸牙齿移动中的作用机制。方法：45只雄性SD大鼠，牵引其上颌第一磨牙近中移动，实验中分别将rrVEGF及生理盐水注射入实验组及对照组大鼠右侧上颌第一磨牙腭侧的骨粘膜下，于实验前3天开始注射，每3天一次。分别在加力l、3、7、14、2l天后记录上颌第一磨牙移动距离。然后将各组动物处死，用HE染色观察牙周组织变化情况并采用免疫组织化学方法对组织中表达的VEGF进行分析。结果：实验组大鼠压力侧破骨细胞教和成骨细胞数在实验全过程中均多于对照组，而且，实验组大鼠牙齿移动距离明显大于对照组。结论：进一步证实VEGF作为旁分泌因子，参与了牙齿移动过程中的牙周组织改建，内源性VEGF和注射VEGF都使牙齿移动量显著增加。因此，VEGF在正畸牙齿移动的机制中具有重要意义。     

CXC趋化因子与肿瘤血管新生

趋化因子在免疫调节、血管新生以及介导肿瘤的器官特异性转移中发挥重要作用。其中CXC趋化因子超家族由于N-端谷氨酸-亮氨酸-精氨酸基序(Glu-Leu-Arg,ELRmotif)的有无使其在血管新生过程中具有了促进或者抑制血管新生的不同作用:含有ELR(ELR )的CXC趋化因子经血管内皮组织上CXCR2介导血管新生促进作用;而不含有ELR(ELR-)的CXC趋化因子通过血管内皮组织上CXCR3介导血管新生抑制作用。