Immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-c (vegf-c) in salivary gland tumours

Context/Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor C expression has been focus of research for variety of neoplasms owing to its potential role played in lymphangiogenesis and metastasis through interactions with various molecules.
Objective: This study was designed to determine the immunohistochemical expression of VEGF-C in benign and malignant salivary glands tumours in local Pakistani population.
Materials & Methods: This descriptive study was conducted at the Department of Morbid Anatomy and Histopathology/ Oral Pathology, University of Health Sciences Lahore, Pakistan. Biopsies and detailed clinical data of 85 cases of salivary gland neoplasms (31 benign and 54 malignant) were obtained from different local tertiary care hospitals in Lahore from Jan. 2015 to Sep 2016. After confirming the histologic diagnosis,immunohistochemical expression of VEGF-C was determined in the salivary gland tumours. SPSS version 21.0 Chi-square and Fischer Exact tests were applied for statistical analysis and p<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.
Results: Expression of VEGF-C and staining patternwas found to be significantly associated with benign and malignant salivary gland tumours (p=0.002 and p<0.0001).
Conclusion
Higher expression of VEGF-C in malignant salivary gland tumours may predict its potential advantage as a biologic marker and promising therapeutic target to restrict the metastatic spread of malignant salivary gland neoplasms to distant organs.