Characterization of mast cell subpopulations in lip cancer

BACKGROUND: Lip squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common form of oral cancer. Human mast cells (MCs), which are increased in lip SCC, are classified by their protease content in tryptase-positive (MC(T)) and tryptase/chymase-positive (MC(TC)). MC proteases are associated with tumor progression and angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to quantify and characterize MC subpopulations in lip SCC. METHODS: Serial sections from lip SCC (n = 21) and normal lip vermilion (n = 8) biopsies were stained immunohistochemically for tryptase and enzymehistochemically for chymase to determine MC subpopulation density and distribution. RESULTS: MC(T) and MC(TC) were increased in lip SCC when compared with normal lip (P < 0.0001), where MCT predominated over MCTC (P < 0.01). In lip SCC neither subpopulation predominated. Regarding distribution, MC(T) were higher than MC(TC) at the intratumoral stroma, whereas MC(TC) were higher than MC(T) at the peritumoral stroma (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that MC subpopulations may contribute to lip SCC progression. While intratumoral MC(T) may stimulate angiogenesis, peritumoral MC(TC) may promote extracellular matrix degradation and tumor progression at the invasion front.