Relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor and Notch1 expression and lymphatic metastasis in tongue cancer

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of angiogenesis in lymph node metastasis and the depth of invasion in early tongue cancer. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study included 51 subjects with tongue cancer. Immunohistochemical staining for vascular endothelial growth factor, Notch1, and Notch3 was performed. Microvessel density was evaluated by counting the number of CD34-stained microvessels in each pathologic specimen. RESULTS: Significant correlations were found between vascular endothelial growth factor and Notch1 expression and cervical lymph node metastasis (P = 0.020 and P < 0.009, respectively), tumor depth of invasion (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively), and microvessel density indicated by CD34 staining (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Nodal metastasis (P = 0.022), T stage (P = 0.002), and positive VEGF expression (P = 0.044) were statistically significant prognostic factors for disease-specific survival. CONCLUSION: Vascular endothelial growth factor and Notch1 expression are significantly related to cervical lymph node metastasis and depth of invasion in tongue cancer patients.