Microvascular density analysis and histological parameters of oral cancer progression

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to investigate the role of blood and lymphatic microvascular density in the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Materials and Methods The sample was composed of 54 cases of OSCC. The immunoexpression to anti‐alpha‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA) and to anti‐endoglin (CD105) was used to determine the microvessel density (MVD); anti‐podoplanin (D2‐40) was used to assess the lymphatic vessel density (LVD); vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was evaluated in malignant cells. The histological differentiation, the worst pattern of invasion (WPOI), tumour thickness and tumour budding (TB) intensity were assessed using haematoxylin–eosin and anti‐pan‐cytokeratin (AE1/AE3). Patients' age and sex, TNM classification and follow‐up time were collected from the medical records. Results MVD markers presented a similar pattern of expression in blood vessels. However, only α‐SMA + MVD was significantly higher among women and in tumours ≤4 cm. LVD was lower in tumours with lymph node metastasis. Regarding the histological parameters, high TB intensity was associated with histological differentiation, advanced clinical stage, greater tumour thickness and reduced disease‐free survival. No difference was found in VEGF. Conclusions The decrease in OSCC LVD could be related to pathological node involvement, whereas high TB intensity could indicate OSCC progression and worse patient outcomes.