Angiogenesis and Mast Cells Density in Oral and Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Despite the similarities between OSCC and ESCC, it should be noted that ESCCs have a relatively low survival rate compared with OSCCs. The tumor-associated stroma is an essential component for the preservation, development, and metastasis of the cancers, such as SCC. To our knowledge, mast cells and angiogenesis were evaluated in either ESCC or OSCC. Moreover, there are controversy about the correlation between mast cells and angiogenesis in these tumors. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the density of mast cells and microvessel density (MVD) in ESCC and OSCC.

This study was scheduled using 46 paraffin blocked samples including 23 OSCCs and 23ESCCs. Immunohistochemical staining was conducted using CD31 monoclonal antibody and methylene blue staining was done for mast cells. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 20 using T test, One-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation analysis.

MVD was significantly higher in OSCCs as compared to ESCCs (P=0.02) with a mean of 76.26 and 62.04, respectively. Conversely, ESCCs (16.47) showed significantly higher (P=0.04) mast cell density than that of OSCCS (11.30). Pearson correlation analysis showed no association between MVD and mast cell density in either OSCC or ESCC (P=0.51 & P=0.34 respectively).

A significant difference between the mean mast cell count and MVD in OSCC &ESCC might be to some extent responsible for the different biological behaviors of these cancers. Further studies should be performed to explore the precise role of mast cells and angiogenesis and the possible effect on the different survival of OSCC &ESCC.