Abstract:

Objective    To detect the expression of maspin in hypopharyngeal carcinoma and its roles in the development of cancer. And to explore the correlation of maspin with angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Method    The expression of maspin protein was examined in 53 patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma by immunohistochemical staining. Microvessel density (MVD) and lymphatic vessel density (LVD) were counted in endothelial cells immunostained with anti-CD105 monoclonal antibody and anti-LYVE-1 multiclone antibody. The correlations of maspin with clinicopathological features, LVD, MVD were analyzed. Result     Maspin were found in in 47.2%(25/53) hypopharyngeal carcinoma cases. There were significances among different cell differentiations and between the tumors with or without lymphatic metastasis (P<0.05). The median survival time of positive maspin cases(67 months) was significantly longer then the negative(36 months). In 25 positive cases, the mean MVD was 6.56±2.22 and the mean LVD was 10.76±3.37. As for the 28 negative cases, the mean MVD was 8.14±2.46, and the mean LVD was 15.04±4.57.In the t test analysis, the expression of maspin was negatively correlated with MVD and LVD (P<0.05). Conclusion     The reduction of maspin′s expression is correlated with poor differentiation and lymphatic metastasis. In hypopharyngeal carcinoma, maspin may inhibit angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis.

Key words: Hypopharyngeal carcinoma; maspin; MVD; LVD