The relationship between the extracellular matrix and the angiogenesis and metastasis of laryngeal carcinoma.

AIMS

We studied the relationships between the growth, metastasis and angiogenesis of laryngeal carcinoma and extracellular matrix protein-1 (ECM1) and hyaluronan (HA).

METHODS

Thirty-three cases of benign and malignant laryngeal tumors were included. Using immunohistochemical staining, we examined the expression of ECM1 and HA in tumors and metastatic lymph nodes and correlated it with counts of microvessel density.

RESULTS

The expression of ECM1 (p = 0.004) and HA (p = 0.036) was significantly different between benign and malignant tumors. The expression of ECM1 was strongly associated with microvessel density (Spearman's rho = 0.513, p = 0.017), with the strongest expression present within caner nests. With respect to HA, expression was significantly associated with more advanced clinical TNM stage (Spearman's rho = 0.521, p = 0.015). The link was stronger in cases where metastasis or recurrence occurred than in those without complication (p = 0.014). No significant relationship was found between ECM1 and HA expression among malignant samples (Spearman's rho = 0.383, p = 0.087).

CONCLUSIONS

ECM1 has a high association with the growth, metastasis and angiogenesis of laryngeal carcinoma. An increased level of HA expression was related to the process of laryngeal carcinogenesis. Specifically, carcinoma cells with high levels of HA secretion had a higher potential for metastasis. No significant relative expression of ECM1 and HA was found.