Significance of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) for tumorigenesis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC): possible marker of tumor progression and neovascularization?

Abstract

Objectives: Angiogenesis and neovascularisation plays a crucial role for tumorigenesis and tumor progression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The aim of our study was to investigate the neovascularization capacity by endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) in tumor patient as a possible predictor for tumor progression and tumor stage.

Materials and methods: Therefore, we investigated the cell number and biologic activity by cell migration and colony-forming ability of EPC. Cells were isolated from the peripheral venous blood of 79 patients who suffer HNSCC in different stages of disease. Thirty-three healthy individuals served as the control group.

Results: Significantly increased biological activities were reflected by expression of the migration rate (1027 ± 1510) in comparison to the control group (632 ± 269) and the clonal potency measured by colony-forming unit (CFU) (tumor patients (19.7 ± 12.3) vs. control group (10.84 ± 4.8)). To determine whether or not EPC number can be used as a valid prognostic marker for clinical outcome of tumor patients, we furthermore compared a "high EPC-number-subgroup" (HI) with a "low EPC-number-subgroup" (LO) in a Kaplan-Meier survival curve. The HI-subgroup shows herein clearly a worse outcome.

Conclusions: Our findings indicate a possible pathway for EPC to play a critical role in the vasculogenesis and consequently in the progression of HNSCC.

Clinical relevance: Our findings could serve as possible predictors for the neovascularisation potential in HNSCC tumor patients.

Keywords: Endothelial progenitor cell; Neovascularization; Oral cancer; Tumorigenesis.