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Characterization of mast cell subpopulations in lip cancer

2005; Wiley; Volume: 34; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.1600-0714.2004.00297.x

1600-0714

I. Gina Rojas, M. Loreto Spencer, Alejandra Martínez, M. A. Maurelia, M.I. Rudolph,

melanin and skin pigmentation

Background: Lip squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common form of oral cancer. Human mast cells (MCs), which are increased in lip SCC, are classified by their protease content in tryptase‐positive (MC T ) and tryptase/chymase‐positive (MC TC ). MC proteases are associated with tumor progression and angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to quantify and characterize MC subpopulations in lip SCC. Methods: Serial sections from lip SCC ( n = 21) and normal lip vermilion ( n = 8) biopsies were stained immunohistochemically for tryptase and enzymehistochemically for chymase to determine MC subpopulation density and distribution. Results: MC T and MC TC were increased in lip SCC when compared with normal lip ( P < 0.0001), where MC T predominated over MC TC ( P < 0.01). In lip SCC neither subpopulation predominated. Regarding distribution, MC T were higher than MC TC at the intratumoral stroma, whereas MC TC were higher than MC T at the peritumoral stroma ( P < 0.01). Conclusions: The results suggest that MC subpopulations may contribute to lip SCC progression. While intratumoral MC T may stimulate angiogenesis, peritumoral MC TC may promote extracellular matrix degradation and tumor progression at the invasion front.