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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGF-A) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) as Potential Biomarkers for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Sri Lankan Study

Edirisinghe ST 1 , Weerasekera M 1 , De Silva DK 2 , Devmini MT 1 , Pathmaperuma S 1 , Wijesinghe GK 1 Show all authors , Nisansala T 1 , Maddumage A 1 , Huzaini H 3 , Rich AM 4 , De Silva H 4 , Trudy M 5 , Goonasinghe R 6 , De Silva K 6 , Yasawardena S 1

Affiliations 

  • 1 Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
  • 2 Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda Sri Lanka
  • 3 Sir John Walsh Research Institute, New Zealand
  • 4 Department of Oral Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
  • 5 University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
  • 6 National Cancer Institute of Sri Lanka, Maharagama, Sri Lanka
Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2023 Jan 01;24(1):267-274.
PMID: 36708576 DOI: 10.31557/APJCP.2023.24.1.267

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The incidence of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is very high in South Asia and Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the key factors essential for cancer growth. The importance of VEGF-A and VEGF Receptor 2(VEGFR-2) in oral cancer pathophysiology is yet to be decided. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGF-A) is the main factor concerned in angiogenesis in tumors, but its role in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) is still debatable. Our study aimed to determine the role of VEGF-A and VEGFR-2 in OSCC.

METHODS: Blood from 30 patients with primary OSCC and 1:1 age-sex-matched controls was subjected to qPCR and ELISA to detect VEGF-A gene expression and serum level. Tumors of the 30 patients were investigated for VEGF Receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) expression and were analyzed using Image J software version 1.52 for DAB percentage (DAB-P) area and optical density (OD).

RESULTS: VEGF-A relative gene expression among patients was 2.43-fold higher compared to the healthy control group. Well-differentiated had a 1.98-fold increment, while poorly differentiated had a 3.58-fold increment. Serum VEGF-A was significantly elevated among the patients compared to controls (458.7 vs 253.2, p=0.0225). Poorly differentiated had a higher serum VEGF concentration (1262.0±354.7pg/ml) compared with other two. Mean VEGFR-2 DAB-P level in OSCC was 42.41±5.61(p=0.15). Well-differentiated had a DAB-P of 41.20±5.32 while poorly differentiated had DAB-P 46.21±3.78. The mean OD in OSCC was 0.54±0.16. VEGFR-2 OD in well and poorly differentiated OSCC were 0.48±0.12 and 0.68±0.17, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: VEGF-A gene expression, serum levels, and tissue VEGFR-2 levels correlated linearly with the stage and grade of the tumor. This study justifies the value of VEGF-A as a potential biomarker in OSCC in early detection of OSCC. More studies are needed to accept the use of VEGF-A.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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