Endoglin (CD105) expression in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence suggests that endoglin (CD105) is a new powerful marker of neovascularization in solid malignancies. To explain the rating of CD105 expression in 51 squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (SCCOC) we analyzed CD105 expression in tumor tissue and adjacent normal healthy mucosa. METHODS: Mean CD105 density was quantitated by counting the number of CD105-immunostained blood vessels. The results were compared with clinical parameters like T and N stage, grading, tumor localization, and specific characteristics of patients by means of statistical analysis. RESULTS: Endoglin expression in tumor tissue was significantly higher than in normal healthy mucosa (p <.001). With the exception of T3 (n = 2), a higher T stage was correlated with higher endoglin expression. No statistical correlation was found in the analysis of patient's age, gender, and tumor localization. CONCLUSIONS: Endoglin expression is up-regulated in SCCOC compared with normal healthy oral mucosa. Endoglin may have a significant role in the development of SCCOC and might be relatively more specific than commonly used endothelial markers.