Use of angiopoietin-1 expression in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck to predict disease-free survival.

5542 Background: Angiopoietin (Ang)-1 and -2 are secreted glycoproteins that are thought to promote blood vessel stabilization and destabilization respectively in various tumors. However, their roles in angiogenesis and metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) are currently unknown. Objective: To determine Ang-1 and -2 expression profiles and their correlation with disease outcomes in SCCHN. Methods: Tumors from 65 patients with previously untreated SCCHN were stained using antibodies against Ang-1 and Ang-2. Matched peritumoral mucosa was available for 20 patients. Mucosa from 12 patients without SCCHN served as the control group. Intensity of staining was scored semiquantitatively and correlated with clinico-pathological parameters and outcomes. Results: Ang-1 was significantly overexpressed in SCCHN and matched peritumoral mucosa as compared with normal mucosa (both p<0.001). Although overexpression of Ang-1 did not correlate with tumor variables, it did independently predict ...