Vascular endothelial growth factor and thymidine phosphorylase expression in salivary gland tumors with distinct metastatic behavior

J Oral Pathol Med (2010) 40: 456–459 Background:  Metastasis of salivary gland tumors has a negative impact on survival. Angiogenesis and its factors are potential markers for predicting metastasis in different malignant tumors, but this is not the case for salivary gland tumors. Methods:  Salivary gland tumors of distinct biologic behavior were analyzed according to the semiquantitative immunoexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and thymidine phosphorylase (TP). Results:  Vascular endothelial growth factor expression was predominantly weak in benign tumors. Weak TP expression was observed in 100% cases of benign tumors and in 74.3% of primary malignant tumors. High VEGF and TP expression levels were significantly associated with primary malignant tumors but not with primary non-metastasizing and primary metastasizing malignant tumors or with subtypes of malignant tumors. Conclusions:  Vascular endothelial growth factor and TP expression levels discriminate benign and malignant tumors but cannot predict metastasis from non-metastasizing tumors.