Expression Of Tumor Metastasis-related Factors In The Primary Foci And Metastatic Foci Of Regional Lymph Nodes In Suprsglottic And Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Objective:Invasion and metastasis are important biologic features of malignant tumors and the main factors affecting prognosis. Supraglottic and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (S-HSCC) is the most common malignant tumor in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery. The metastasis to regional lymph nodes is the most important factor affecting the treatment and prognosis of S-HSCC. Many factors are involved in the regional lymph node metastasis of S-HSCC, including the location, invasion, pathological type, T grading and so on. Investigations showed that the metastasis is related to the genetic instability. The genetic instability may bring the neoplasms to differentiate to some subpopulations, clones or subclones of the tumor cells. There are different subpopulations, clones or subclones of tumor cells in one tumor, that is the heterogeneity. The heterogeneity is exhibited in a wide range of genetic, biochemical, immunological, and biologic characteristics, such as cell surface receptors, enzymes, karyotypes, and ability to invade and produce metastasis. The neoplasms are biologically heterogeneous and the process of metastasis is selective. Since most tumor cells are destroyed in the bloodstream, it seems that only the tumor cells with highly metastatic property ( or metastatic ability) can produce metastasis. The proteins of E-Cadherin (E-Cad), vascular endothelial cell growth factor-C(VEGF-C), matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs), CD44, nm23, and Particulary interesting new cysteine-histidine rich protein (PINCH) have been proved to have a close relationship to the regional lymph node metastasis of cancer carcinoma and these factors have also be considered as markers of metastatic ability. In this study, immunohistochemistry and flow...