Angiogenesis and mast cell density as predictors of patient survival in squamous cell carcinoma of lung

BACKGROUND: Measuring the microvascular and mast cell density in squamous cell carcinoma of lung and correlating them with the patient survival may be helpful to guide the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents which target molecular mechanisms of tumour angiogenesis and mast cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was an observational study. It included 39 newly diagnosed, adult patients of pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma. Angiogenesis was determined by Chalkley's method after immunohistochemical staining of micro-vessels with CD34. Mast cells per HPF were counted in Tolouidine blue stained sections. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 58.33 ± 9.14 years. Male to female ratio was 9:1. Most (92.3%) patients were current smokers. Majority of tumours (71.8%) were localised to major bronchi and/or near to hilum and many of them (74.4%) were poorly differentiated. Mean micro-vascular density was 11.80 ± 3.66 per HPF which showed strong negative correlation (r = -0.481, p =0.002) between microvascular density (MVD) and tumour grade. Mean mast cell density was 1.60 ± 2.04 which showed strong negative correlation (r=-.683, p =0.0001) with grade. Angiogenesis and mast cell density were found to be positively correlated (r=0.439, p =0.005). High MVD, but not the MCD was associated with poor survival. CONCLUSION: Angiogenesis and mast cell density are positively correlated with each other however; only high MVD is associated with decreased survival. Thus, the anti-angiogenic agents may be useful in squamous cell carcinoma lung, especially the well differentiated tumours.