Abstract
Abstract Objective To characterise the role of VEGF, EG‐VEGF and its receptors in the development and progression of HNC. Design Human serum and tissues samples were collected from healthy, epulis and HNC patients and used for ELISA assays and immunohistochemistry studies, respectively. Setting Ibn Rochd Hospital of Casablanca (Morocco), INSERM and University of Grenoble Alpes (France). Participants We used serum from 64 patients with head and neck cancers and from 71 controls without general pathology. Tissues samples were collected from seven patients with OSCC and from seven patients with Epulis. Main outcome measures We compared circulating VEGF and EG‐VEGF in normal and HNC patients and determined the expression, localisation and quantification of VEGF, EG‐VEGF and its receptors; PROKR1 and PROKR2 as well as Ki67, CD31 and CD34 in OSCC and Epulis patients. Results Both EG‐VEGF and VEGF circulating levels were significantly decreased in the HNC ( P < .01). OSCC patients expressed less EG‐VEGF and VEGF proteins, higher PROKR1 and PROKR2 with no change in CD31 and CD34 levels. A significant increase in Ki67 was observed in OSCC. Conclusions We demonstrated that circulating VEGF and EG‐VEGF are downregulated in HNC patients and in OSCC tissue. EG‐VEGF receptors were increased in OSCC, along with a stabilisation of two key markers of angiogenesis. These findings strongly suggest that downregulation of angiogenesis in HNC might explain its moderate metastatic feature.