Expression of p53 oncoprotein increases intratumoral microvessel formation in human salivary gland carcinomas

P53 protein and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, and mean intratumoral microvessel density (IMVD) were studied by immunohistochemistry in 31 salivary gland carcinomas, consisting of 11 adenoid cystic carcinomas (AdCCs), 10 mucoepidermoid carcinomas (MECs), 7 acinic cell carcinomas (AcCCs), and 3 squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). Cases with p53 protein in more than 20% of tumor cells were detected in one AdCC, four MECs, one AcCC, and two SCCs. Both frequency of p53 and VEGF expression, and mean IMVD, were higher in the MECs and SCCs than in the AdCCs and AcCCs. Similarly, both VEGF expression and mean IMVD were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the eight p53-positive tumors than in the 23 negative tumors. Six cases with survival periods less than 5 years showed significantly higher frequency of p53 and VEGF expression and of mean IMVD than those with longer survival periods. These results indicate that p53 expression might partly correlate with VEGF expression and mean IMVD, and be a factor in the survival of patients with salivary gland carcinomas.