Immunohistochemical study on cell proliferation and vasculogenesis during carcinogenesis in rat tongue carcinoma induced by 4 NQO

Abstract

We observed the process of carcinogensis in a rat tongue carcinoma model induced by oral administration of 4 NQO, and correlated cell proliferation and vasculogenesis by immunohistochemical methods. As carcinogenesis progressed, the PCNA labeling index and microvessel density were both increased, and there was a significant correlation in their kinetics (0.896). Microvessels appeared to be irregular and their density was increased in epithelial dysplasia compared with normal epithelia. During early invasional carcinomas and invasional carcinomas, microvessels were localized around the cancer nests, appeared more irregular, and had increased density. These data suggest tumor cell proliferation and vasculogenesis are dependent on the interrelation of the tumor cell and tumor stroma in the rat tongue carcinoma model induced by oral administration of 4 NQO.