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Updated: Jun 11, 2026
Multi-photon Imaging of Tumor Cell Invasion in an Orthotopic Mouse Model of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: July 25, 2011
Computer-assisted morphometric analysis of lymphatic vessel changes in hamster tongue carcinogenesis
Dong Chen1, Jinhua Zheng, Huiping Li
1Harbin Medical University Stomatological Hospital, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
Background:
To characterize lymphangiogenesis in early-stage hamster tongue carcinoma development, morphological features and spatial relationships of lymphatic vessels.
Methods:
Lymphatic vessels were examined histochemically, using 5'-Nase-ALPase enzyme and combined light and electron microscopy to measure lymphatic vessel area (LVA) and lymphatic vessel density (LVD).
Results:
In atypical hyperplastic tissues, LVA was found to be 1429.97 and LVD was found to be 39, in carcinoma in situ LVA was 2538.33 and LVD was 48, and in micro-invasive carcinoma LVA was 5733.74 and LVD was 59. Increased lymphangiogenesis was seen in pre-neoplastic states and in early-stage oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Small regular lymphatic vessels predominated in atypical hyperplasia, and large, irregular lymphatic vessels in early-stage OSCC. Lymphatic endothelial vessels were stretched and porous over large areas.
Conclusions:
Newly formed lymphatics and patulous intercellular junctions may be optimally suited for tumor cell metastasis through lymphatic channels in early- and middle-phase carcinogenesis. Lymphatic capillary LVA and LVD became enlarged, and positively correlated, with malignancy, but show no correlation with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced time.
