Angiogenesis concept in odontogenic keratocyst: A comparative study

Area of Science:

• Oral pathology
• Oncology
• Vascular biology

Background:

• Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is increasingly recognized for its role in the biological behavior of various lesions.
• Odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs) exhibit distinct clinical behaviors that warrant further investigation into their underlying pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of angiogenesis in the pathogenesis and clinical behavior of odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs).
• To compare the angiogenic potential between OKCs and dentigerous cysts (DCs).

Main Methods:

• Immunohistochemical analysis using CD34 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibodies on 22 OKC and 24 DC samples.
• Quantification of VEGF expression and CD34+ cell counts using a scoring system and mean ± standard deviation.
• Evaluation of blood vessel patterns within the cyst walls.
• Statistical analysis including Mann-Whitney U-test, Chi-squared test, and t-test (p < 0.05).

Main Results:

• Significantly higher expression of VEGF and CD34 in OKCs compared to DCs (p = 0.045 and p = 0.000, respectively).
• A strong positive correlation (Correlation coefficient = 0.766) was observed between VEGF and CD34 expression.
• The mean expression rate of CD34 was not significantly different between the groups (p=0.58).

Conclusions:

• Angiogenesis, indicated by elevated VEGF and CD34 expression, appears to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of OKC.
• The findings support the hypothesis that enhanced angiogenesis contributes to the unique clinical behavior of odontogenic keratocysts.