Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma has still a poor prognosis. Since angiogenesis is crucial for
tumor growth, a better understanding of the potential clinical relevance as well as the interactions between the numerous proangiogenic
growth factors is essential to develop improved therapeutic strategies in these
tumors. Expression levels of eight
growth factors known to induce angiogenesis (HGF, bFGF,
VEGF-A,
VEGF-D,
PDGF-AB,
PDGF-BB,
G-CSF, and
GM-CSF) were quantitatively measured by ELISA in homogenates of 41
head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. In addition, microvessel density and
protein localization of
growth factors were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Statistical analysis was performed to assess interrelationships between
growth factors analyzed and to correlate
protein levels with patient outcome. In 90% of the tissues at least 4/8
growth factors analyzed were detectable. Highest amounts and most frequent expression were found for HGF, bFGF and
VEGF-A while
PDGF-AB and
PDGF-BB were present in two-thirds and
G-CSF and
GM-CSF in approximately half of the cases. Although there was no significant relation to microvessel density, we identified significant associations for bFGF with HGF and
G-CSF as well as of
PDGF-AB with those of
VEGF-A and
PDGF-BB. For the first time we demonstrate that expression levels of HGF as well as that of bFGF and
G-CSF in head and neck squamous
tumors are negative prognostic factors for patient survival. Our data indicate a network of interrelated and prognostically relevant
growth factors in these
tumors that have to be taken into consideration when planning an antiangiogenic and antitumor
therapy.