Objective: To determine the effect of tyrosine kinase A (TrkA) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) in the invasion and metastasis of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC).
Methods: The expression of TrkA and VEGFR2 were detected by immunohistochemical staining in 47 cases of SACC of salivary glands. Clinical data were reviewed by multivariate prognostic analysis.
Results: The positive rate of TrkA and VEGFR2 in SACC was 87.23% (41/47) and 85.11% (40/47) respectively. Express of TrkA and VEGFR2 in perineural invasion and recurrence group were higher than non-perineural invasion and non-recurrence group. Significant difference was found in microvessel density (MVD) and VEGFR2 expression within different groups (P < 0.05). MVD in perineural invasion group (25.14 +/- 2.83) was significantly higher than that in none perineural invasion group (18.81 +/- 1.33) (P < 0.05). MVD in recurrence or metastasis group (26.58 +/- 2.38) was significantly higher than that (19.06 +/- 1.39) in none recurrence nor metastasis group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Positive correlation between expression of TrkA, VEGFR2 and nerve invasion and vessel metastasis of SACC indicate that TrkA and VEGFR2 play important roles in the invasion and metastasis of SACC. It is possible that TrkA and VEGFR2 could be an aid for evaluating the prognosis of SACC patients.