Objective: To investigate the expression and correlation of Aquaporin-1 (AQP1), VEGF and MVD in nasopharyngeal tumor and non-tumor tissues.
Method: Thirty nasopharyngeal biopsy samples were collected and examined with both immunohistochemistry and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) to detect the expression level of AQP1 and VEGF in tissues. MVD were then calculated.
Result: Both immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR showed higher expression of AQP1 and VEGF in tumor tissues than in non-tumor tissues. The two factors were positively correlated.
Conclusion: In nasopharyngeal carcinoma, AQP1 may participate in angiogenesis by VEGF. Thus it may facilitate the tumor's growing and metastasis.