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The aim of the present study was to identify the most useful markers for predicting recurrence of keratocystic odontogenic tumors (KCOTs). A total of 65 tumor samples from 63 patients diagnosed with typical parakeratinized cysts and KCOTs between 1992 and 2014 were retrospectively studied. Clinical and histopathological data and treatment modality were reviewed. In addition, the expression profiles of Ki-67, cluster of differentiation (CD)34 and podoplanin were assessed using immunohistochemistry. The association between these factors and the rate of KCOT recurrence was evaluated. The presence of daughter cysts, epithelial islands and high Ki-67, CD34 and podoplanin expression levels were revealed to be associated with tumor recurrence. In particular, univariate analysis revealed that high CD34 expression levels were significantly associated with tumor recurrence (P=0.034), as was conservative surgical treatment (P=0.003). Multivariate analysis revealed that conservative treatment was the greatest independent risk factor for tumor recurrence (odds ratio=13.337; P=0.018). These results suggest that overexpression of CD34 may be a potent predictor of tumor recurrence and radical treatment of the teeth that are in contact with the tumors is recommended in order to prevent tumor recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to elucidate the associations between the expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C)/VEGF receptor-3 (VEGFR-3) axis and lymphangiogenesis, regional lymph node metastasis and clinicopathological factors in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) using immunohistochemistry. The expression of VEGF-C, VEGFR-3 and podoplanin was immunohistochemically evaluated in specimens obtained from 65 patients with OTSCC (T1-2, N0) who had undergone radical surgery alone. The associations between the expression of VEGF-C, VEGFR-3 and podoplanin, and lymphangiogenesis, regional lymph node metastasis and clinocopathological factors were determined by immunohistochemical analysis. VEGF-C, VEGFR-3 and combined VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 expression was significantly higher in cases with regional recurrence compared with those without lymph node involvement (P<0.001). As regards lymphangiogenesis, a significant correlation was observed between podoplanin expression and VEGF-C, VEGFR-3 and combined VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 expression (P<0.001). Therefore, lymphangiogenesis in the peritumoral stroma was associated with lymph node metastasis. However, podoplanin expression did not exhibit a significant correlation with the progression of lymph node metastasis. The results of the present study suggest that the VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 axis may be associated with lymph node metastasis through lymphangiogenesis. Determining the VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 expression status may help predict which patients will develop regional recurrence and provide novel targets for therapies to suppress lymph node metastasis in the treatment of OTSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]