Abstract:

Objective   To explore the role of transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3) and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and microvessel density in recurrence and invasiveness of juvenile onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (JORRP) and the relationships between them. Methods   Expressions of STAT3 protein and VEGF protein were both detected with immunohistochemical methods in 26 specimens of the invasive group of JORRP and 68 specimens of the non-invasive group of JORRP. CD34 protein was used to mark vessel endothelium cell. Microvessel density was compared according to CD34 protein expression. Results   The positive expression rate of STAT3 protein and VEGF protein were higher in the invasive group than the non-invasive group(P<0.05) and the MVD was also higher(P<0.01).  CD34-MVD of JORRP of positive expression of STAT3 and VEGF were higher than the negative expression group (P<0.01). There were significant positive correlations between STAT3 protein ,VEGF protein and CD34-MVD expression(r=0.747, P< 0.01; r=0.666, P<0.01); expression of STAT3 protein also had a positive correlation with expression of VEGF protein(r=0.464, P<0.01). Conclusions   Higher expressions of STAT3 protein, VEGF protein and higher MVD in the invasive group indicate that STAT3 may play a critical role in invasion andrecurrence of JORRP by promoting angiogenesis.

Key words: Juvenile onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis; Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3; Vascular endothelial growth factor