Abstract

Mast cells and microvessel play an important role in tumor development and progression through angiogenesis. Because of the more aggressive potential and poor prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) compared to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC), the aim of the present study was to compare of density of mast cells and microvessel between in oral and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. In this study cross-sectional study, we performed an immuno histochemical analysis in 100 paraffin blocks that included 40 cases of OSCC and 40 CSCC and 20 cases of normal skin and normal oral mucosa. Mast cells and microvascular density were stained by mast cell tryptase and immunohistochemistry assay using CD34. Statistical analyses were performed in SPSS 16 software. There was a significant statistical correlation (*P<0.05) between mast cell concentration and microvascular density in OSCC and CSCC compared to control groups. In OSCC the mast cell concentration and microvascular density were significantly higher (*P<0.05) compared with the CSCC. Therefore, according findings present study, mast cell concentration and microvascular density may be used as a factor for detecting the progression, malignant potential and invasion of OSCC compared to CSCC.