To study the existence of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and vasculogenic mimicry (VM) in human tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) and to elucidate the relationship between the EMT and VM.

Vimentin and E-cadherin were detected in 65 cases of TSCC and the adjacent normal tissue with immunohistochemistry. The presence of VM was detected with double stain of CD34 and PAS. The clinical significance of EMT and VM were then analyzed statistically.

The positive rates of Vimentin in normal epithelial tissue and TSCC were 0% and 41.54%, respectively, with a significant difference between the two groups (Z=-5.815, P= 0.000) . Vimentin was closely correlated with tumor grade, clinical stages and lymphatic metastasis in TSCC. The positive rates of E-cadherin expression in normal epithelial and TSCC were 100% and 56.92%, respectively, with a significant difference between the two groups (Z=-5.951, P= 0.000) . The expression of E-cadherin protein was closely correlated with clinical stages and lymphatic metastasis in TSCC. The positive rates of VM in normal tissue and TSCC were 0% and 33.14%, respectively, with a significant difference between the two groups (Z=-3.946, P= 0.000) . The VM was closely correlated with clinical stages and lymphatic metastasis in TSCC. Bivariate analysis showed that E-cadherin was negatively correlated with Vimentin (r=-0.507, P= 0.000) . Vimentin was positively correlated with vasculogenic mimicry (r= 0.592, P= 0.000) , and E-cadherin was negatively correlated with vasculogenic mimicry (r=-0.518, P= 0.000) .

VM and EMT exist in TSCC and correlated with the lymphatic metastasis. VM was closely correlated with EMT, both of them had significant predictive value for the prognosis of NPC. The cancer with VM and EMT had stronger ability of metastasis and higher clinical stage. The EMT was closely correlated with VM, both of them have a important role in invasion and metastasis.

Tongue; Carcinoma, squamous cell; Epithelial-mesenchymal transition; Vasculogenic mimicry