Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma. Analysis of 12 cases and review of the literature

Objectives: Adolescent males are the main victims of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA), an uncommon, benign tumor that is extremely vascular and locally aggressive. Because of its invasive growth and proximity to important anatomical systems, JNA presents major therapeutic hurdles despite its benign classification. Understanding the molecular and histological processes behind juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) is the goal of the study. Methods: 12 Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma (8 males and 4 females, mean age 16.2, range 14-18 years) and 4 control samples (normal tissue samples contained no visible tumor cells; three males and one female) were retrieved from archival paraffin embedded blocks with a sufficient sample size. The expression of TGF-β1, VEGF-A, and TNF-α has been studied. The technique chosen for the immunohistochemical study of the samples was microdensitometry. Results: By analyzing tissue samples, it investigates the presence of Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGF-β), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α) in angiogenesis, fibrosis, and inflammation-three critical processes in the development of malignancies. Overexpression of these growth factors was found in tumor tissues by immunohistochemical analysis, indicating their role in vascularization and tumor progression. Conclusions: These findings suggest potential targets for treatment, such as anti-angiogenic drugs, to improve management strategies beyond surgical resection, which remains the primary therapeutic strategy. Future research should focus on developing novel therapy strategies that use molecular inhibitors to improve clinical outcomes for JNA patients.