BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF )/ vascular permeability factor (VPF) is an important regulator of angiogenesis and vascular permeability. METHOD: We examined immunohistochemically expressions of VEGF and its corresponding receptors Flt-1 and Flk-1 in a series of 50 astrocytic tumours. and correlated their expressions with the degree of angiogenesis, brain edema and prognosis. FINDINGS: There were significant relationships between VEGF, Flk-1 expressions and glioma malignancy grading, intratumoural vascularity and peritumoural brain edema, respectively. Patients with VEGF positive low grade astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme had a significantly shorter mean overall survival time than those with negative tumours (P = 0.0010 and 0.0180, respectively). Flk-1 is also a sigrificant prognostic factor within each tumour grade, which has a negative impact on overall survival. Additionally, overexpression of VEGF and Flk-1 were significantly associated with earlier recurrence in patients with low grade astrocytomas (P = 0.0018 and 0.0240, respectively). INTERPRETATION: It is possible to subcategorize each grade of astrocytic tumours based on their VEGF and Flk-1 staining pattern, which may be crucial in predicting the biological behavior of tumours and thus provide useful information with regard to adequate treatment.
BACKGROUND:Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF )/ vascular permeability factor (VPF) is an important regulator of angiogenesis and vascular permeability. METHOD: We examined immunohistochemically expressions of VEGF and its corresponding receptors Flt-1 and Flk-1 in a series of 50 astrocytic tumours. and correlated their expressions with the degree of angiogenesis, brain edema and prognosis. FINDINGS: There were significant relationships between VEGF, Flk-1 expressions and glioma malignancy grading, intratumoural vascularity and peritumoural brain edema, respectively. Patients with VEGF positive low grade astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme had a significantly shorter mean overall survival time than those with negative tumours (P = 0.0010 and 0.0180, respectively). Flk-1 is also a sigrificant prognostic factor within each tumour grade, which has a negative impact on overall survival. Additionally, overexpression of VEGF and Flk-1 were significantly associated with earlier recurrence in patients with low grade astrocytomas (P = 0.0018 and 0.0240, respectively). INTERPRETATION: It is possible to subcategorize each grade of astrocytic tumours based on their VEGF and Flk-1 staining pattern, which may be crucial in predicting the biological behavior of tumours and thus provide useful information with regard to adequate treatment.
Authors: L N Kaliberova; V Krendelchtchikova; D K Harmon; C R Stockard; A S Petersen; J M Markert; G Y Gillespie; W E Grizzle; D J Buchsbaum; S A Kaliberov Journal: Cancer Gene Ther Date: 2009-04-10 Impact factor: 5.987
Authors: O Arrieta; B Pineda-Olvera; P Guevara-Salazar; N Hernández-Pedro; D Morales-Espinosa; T L Cerón-Lizarraga; C H González-De la Rosa; D Rembao; B Segura-Pacheco; J Sotelo Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2008-07-08 Impact factor: 7.640