BACKGROUND: Microvascular proliferation, a prominent feature of tumors of the central nervous system, is a prime target for anti-cancer therapy. METHODS: Because basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) plays a key role in the regulation of angiogenesis, surgical specimens from 52 human brain tumors were examined by immunocytochemical studies with a murine monoclonal antibody to bFGF. Sections from these tumors also were incubated with Ki-67 monoclonal antibody to measure the growth fraction. RESULTS: Immunostaining for bFGF was observed in 45 of 52 (87%) neoplasms, reacting with 97% of the malignant brain tumors and 67% of benign tumors (P < 0.01). The nonreactive tumors were a medulloblastoma and 7 of 21 (33%) benign, noninvasive, slow-growing neoplasms (1 acoustic schwannoma, 3 meningiomas, 2 pituitary adenomas, and 1 cholesteatoma). The indices of proliferation (Ki-67 labeling) were lower for the 21 benign tumors (1.2 +/- 1.1%) than the 31 malignant tumors (10.3 +/- 10.5%; P < 0.001). The bFGF was immunolocalized in the tumor cell nuclei in 23 of 52 tumors (44%) and in the cytoplasm of 8 of 52 (15%) tumors. Immunostaining to bFGF was prominent in the microvascular endothelial compartment in 84% of the malignant tumors and only 52% of benign tumors (P < 0.01). Immunostaining was not present after preabsorption of the antibody with pure human recombinant bFGF. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of bFGF predominantly within the tumor microvasculature indicates a cellular depot for this potent growth factor that mediates angiogenesis and tumorigenesis. These data support a role for bFGF in the transition from the benign to the malignant phenotype.
BACKGROUND: Microvascular proliferation, a prominent feature of tumors of the central nervous system, is a prime target for anti-cancer therapy. METHODS: Because basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) plays a key role in the regulation of angiogenesis, surgical specimens from 52 humanbrain tumors were examined by immunocytochemical studies with a murine monoclonal antibody to bFGF. Sections from these tumors also were incubated with Ki-67 monoclonal antibody to measure the growth fraction. RESULTS: Immunostaining for bFGF was observed in 45 of 52 (87%) neoplasms, reacting with 97% of the malignant brain tumors and 67% of benign tumors (P < 0.01). The nonreactive tumors were a medulloblastoma and 7 of 21 (33%) benign, noninvasive, slow-growing neoplasms (1 acoustic schwannoma, 3 meningiomas, 2 pituitary adenomas, and 1 cholesteatoma). The indices of proliferation (Ki-67 labeling) were lower for the 21 benign tumors (1.2 +/- 1.1%) than the 31 malignant tumors (10.3 +/- 10.5%; P < 0.001). The bFGF was immunolocalized in the tumor cell nuclei in 23 of 52 tumors (44%) and in the cytoplasm of 8 of 52 (15%) tumors. Immunostaining to bFGF was prominent in the microvascular endothelial compartment in 84% of the malignant tumors and only 52% of benign tumors (P < 0.01). Immunostaining was not present after preabsorption of the antibody with pure human recombinant bFGF. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of bFGF predominantly within the tumor microvasculature indicates a cellular depot for this potent growth factor that mediates angiogenesis and tumorigenesis. These data support a role for bFGF in the transition from the benign to the malignant phenotype.
Authors: Santosh Kesari; David Schiff; Lisa Doherty; Debra C Gigas; Tracy T Batchelor; Alona Muzikansky; Alison O'Neill; Jan Drappatz; Alice S Chen-Plotkin; Naren Ramakrishna; Stephanie E Weiss; Brenda Levy; Joanna Bradshaw; Jean Kracher; Andrea Laforme; Peter McL Black; Judah Folkman; Mark Kieran; Patrick Y Wen Journal: Neuro Oncol Date: 2007-04-23 Impact factor: 12.300
Authors: Santosh Kesari; David Schiff; John W Henson; Alona Muzikansky; Debra C Gigas; Lisa Doherty; Tracy T Batchelor; Janina A Longtine; Keith L Ligon; Susan Weaver; Andrea Laforme; Naren Ramakrishna; Peter McL Black; Jan Drappatz; Abigail Ciampa; Judah Folkman; Mark Kieran; Patrick Y Wen Journal: Neuro Oncol Date: 2008-04-10 Impact factor: 12.300