Angiogenesis and the growth potential of craniopharyngiomas.

The present study was performed to evaluate the role of neovascularization on the behavior of craniopharyngiomas as well as the contribution of endothelial cell proliferation and migration in the remodeling and expansion of the vascular network associated with angiogenesis. Fourteen primary tumors were studied, all of the adamantinomatous type. CD34 immunostaining, an endothelial cell marker, localized vessels within the connective tissue stroma. MIB-1 immunopositivity was apparent in the nuclei of neoplastic cells, few endothelial cells, and stromal elements. MIB-1 counts were higher in epithelial than connective tissue cells. A positive correlation was found between the number of MIB-1 immunopositive cells and microvessel density (MVD). Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that integrin alphavbeta3 expression was restricted to tumor vasculature; the tumor cells were immunonegative. Only 2.5% of vessels detected with CD34 were immunopositive for integrin alphavbeta3. At present, no therapeutic implications can be drawn from our observations. More studies are needed to assess whether integrin alphavbeta3 antagonists or drugs that arrest the cell cycle of endothelial cells can inhibit angiogenesis in craniopharyngiomas.