In-vivo proliferative potential of primary human brain tumors; its correlation with histological classification and morphological features: I. Gliomas.

This study was undertaken to investigate in-vivo proliferative potential of neoplastic cells in 66 cases of gliomas of different histological types following peroperative intravenous infusion of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). Histological typing according to the recent modification of WHO classification did not often correlate with in-vivo cell kinetics. Among the different morphological features used for the classification, necrosis, mitosis, increased cell density and increased endothelial cell proliferation showed good correlation with tumor cell labelling index (LI) (p < 0.01-p < 0.001). A preliminary follow-up study of 36 cases for a period ranging from 9 to 36 mths suggested the possibility that higher in-vivo tumor cell LI might be associated with an early recurrence. Thus in vivo BrdU LI may supplement the histological classification of gliomas and together they may help in a better assessment of their growth rate, degree of malignancy and biological behaviour which in turn facilitate the planning of therapeutic management for individual cases.