Expression of angiogenic growth factor genes in primary human astrocytomas may contribute to their growth and progression.
Astrocytomas are highly malignant brain tumors and are among the most neovascularized solid tumors. We have investigated the expression of the angiogenic growth factors acidic fibroblast growth factor and transforming growth factor-alpha, together with its receptor epidermal growth factor receptor, in 30 primary astrocytomas. Both acidic fibroblast growth factor and transforming growth factor-alpha, together with epidermal growth factor receptor, are found to be greatly overexpressed in these tumors when compared with normal brain. This overexpression of angiogenic growth factors may underlie the intense neovascularization characteristic of astrocytomas.
Maxwell
M
M
Center for Blood Research, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachussetts 02115.
Naber
S P
SP
Wolfe
H J
HJ
Hedley-Whyte
E T
ET
Galanopoulos
T
T
Neville-Golden
J
J
Antoniades
H N
HN
D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000473:pathology*; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1; D066246:ErbB Receptors