Expression of vascular permeability factor in craniopharyngioma.
OBJECTIVE
The expression of vascular endothelial growth/permeability factor (VEG/PF) has recently been correlated with the presence of tumor-associated cysts in some intracranial tumors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a possible relationship between the presence of VEG/PF and the formation of cysts in craniopharyngiomas.


METHODS
The expression of VEG/PF was studied in histological specimens from a series of 12 craniopharyngiomas. In this series, the tumors were classified as presenting a mainly solid pattern with small macroscopic cysts (four patients) or a mainly cystic pattern (eight patients). The mainly solid tumors containing small macroscopic cysts showed little or no VEG/PF positivity, which was mainly present in tumor cells surrounding cysts. Nevertheless, mainly cystic craniopharyngiomas showed a moderate or high degree of VEG/PF positivity in tumor cells.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that the predominance of a cystic or solid macroscopic appearance of craniopharyngiomas may be influenced by the degree of VEG/PF expression within the tumor cells.
Vaquero
J
J
Laboratory of Experimental Neurooncology, Neuroscience Research Unit, Puerta de Hierro Clinic Hospital, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.
Zurita
M
M
de Oya
S
S
Coca
S
S
Morales
C
C
Salas
C
C
D000328:Adult; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors