title: Expression of vascular permeability factor in craniopharyngioma.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Neurooncology, Neuroscience Research Unit, Puerta de Hierro Clinic Hospital, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vaquero
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zurita
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Oya
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coca
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Salas
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors