Prognostic value of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors Flt-1 and Flk-1 in astrocytic tumours.
BACKGROUND
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF )/ vascular permeability factor (VPF) is an important regulator of angiogenesis and vascular permeability.


METHODS
We examined immunohistochemically expressions of VEGF and its corresponding receptors Flt-1 and Flk-1 in a series of 50 astrocytic tumours. and correlated their expressions with the degree of angiogenesis, brain edema and prognosis.


RESULTS
There were significant relationships between VEGF, Flk-1 expressions and glioma malignancy grading, intratumoural vascularity and peritumoural brain edema, respectively. Patients with VEGF positive low grade astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme had a significantly shorter mean overall survival time than those with negative tumours (P = 0.0010 and 0.0180, respectively). Flk-1 is also a sigrificant prognostic factor within each tumour grade, which has a negative impact on overall survival. Additionally, overexpression of VEGF and Flk-1 were significantly associated with earlier recurrence in patients with low grade astrocytomas (P = 0.0018 and 0.0240, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
It is possible to subcategorize each grade of astrocytic tumours based on their VEGF and Flk-1 staining pattern, which may be crucial in predicting the biological behavior of tumours and thus provide useful information with regard to adequate treatment.
Yao
Y
Y
Department of Neurosurgery, Fukui Medical University, Matsuoka, Japan.
Kubota
T
T
Sato
K
K
Kitai
R
R
Takeuchi
H
H
Arishima
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000503:physiopathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011379:Prognosis; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D016019:Survival Analysis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor