Expression and significance of vascular permeability factor in tumour infiltrating lymphocytes of brain metastases.
BACKGROUND
Recently, vasogenic edema has been related to the expression of vascular permeability factor (VPF) by tumour cells in brain metastases. On the other hand, expression of VPF has been reported in inflammatory cells. Keeping in mind the current presence of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in brain metastases, our objective is to study the expression and significance of VPF in TIL-cells from specimens of brain metastases.


METHODS
Tumour samples from 16 brain metastases associated with peritumoural edema were immunohistochemically studied for demonstration of VPF. The degree of VPF-expression by tumour cells and TIL was determined, and correlated with the degree of peritumoural edema.


RESULTS
Our present results show that, independently of the VPF-positivity expressed by the tumour cells, VPF-expression is a constant finding in TIL-cells of brain metastases, and correlated with the amount of peritumoural edema.


CONCLUSIONS
Our present findings suggest a role for TIL-cells in the development of vasogenic edema associated with brain metastases.
Vaquero
J
J
Neurosciences Research Unit of the Mapfre-Medicine Foundation, Puerta de Hierro Clinic, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.
Zurita
M
M
Oya
S
S
D001929:Brain Edema; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000556:secondary*; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000502:physiology*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; 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