[A quantitative pathological study on angiogenesis, vascular endothelial growth factor and inducible nitric oxide synthase in astrocytomas].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) are associated with angiogenesis and malignancy of astrocytomas.


METHODS
Immunohistochemistry, semiquantitation and image analysis were used to study the expression features of VEGF and iNOS in 61 cases of astrocytomas having follow-up data. Factor VIII related antigen (FVIII RAg) was also analysed in reflecting the epithelial cell amount and the microvessel density.


RESULTS
Microvessels in astrocytomas could be divided into seven types. The positive reaction areas and IA values of FVIIIRAg expression in the endothelium were significantly increased with the increase of tumor grade (P < 0.001) and VEGF labeling index (LI) (P < 0.05). The patients with high VEGF LIs (LI >or= 25%) had a poor prognosis. VEGF expression was significantly related to that of iNOS (P < 0.001), i.e., VEGF level was reduced along with the decrease of iNOS reaction.


CONCLUSIONS
Detection of FVIIIRAg could reflect the angiogenesis activities in astrocytomas. VEGF and iNOS could up-regulate each other to promote angiogenesis and are of importance in determining the malignancy degree of astrocytomas.
Bian
X
X
Department of Pathology, Southwestern Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China. bianxw@mail.tmmu.com.cn
Du
L
L
Chen
Z
Z
Shi
J
J
Liu
F
F
D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D011379:Prognosis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000378:metabolism
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II