Chorioangiomas--new insights into a well-known problem. II. An immuno-histochemical investigation of 136 cases.
OBJECTIVE
Chorioangiomas are benign tumors of the hemochorial placenta. They are malformations or hamartomas, formed as a result of defective angiogenesis. They are of clinical importance due to their association with premature placental release and pre-eclampsia.


METHODS
Since a link has been established in neoplasias between tumor growth and an increased expression of angiogenic growth factors, 136 samples of chorioangiomas and 136 samples of tumor-free placental tissue were examined in terms of proliferation rate and expression of the growth factors angiopoietin-1 and -2, the angiopoietin-receptor Tie-2, PDGF and the PDFG beta-receptor.


RESULTS
The chorioangiomas exhibited differing proliferation rates, whereas tumor-free placental tissue barely proliferated at all. Angiopoietin expression was--morphologically--considerably higher within the chorioangiomas than in the comparison placentas; morphological amounts of the Tie-2 receptor were identical in all samples. Expression of PDGF and its receptor was the same for chorioangiomas and tumor-free placentas.


CONCLUSIONS
According to this study and the current literature in the field of hamartomas and some neoplasia, we can assume that increased growth factor expression plays a role in the formation of chorioangiomas, since it stimulates proliferation in a wide variety of cell compartments.
Guschmann
Michael
M
Department of Pediatric Pathology and Placentologie, Charité, Campus-Virchow-Klinikum, Medical Faculty of Humboldt University Berlin, Germany. Michael.Guschmann@charite.de
Henrich
Wolfgang
W
Dudenhausen
Joachim W
JW
D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000276:immunology*; D006222:Hamartoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D006133:Growth Substances