Endoglin is a better marker than CD31 in evaluation of angiogenesis in glioblastoma.
OBJECTIVE
To compare endoglin (CD105) and the pan-endothelial marker CD31 in the assessment of angiogenesis in glioblastoma and to evaluate their values in the prognosis of this malignancy.


METHODS
Forty-six cases of glioblastoma were included in this retrospective study. All cases were immunohistochemically stained for endoglin (CD105), CD31, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and MIB-1 (Ki67). In order to assess microvessel density, positively stained microvessels were counted for each specimen in predominantly vascular areas (hot spot) at x400 magnification. The intensity of VEGF staining was scored on a three-tiered scale. The proliferation index was expressed as a percentage of Ki67 positive cells.


RESULTS
Median CD105 microvessel density (median 49 microvessels/field, range 27-99) was significantly higher than median CD31 microvessel density (median 37 microvessels/field, range 12-76). CD105 microvessel density was more closely correlated with VEGF (Spearman's rho=0.421, P=0.003) than with CD31 microvessel density (rho=0.330, P=0.024). The proliferation index was significantly associated with CD105 microvessel density (Pearson's r=0.323, P=0.028), whereas correlation could not be observed with CD31 microvessel density (r=0.219, P=0.142). Finally, patients with lower CD105 microvessel density had a longer survival than those with higher CD105 microvessel density (P=0.045), whereas CD31 microvessel density had no influence on the survival time (P=0.340).


CONCLUSIONS
CD105 is a more sensitive marker than CD31 in the evaluation of angiogenesis in glioblastoma. Our study is the first report of the better prognostic significance of angiogenesis evaluated with CD105 rather than with CD31 in glioblastoma.
Behrem
Senija
S
Department of Pathology, Rijeka University School of Medicine, Brace Branchetta 20, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.
Zarkovic
Kamelija
K
Eskinja
Neven
N
Jonjic
Nives
N
D015703:Antigens, CD; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D000071063:Endoglin; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism*; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C064206:ENG protein, human; D000071063:Endoglin; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1