Microvascular density and vascular endothelial growth factor have little correlation with prognosis of craniopharyngioma.
BACKGROUND
Craniopharyngioma is histologically a benign epithelial tumor located in the supersellar cistern that often presents aggressive growth and repeated recurrence. The authors hypothesized that craniopharyngioma recurrence and invasive growth are angiogenesis dependent and evaluated the significance of vascularization in the prognosis of craniopharyngioma by a prospective cohort study.


METHODS
The cohorts consisted of 32 patients with AE and 31 patients with SP tumor. The primary and recurrence removal specimens of the cohort patients were gathered. Microvascular density and VEGF protein in the recurrence group and recurrence-free group were detected by the immunohistochemistry avidin-biotin-peroxidase method and analyzed quantitatively through computer-assisted microscopy to evaluate the correlation of MVD and VEGF with prognosis of craniopharyngiomas.


RESULTS
The average follow-up phase was 63.34 months; 14 of 32 patients with AE and 6 of 31 patients with SP had recurrence and underwent operation again. Although MVD and VEGF have significant difference between AE and SP (P=.000, P=.018, respectively), MVD and VEGF have no statistical difference between the recurrence group and recurrence-free group (P>.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Microvascular density and VEGF in craniopharyngioma tissue have no correlation with prognosis of the tumor, which may be explained by the minimal blood circulation in the craniopharyngioma. Adamantine epithelioma showed more tendency to recur than SP.
Xu
Jianguo
J
Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China. jianguo_1229@sina.com
Zhang
Sizhong
S
You
Chao
C
Wang
Xiaojie
X
Zhou
Qiao
Q
D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008833:Microcirculation; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000209:etiology*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D012307:Risk Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A