[Histomorphology of angiogenesis patterns in different areas of human astrocytomas].
OBJECTIVE
To study angiogenesis patterns in the edematous area and the center of human astrocytomas by histological observation, and to reveal histological basis of vasculogenic mimicry.


METHODS
Tissue samples were drawn from the tumor center and the edematous area in 51 patients with human astrocytomas during operation MR and were examined by CD34 endothelial marker periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) dual staining.


RESULTS
Vessels or capillaries stained by both PAS and CD34 were found in edematous areas of human astrocytomas. Besides vessels or capillaries stained by both PAS and CD34, vasculogenic mimicries (PAS-positive and CD34-negative tubes containing red blood cells and lined by neoplastic cells), PAS-positive and CD34-negative tubes containing red blood cells and without cells around, PAS-positive and partial CD34-positive vessels or capillaries, and PAS-positive and CD34-negtive vessels or capillaries were detected in the center of tumor of 4 human glioblastomas.


CONCLUSIONS
Vasculogenic mimicries in the center of some high-grade astrocytomas may be caused by blood capillary dysplasia, while angiogenesis patterns are vessels or capillaries in the edematus area and the center of most human astrocytomas.
Wang
Hao
H
Department of Neurosurgery, Nangfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. hwmai@sina.com
Qi
Song-tao
ST
Guo
Zhi-wang
ZW
Wang
Ke-wan
KW
Liu
Xiao-jun
XJ
Zhang
Guo-zhong
GZ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
D018952:Antigens, CD34