title: Giant cell lesions of the jaws: does the level of vascularity and angiogenesis correlate with behavior?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare vascularity and angiogenic activity in aggressive and nonaggressive giant cell lesions (GCLs) of the jaws.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective study of 14 GCLs treated at the University of California, San Francisco. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine of the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), CD34, and CD31. VEGF and bFGF expression in giant cells (GCs) and surrounding mononuclear stroma was classified into 1) high immunoreactivity (>50% staining) and 2) low immunoreactivity (<50% staining). CD31- and CD34-stained vessels were counted at 200× magnification. Clinical and radiographic records were reviewed to classify lesions as aggressive or nonaggressive.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the lesions, 8 were aggressive and 6 were nonaggressive. High VEGF expression was found within the GCs in 4 of 8 aggressive lesions compared with 1 of 6 nonaggressive lesions. The stroma in both groups had low staining. High staining of the GCs for bFGF was found in 6 of 8 aggressive lesions compared with 3 of 6 nonaggressive lesions. The stroma of all aggressive cases showed high expression of bFGF compared with 3 of 6 nonaggressive cases. The aggressive group had a mean of 20.1 ± 5.4 vessels/high-powered field (hpf) stained for CD31 compared with 11.5 ± 5.6 vessels/hpf in the nonaggressive group. The aggressive group had 24.6 ± 7.0 vessels/hpf stained with CD34 compared with 18.5 ± 4.0 vessels/hpf in the nonaggressive group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The vascularity and level of angiogenesis within aggressive GCLs are higher than those in nonaggressive lesions.
authors: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA. zpeacock@partners.org
authors: Zachary S
authors: ZS
authors: Peacock
authors: Richard C K
authors: RC
authors: Jordan
authors: Brian L
authors: BL
authors: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004396:Coloring Agents; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000032:analysis; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000473:pathology; D006101:Granuloma, Giant Cell / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007571:Jaw Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology; D008439:Maxillary Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology; D055806:Microvessels / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012391:Root Resorption / Q000473:pathology; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D004396:Coloring Agents; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2