title: Angiogenic potential of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with high-grade gliomas measured with the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane assay (CAM).
abstract: High-grade gliomas are highly vascularized tumors. Neo-angiogenesis plays a key role in tumor growth and resistance to therapy. A cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample could be a useful way to obtain pro-angiogenic predictive or prognostic markers at different stages of the disease. As a first step we looked for pro-angiogenic activity in the CSF of patients with high-grade gliomas. We performed the chicken embryo chorio-allantoic membrane (CAM) assay to study the angiogenic potential of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), obtained either by lumbar puncture (LP) or craniotomy from six patients with high-grade brain tumors (three glioblastoma (WHO grade IV), one anaplastic oligodendroglioma (WHO grade III), two anaplastic ganglioglioma (WHO grade III)), and four healthy controls. Significantly increased neo-angiogenesis was observed on the surface of the growing CAM in the 6 patients with high-grade gliomas compared to controls (3.69 ± 1.23 versus 2.16 ± 0.97 capillaries per area (mean ± SD), p<0.005). There was no statistical difference related to the hystological grade of the tumor (WHO grade III or IV), previous treatment (radio-chemotherapy plus temozolomide, temozolomide alone or no treatment), or the site of CSF sample (surgery or lumbar puncture). Our results suggest a pro-angiogenic potential in the CSF of patients with high-grade gliomas.
authors.affiliation: Neurology and Neurosurgery Department, Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile. msinning@redclinicauchile.cl
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sinning
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Letelier
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rosas
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fuenzalida
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lemus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000502:physiology; D002642:Chick Embryo; D049033:Chorioallantoic Membrane / Q000098:blood supply*; D003399:Craniotomy; D005910:Glioma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis