TY - JOUR
T1 - Angiogenic patterns and their quantitation in high grade astrocytic tumors
AU - Sharma, Suash
AU - Sharma, Mehar C.
AU - Gupta, Deepak Kumar
AU - Sarkar, Chitra
N1 - Funding Information:
We sincerely thank the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Pusa, New Delhi for supporting this research endeavor. We also thank Mr. Rajesh and Ms. Kiran from AIIMS for technical assistance, Mr. Rajvir (AIIMS) and Mr. Sanjay (TMC) for statistical analyses, Dr. Deepak Gupta from Neurosurgery (AI-IMS) for providing follow up data, and Dr. Prabal Deb for moral support.
PY - 2006/8
Y1 - 2006/8
N2 - Background: The objectives of this study on high grade astrocytic tumors were (i) to establish differences, if any, between grades III & IV tumors among angiogenic parameters, both qualitative and quantitative, and (ii) to correlate angiogenic parameters with proliferation indices, namely T2a and MIB1 labeling indices. Design: Twenty nine consecutive cases of WHO grades III (11) and IV (18) astrocytic tumors diagnosed in the year-2004 were studied, using H&E and CD34, MIB1 and T2a immunostaining by streptavidin biotin technique. Angiogenic patterns were studied and parameters quantitated using Image Pro Plus software (four hotspots) on CD34 immunostained sections to determine intratumoral microvessel density (iMVD), microvascular area (MVA), aspect, mean diameter (MD) and fractal dimension (FD). Results: Main angiogenic patterns of capillary (18) and glomeruloid (9) types were best developed in glioblastomas. Statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) were seen between grades III and IV in iMVD, aspect, MD and FD, but not in angiogenic patterns or MVA (P = 0.27). Statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) were seen between glioblastomas with glomeruloid vs. capillary types in iMVD and FD, but not in MVA, aspect and mean vessel diameter. T2a values correlated with MIB1 labeling indices (R = 0.965, P < 0.001). Intratumoral endothelial MIB1 LI was significantly higher in grade IV as compared to grade III, but did not correlate with angiogenic parameters. No correlation of angiogenic patterns and proliferation indices was noted (R = -0.221, P = 0.26). Limited follow up data showed all recurrent grade IV tumors to be of glomeruloid type. Conclusion: Increased angiogenesis in grade IV, as compared to grade III, astrocytic tumors is characterized by an increased number/density of vessels: an increase in vessels characterized by disproportionate lengthening and likely associated with the infiltrative properties of the tumors; and an increase in pliable, irregularly shaped or structured vessels. In addition, there is a greater frequency of glomeruloid structures indicating inadequate directional migration of the newly formed vessels. The lack of correlation of these angiogenesis parameters with the MIB1 and T2a proliferation indices reflects the complexity of angiogenesis parameters in high grade gliomas. Further studies are needed to determine the usefulness of the angiogenic parameters in the improved diagnosis (grading) and prognosis of astrocytic tumors.
AB - Background: The objectives of this study on high grade astrocytic tumors were (i) to establish differences, if any, between grades III & IV tumors among angiogenic parameters, both qualitative and quantitative, and (ii) to correlate angiogenic parameters with proliferation indices, namely T2a and MIB1 labeling indices. Design: Twenty nine consecutive cases of WHO grades III (11) and IV (18) astrocytic tumors diagnosed in the year-2004 were studied, using H&E and CD34, MIB1 and T2a immunostaining by streptavidin biotin technique. Angiogenic patterns were studied and parameters quantitated using Image Pro Plus software (four hotspots) on CD34 immunostained sections to determine intratumoral microvessel density (iMVD), microvascular area (MVA), aspect, mean diameter (MD) and fractal dimension (FD). Results: Main angiogenic patterns of capillary (18) and glomeruloid (9) types were best developed in glioblastomas. Statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) were seen between grades III and IV in iMVD, aspect, MD and FD, but not in angiogenic patterns or MVA (P = 0.27). Statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) were seen between glioblastomas with glomeruloid vs. capillary types in iMVD and FD, but not in MVA, aspect and mean vessel diameter. T2a values correlated with MIB1 labeling indices (R = 0.965, P < 0.001). Intratumoral endothelial MIB1 LI was significantly higher in grade IV as compared to grade III, but did not correlate with angiogenic parameters. No correlation of angiogenic patterns and proliferation indices was noted (R = -0.221, P = 0.26). Limited follow up data showed all recurrent grade IV tumors to be of glomeruloid type. Conclusion: Increased angiogenesis in grade IV, as compared to grade III, astrocytic tumors is characterized by an increased number/density of vessels: an increase in vessels characterized by disproportionate lengthening and likely associated with the infiltrative properties of the tumors; and an increase in pliable, irregularly shaped or structured vessels. In addition, there is a greater frequency of glomeruloid structures indicating inadequate directional migration of the newly formed vessels. The lack of correlation of these angiogenesis parameters with the MIB1 and T2a proliferation indices reflects the complexity of angiogenesis parameters in high grade gliomas. Further studies are needed to determine the usefulness of the angiogenic parameters in the improved diagnosis (grading) and prognosis of astrocytic tumors.
KW - Angiogenic patterns
KW - Astrocytoma grade III
KW - Astrocytoma grade IV
KW - Glioblastoma
KW - Intratumoral microvascular density
KW - MIB1
KW - Topoisomerase II alpha
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U2 - 10.1007/s11060-006-9120-6
DO - 10.1007/s11060-006-9120-6
M3 - Article
C2 - 16807783
AN - SCOPUS:33745941108
SN - 0167-594X
VL - 79
SP - 19
EP - 30
JO - Journal of Neuro-Oncology
JF - Journal of Neuro-Oncology
IS - 1
ER -