This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: jhc.4A6521.2005v1 53/8/997    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Yue, W.-Y. Articles by Chen, Z.-P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Yue, W.-Y. Articles by Chen, Z.-P. Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

Does Vasculogenic Mimicry Exist in Astrocytoma?

Wei-Ying Yue and Zhong-Ping Chen

Department of Neurosurgery/Neuro-oncology, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P.R. China

Correspondence to: Zhong-Ping Chen, Department of Neurosurgery/Neuro-oncology, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P.R. China 510060. E-mail: chenzp{at}gzsums.edu.cn

Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) has been observed in melanoma and in some nonmelanoma tumor types. It is unknown whether a similar VM phenomenon exists in astrocytoma. The present study was to examine 45 astrocytomas (including World Health Organization grade II 15 cases, grade III 15 cases, and grade IV 15 cases) by CD34 endothelial marker periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) dual staining to see if VM existing in these tumors. The results demonstrated that endothelium-lined vessels dominated the tumor microvasculature and stained positively for PAS, laminin, and endothelial marker. PAS-positive pattern of VM was found in two grade IV astrocytomas. Channels stained positively for PAS, laminin, and negatively for CD34 of the VM entrapped in the tumor tissue. Erythrocytes could be observed in some of these channels. In these networks of PAS-positive pattern, spots of weak reaction for CD34 were observed, suggesting the incorporation of VM channel and normal vessel. Furthermore, in astrocytoma, especially glioblastoma, focus of anaplastic tumor cells appeared with CD34 expression, whereas some tumor cells lost glial fibrillary acid protein expression. It is assumed that genetically deregulated tumor cells in astrocytoma could lose the astrocyte-specific protein and express inappropriate markers not expected in cells of astrocyte lineage. The present results suggest that VM phenomenon exists in some malignant astrocytoma. (J Histochem Cytochem 53:997–1002, 2005)

Key Words: astrocytoma • vasculogenic mimicry • periodic acid–Schiff staining • PAS-positive pattern • immunohistochemistry

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

Guidelines | Subscriptions | About | exPRESS - Current - Archive | Business Information | Contact

The Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry is owned, published, and licensed by The Histochemical Society © 2005