VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH-FACTOR PRODUCTION IS STIMULATED IN RESPONSE TO GROWTH-FACTORS IN HUMAN GLIOMA-CELLS

Neovascularization is essential for tumour growth and is mediated by p hysiological substances produced by tumours. Vascular endothelial grow th factor (VEGF) is one such potent angiogenic factor. Human gliomas, the most important class of intrinsic brain tumours, express VEGF both in vivo and in vitro. Factors involved in the control of VEGF product ion by glioma cells are not well known. In this study, we investigated the role of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), epidermal growth f actor (EGF), and platelet derived growth factors (PDGF) on VEGF produc tion by four different glioma cell lines in vitro. With the exception of PDGF A/A and B/B in one cell line, all growth factors differentiall y stimulated VEGF production in all cell lines investigated. These dat a suggest that VEGF production in human glioma may be regulated by oth er growth factors which are also known to be expressed in such tumours .