Graphic analysis of microscopic tumor cell infiltration, proliferative potential, and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in an autopsy brain with glioblastoma

BACKGROUND Growth of brain tumors requires tumor-cell attachment to adjacen t structures, degradation of surrounding matrixes, migration of tumor cells , proliferation of vasculature, and tumor cell proliferation. Comparison of the findings on neuroimaging, degrees and patterns of tumor invasion, regi onal tumor cell viability detected by Ki-67 immunohistochemistry, and regio nal vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in whole-brain spe cimen of glioblastoma therefore is of great interest, and will facilitate s tudy of the host reaction against the glioblastoma. METHODS We graphically analyzed microscopic tumor-cell infiltration, region al differences in Ki-67 labeling indices (LI), and immunohistochemical expr ession of VEGF in an autopsy brain with glioblastoma. RESULTS Glioblastoma cells infiltrated the brain far beyond the gross limit s of the tumor and the areas with high signal intensity on T2-weighted magn etic resonance images, A wide range of histologic malignancy was apparent f rom hematoxylin-eosin staining and the Ki-67 labeling indices. VEGF was hig hly expressed in normal astrocytes located outside the tumor. CONCLUSION Graphic analysis of histologic and immunohistochemical patterns is a useful method of investigating the mechanisms of glioma growth, tumor cell infiltration in the brain, and the host reaction of the brain against neoplasms. (C) 1999 by Elsevier Science Inc.