Prognostic significance of the endothelial surface in low-grade resected oligodendrogliomas

The importance of angiogenesis as a prognostic factor in brain tumours has recently been reported. In this study, we analysed the long-term prognostic significance of a morphometric score expressing the endothelial area for e very 1000 tumour cells, in tumour tissue from 26 patients with a low-grade oligodendroglioma that has been treated surgically and irradiated, and has a MIB-1 labelling index (MIB-1 LI) of less than 1%. In each tumour, a vascu lar endothelial surface index (VESI) was determined as the CD-34 immunostai ned endothelial area in mum(2) per 1000 tumour cells. Patients with a VESI of less than 15 (n = 12) showed a survival at 5 and 10 years of 100 and 71% , respectively, versus a survival of 50 and 0% for patients presenting a VE SI greater than 15 (n = 14); p < 0.05). Our present findings suggest the us efulness of VESI as a long-term prognostic pathological factor in low-grade oligodendroglioma.