Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-C Expression in Primary and Metastatic Brain Tumor.

Chung, Ji Hun; Kong, Tae Sik; Kang, Myoung Jae; Lee, Dong Geun; Chung, Myoung Ja

Original Article

Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 2002;32(6): 543-547.

Ji Hun Chung, Tae Sik Kong, Myoung Jae Kang, Dong Geun Lee, Myoung Ja Chung

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Presbyterian Medical Center, Jeonju, Korea. mjchung@moak.chonbuk.ac.kr
²Department of Pathology, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Korea.
³Research Institute of Clinical Medicine, Jeonju, Korea.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE
Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)-C is involved in lymphangiogenesis and spreading of cancer cells via lymphatic vessels. The aim of the present study is to investigate the relationship between the absence of cerebral lymphatic vessels and low metastatic rate of brain tumors.
METHODS
Immunohistochemical stains were performed for VEGF-C and VEGF in surgically resected specimens from 57 patients with primary(38 cases, low grade : 10 cases, high grade : 28 cases) and metastatic(19 cases) brain tumor.
RESULTS
The expression of VEGF-C was higher in metastatic carcinoma(68%) than in high-grade primary tumor(29%). There was no difference for VEGF expression between high grade brain tumor (71%) and metastatic carcinoma(58%).
CONCLUSION
Low VEGF-C expression of primary brain tumors may play a role in low metastatic rate of brain tumors.

Key Words: Primary brain tumor; Metastatic brain tumor; VEGF-C; VEGF