Angiogenic profile of childhood primitive neuroectodermal brain tumours/medulloblastomas.

Abstract

Primitive neuroectodermal brain tumours (PNET) including medulloblastomas (PNET/MB) are the most common malignant brain tumours of childhood. Similar to many other brain tumours, PNET/MB often show marked neovascularisation. To determine which angiogenic factors contribute to PNET/MB angiogenesis, we examined the expression of eight angiogenic factors (vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF, VEGF-B, VEGF-C), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), angiopoetins (Ang-1, Ang-2), transforming growth factor (TGF-alpha), and platelet-derived endothelial growth factor (PDGF-A)) by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in six PNET cell lines and 28 primary PNET/MB. Expression levels of angiogenic factors were compared with microvessel density, TrkC mRNA expression, clinical variables and survival outcomes. Our results indicate that all PNET/MB tested produce a wide range of angiogenic factors that are, individually or together, likely to play a direct role in PNET/MB tumour growth. This suggests that anti-angiogenesis approaches targeting VEGF alone may be insufficient in PNET/MB.

• Authors: H Huber, A Eggert, A J Janss, R Wiewrodt, H Zhao, L N Sutton, L B Rorke, P C Phillips, M A Grotzer
• Journal: European journal of cancer (Oxford, England : 1990) (Eur J Cancer) Vol. 37 Issue 16 Pg. 2064-72 (Nov 2001) ISSN: 0959-8049 [Print] England
• PMID: 11597385 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Angiogenesis Inducing Agents
• Biomarkers, Tumor
• RNA, Messenger
• RNA, Neoplasm
• Receptor, trkC

Topics

• Adolescent
• Angiogenesis Inducing Agents (genetics, metabolism)
• Biomarkers, Tumor (genetics, metabolism)
• Brain Neoplasms (blood supply, metabolism)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Follow-Up Studies
• Gene Expression
• Glioma (metabolism)
• Humans
• Infant
• Medulloblastoma (blood supply, metabolism)
• Neovascularization, Pathologic (metabolism, pathology)
• Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive (blood supply, metabolism)
• RNA, Messenger (genetics)
• RNA, Neoplasm (genetics)
• Receptor, trkC (genetics, metabolism)
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Survival Rate
• Tumor Cells, Cultured