A translocation involving the placental growth factor gene is identified in an epithelioid hemangioendothelioma.

Abstract

Hemangioendothelioma is a relatively rare vascular tumor that is considered a low- to intermediate-grade malignant neoplasm. Cytogenetic reports of hemangioendothelioma are rare. Two reports with translocations involving chromosomes 1 and 3 have been described. Here we report a case of an epithelioid hemangioendothelioma arising in the foot of a 56-year-old female, with a 46,XX,-6,t(10;14)(p13;q24),+r. The regions in 10p13 and 14q24 encompass genes that participate in growth regulation. One of the genes at 14q24 encodes for placental growth factor [PlGF, also called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-related protein]. Placental growth factor is a member of the VEGF growth factor family. Placenta growth factor binds only to VEGF receptor-1 (FLT-1). It has been suggested that PlGF may modulate VEGF-induced angiogenesis by the formation of PlGF/VEGF heterodimers in cells producing both factors. It has been postulated that PlGF is involved in intra- and intermolecular cross-talk between VEGF receptor-1 (FLT) and receptor-2 (FLK-1/KDR). Since expression of VEGF and its receptor, FLK-1, is seen in several cases of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma and plasma VEGF level is also used to follow-up this tumor, we performed immunohistochemical analysis for PlGF and VEGF in our case. The strong positivity for both PlGF and VEGF observed in our case implies that the t(10;14)(p13;q24) most likely involves PlGF, which may be one of the genes driving oncogenesis in these tumors.

• Authors: Mai He, Kasturi Das, Marcia Blacksin, Joseph Benevenia, Meera Hameed
• Journal: Cancer genetics and cytogenetics (Cancer Genet Cytogenet) Vol. 168 Issue 2 Pg. 150-4 (Jul 15 2006) ISSN: 0165-4608 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16843105 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• PGF protein, human
• Pregnancy Proteins
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
• Placenta Growth Factor

Topics

• Chromosomes, Human, Pair 10 (genetics)
• Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14 (genetics)
• Female
• Foot Diseases (diagnostic imaging)
• Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid (genetics)
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Placenta Growth Factor
• Pregnancy Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Radiography
• Translocation, Genetic
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (metabolism)
• Vascular Neoplasms (genetics, pathology)