Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor as an Angiogenic Marker in Malignant Astrocytoma and Oligodendroglioma: An Indian Scenario

Abstract

Introduction: The role of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in angiogenesis has been extensively studied in gliomas, such as astrocytoma and oligodendrogliomas, worldwide. However, there is limited information available with regard to the Indian population. Aim: To study, whether VEGF is expressed in the Indian population in a pattern similar to that in other population. Materials and Methods: In this prospective study approved by the Institute Ethics Committee for Human Studies at Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) the patients operated for glioma in 2014 and 2015 (n = 60) were included. Tumours were graded as per the World Health Organization (WHO) grading system. VEGF expression in various grades was analysed using immunohistochemistry. Results: Of the 60 patients included in this study, 15 were Grade II- (diffuse astrocytomas – 12; oligodendrogliomas- 3), 15 were Grade III-(anaplastic astrocytomas- 2; anaplastic oligodendrogliomas – 13) and 30 were Grade IV-glioblastomas. For VEGF antibody staining, two patients (3.33%) showed negative results and 58 patients (96%) showed positive results. VEGF positivity was 100% in Grade II and III, while it was 93.3% (28/30) in Grade IV tumours (p=0.012). Conclusion: The expression of VEGF was associated with the grade of tumour, which gradually increased from Grade II to Grade IV. We conclude that VEGF-regulated angiogenesis plays an important role in tumour progression of astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas in the Indian population as observed worldwide.

Keywords

• angiogenesis
• astrocytic tumours
• glial tumours