The Relationship Among the Endothelin-1 Content, Microvessel Density and Clinical Pathology in Astrocytoma

BACKGROUNDAIM: To investigate the relationship among the endothelin-1(ET-1)content,microvessel density,the grading and prognosis of astrocytomas. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy-four cases of astrocytoma with definite follow-up data who underwent surgical treatment in recent8years in our hospital were collected.Image cytometry(ICM),and Immunohistochemistry Streptavidin-Peroxidase method were carried out to study the microvessel density(MVD),the positive expression rates of ET-1and ET-1content.The incidence of the MVD,the positive rates of ET-1,ET-1content,survival time and grading were evaluated with correlation analysis. RESULTS: ①The results showed that the positive rates of ET-1and ET-1content were both significantly different between normal astrocyte and astrocytomas,and high grade(Ⅳ-Ⅲ)astrocytomas and low grade(Ⅱ-Ⅰ)astrocytomas.But there was no significant difference between gradeⅠand gradeⅡ.②The results showed that MVD in high grade astrocytomas was much higher than that in low grade astrocytomas,and the survival time was significantly different among each grade(P0.05).③The correlativity of the grading,ET-1content,MVD and the survivial time show that ET-1content have positive correlation with the grading,and MVD,but negative correlation with survival time of astrocytoma. CONCLUSION: ①It is suggested that ET-1may act on the growth and angiogenesis of astrocytoma.②It is suggested that ET-1content,and MVD may be an useful method for diagnosis,grading,prognosis of astrocytoma.