Expression of VEGF, MMPs and its relation with vascular ultrastructure in primary and recurrent gliomas

Objective To explore the expression and its implication of angiogenesis and invasiveness related factor in primary and recurrent glioma. Methods Expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 were detected by immunohistochemical technique. The morphological characteristics of ultrastructure of glioma were observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM). Results The expressions of VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9 varied in different grades of primary glioma. With the elevation of the malignant degree of the primary glioma, positive staining rates of VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9 increased significantly. The expression of VEGF correlated with both MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression. Compared with the primary glioma, the immunoreactivities of VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in recurrent glioma increased, especially in those with more severe malignancy. Under transmission electron microscope, endothelial cells markedly proliferated and protruded from the deficiency of basemembrane, concomitantly with edema of the extracapillary gap, plasma extravasation as well as some small worm-eaten caverns in the basemembrane. Conclusion VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9 play important roles in glioma angiogenesis and invasiveness. Inhibition of their expressions may be a useful therapy to glioma.