Change of VCAM-1 protein expression in human brain glioma and its clinical significance

Objective To determine VCAM-1 expression and its correlation with tumor pathological grade and clinical significance. Methods The distribution and changes of VCAM-1 protein expression in 6 normal brain and 30brain glioma tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry staining and Western blot analysis. Results The percentage of VCAM-1 positive cell number in normal brain tissue,grade Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ brain glioma tissue were5. 8%,26. 5%,69. 5% and 79. 3%,respectively. The VCAM-1 positive cells mainly distributed along the tumor capillaries in high pathological grade glioma. The number of VCAM-1 positive cells in glioma tissue was significantly more than that of normal brain tissue( P 0. 05). VCAM-1 positive cells in grade Ⅲ and Ⅳ glioma tissue was observed when compared with that of grade Ⅱ glioma tissue( P 0. 05),but no significant difference was found be-tween grade Ⅲ and grade Ⅳ glioma tissue. Similarly,the Western blot analysis alse indicated that there were more VCAM-1 protein expressions in brain glioma tissue with the increase of the tumor grade level when compared with the less VCAM-1 expressed in normal brain tissue( P 0. 05). In addition,the VCAM-1 protein expressions in high pathological grade Ⅲ and Ⅳ glioma tissue extensively increased compared with gliomaⅡglioma tissue( P 0. 05),but no significant difference in VCAM-1 protein expression was observed between grade Ⅲ and Ⅳ glioma tissue. Conclusions The increase of VCAM-1 protein expression in brain glioma tissue positively correlated with the tumor pathological grades,suggesting an important role of VCAM-1 in the malignant progress of human brain glioma.