Expressions Of TF And VEGF In Brain Gliomas And The Clinical Significance

Tissue factor (TF), a receptor on the cell surface of factor VII as well as a coactive factor to activate factor VII, plays an essential role in hemostasis through the activation of the intrinsic and extrinsic coagulation pathways simultaneously. In normal tissues, TF can be found in macrophages, adventitia, part of epithelial cells, and fibroblasts except vascular endothelial cells. Recent researches have found that TF always exists in tumor cells and neovascular endothelial cells, suggesting that TF is closely related to the growth of tumor and neovascular epithelial cells. So far, few studies on the expression of TF in gliomas have been conducted.Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF, also known as vascular permeability factor, VPF) is a multifunctional cytokine, which can be expressed not only in normal developing cells and adult tissues but also in many types of tumor cells. Many oversea and domestic researches suggest that VEGF expression is closely associated with the grading, invasiveness, peritumor edema, prognosis, recurrence of tumor, and even microveesel density (MVD).In this experiment, the protein expressions of TF and VEGF in 108 cases of brain glioma at every grade were measured by immunohistochemistry for the purpose of understanding the expression regularity in gliomas. The effects of TF and VEGF on the genesis, progression, invasion, and angiogenesis of glioma were also explored. The conclusions based on the results are as follows:TF was found in gliomas of all gradings and its expression was significantly enhanced with the increase of glioma gradings. Statistical data of TF grading scores showed that its expression was not significantly related to the size and location of glioma, sex, and age of patients, but closely related to the glioma gradings and microvessel quantity of the tumor.VEGF was found in gliomas of all gradings and its expression was significantly enhanced with the increase of glioma gradings. Statistical data of VEGF grading scores showed that its expression was not significantly related to the size and location of glioma, sex, and age of patients, but closely related to the glioma gradings. The expression of TF was positively correlated with that of VEGF, suggesting that TF might participate in the anigogenesis of gliomas, and provide proper environment for the growth of gliomas through its coagulant effect. VEGF might be involved in the genesis of gliomas through the promotion of angiogenesis of gliomas and peritumor dedema. TF and VEGF might have the synergistic effect on gliomas. Gliomas were rich in blood vessels. A large quantity of blood vessels with different kinds of forms could be found in tissues of the glioma of every grading. Further more, with the higher of glioma grading, more microvessel quantities (MVQ) could be found in gliomas. As a result of it, MVQ could be an index for grading gliomas.TF and VEGF can be regarded as one of the auxiliary diagnostic indexes for the grading of malignant gliomas and can also be regarded as one of the independent factors for the prognosis. Combined therapy of anti-TF and anti-VEGF could be a new method for the treatment of gliomas.