Diagnostic value of microvessel structure in brain glial tumors

Diffuse gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors with a disproportionately high mortality rate. Characteristics of microvessels are of high diagnostic and prognostic significance, however, the results of previous studies are controversial. The aim of the work is to evaluate the features of angiogenesis in diffuse gliomas on the basis of determining the qualitative and quantitative microvascular characteristics. Also important is their relationship with the histological type of tumor. Microvascular density (μm-1), total vascular area (%), total lumen area (%) and the mean diameter of microvessels (μm) were measured and calculated in diffuse brain gliomas (n=76) using GFAP-negative status of endothelium in the presence of exclusively GFAP-positive tumor cells. Proliferation of microvessels was evaluated using proliferation index of vascular epithelium (Ki-67). The possibility of routine evaluation of the angiogenesis in diffuse gliomas using GFAP and Ki-67 markers was defined. We revealed significant correlation between features of the neoplastic microvasculature and WHO Grade.