Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0017636 (glioblastoma)
 18,345 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Inefficient vascular supply and the resultant reduction in tissue oxygen tension often lead to neovascularization in order to satisfy the needs of the tissue. Examples include the compensatory development of collateral blood vessels in ischaemic tissues that are otherwise quiescent for angiogenesis and angiogenesis associated with the healing of hypoxic wounds. But the presumptive hypoxia-induced angiogenic factors that mediate this feedback response have not been identified. Here we show that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF; also known as vascular permeability factor) probably functions as a hypoxia-inducible angiogenic factor. VEGF messenger RNA levels are dramatically increased within a few hours of exposing different cell cultures to hypoxia and return to background when normal oxygen supply is resumed. In situ analysis of tumour specimens undergoing neovascularization show that the production of VEGF is specifically induced in a subset of glioblastoma cells distinguished by their immediate proximity to necrotic foci (presumably hypoxic regions) and the clustering of capillaries alongside VEGF-producing cells.
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PMID:Vascular endothelial growth factor induced by hypoxia may mediate hypoxia-initiated angiogenesis. 127 31

In primary malignant brain tumors increased vascularity and marked edema strongly suggest a possible role of the vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular permeability factor (VEGF/VPF). This was confirmed by earlier in situ hybridization studies, by analysis of the expression of the mitogen in different subsets of glioblastoma cells, and by the fact that the VEGF/VPF receptor flt-1 (fms-like tyrosine kinase) is up-regulated in tumor cells in vivo. To assess and quantify the expression of the VEGF/VPF gene and of the receptor gene, 26 surgical specimens of brain tumor tissue from 24 patients were analyzed. In most malignant gliomas, the expression level of the VEGF/VPF gene is elevated and can be increased up to 20- to 50-fold in comparison with low-grade tumors. Using polymerase chain reaction-based amplification, it could be shown that the messenger RNAs of three different VEGF/VPF forms are synthesized in tumor tissue samples. Northern blot studies revealed that in some samples a significant expression of the gene coding for placenta growth factor, a growth factor closely related to VEGF/VPF, was observed. In addition, using a radioreceptor assay it was possible to detect high VEGF/VPF-like activity in the cyst fluids of brain tumors, indicating the accumulation of the mitogen and permeability factor in brain tumor cysts. Further investigations revealed that astrocytoma and glioblastoma cells in culture express the VEGF/VPF gene and secrete the VEGF/VPF protein, whereas gene expression of the two known VEGF/VPF receptors, kinase insert domain-containing receptor and flt-1, could not be detected. These data support previous reports, which stated that VEGF/VPF acts as a paracrine growth and permeability factor in brain tumors and may contribute to tumor growth by initiating tumor angiogenesis.
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PMID:Detection and quantification of vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular permeability factor in brain tumor tissue and cyst fluid: the key to angiogenesis? 752 59

The hyperpermeability of tumor vessels to macromolecules, compared with normal vessels, is presumably due to vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular permeability factor (VEGF/VPF) released by neoplastic and/or host cells. In addition, VEGF/VPF is a potent angiogenic factor. Removal of this growth factor may reduce the permeability and inhibit tumor angiogenesis. To test these hypotheses, we transplanted a human glioblastoma (U87), a human colon adenocarcinoma (LS174T), and a human melanoma (P-MEL) into two locations in immunodeficient mice: the cranial window and the dorsal skinfold chamber. The mice bearing vascularized tumors were treated with a bolus (0.2 ml) of either a neutralizing antibody (A4.6.1) (492 micrograms/ml) against VEGF/VPF or PBS (control). We found that tumor vascular permeability to albumin in antibody-treated groups was lower than in the matched controls and that the effect of the antibody was time-dependent and influenced by the mode of injection. Tumor vascular permeability did not respond to i.p. injection of the antibody until 4 days posttreatment. However, the permeability was reduced within 6 h after i.v. injection of the same amount of antibody. In addition to the reduction in vascular permeability, the tumor vessels became smaller in diameter and less tortuous after antibody injections and eventually disappeared from the surface after four consecutive treatments in U87 tumors. These results demonstrate that tumor vascular permeability can be reduced by neutralization of endogenous VEGF/ VPF and suggest that angiogenesis and the maintenance of integrity of tumor vessels require the presence of VEGF/VPF in the tissue microenvironment. The latter finding reveals a new mechanism of tumor vessel regression-i.e., blocking the interactions between VEFG/VPF and endothelial cells or inhibiting VEGF/VPF synthesis in solid tumors causes dramatic reduction in vessel diameter, which may block the passage of blood elements and thus lead to vascular regression.
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PMID:Time-dependent vascular regression and permeability changes in established human tumor xenografts induced by an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular permeability factor antibody. 896 29

Glioblastoma, one of the best vascularized tumours in humans, appears well suited for an antiangiogenic therapy. VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), the most important angiogenesis factor identified to date, is highly expressed in glioblastoma. VEGF is particulary upregulated in palisading cells adjacent to necroses and has subsequently been shown to be hypoxia-inducible in glioma cells in vitro. VEGF-receptor tyrosine kinases, VEGF-R1 (flt-1) and VEGF-R2 (flk-1), are induced in a tumour stage dependent manner during glioma progression and are exclusively expressed in tumour vascular endothelial cells. These observations suggest that VEGF-receptors are promising targets for tumour endothelial cell specific therapy. The ability to block VEGF-signalling by the VEGF-R2 dominant-negative mutant identifies the VEGF/VEGF-R2 system as a major regulator of glioma angiogenesis. Several experimental approaches demonstrate that in rat gliomas tumour growth can be prevented by the inhibition of angiogenesis. These findings are of pivotal importance for the development of anti-angiogenic therapies in glioblastoma patients.
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PMID:Anti-angiogenic gene therapy of malignant glioma. 923 24

Glioblastomas may develop rapidly without clinical and histopathological evidence of a less malignant precursor lesion (de novo or primary glioblastoma) or through progression from low-grade or anaplastic astrocytoma (secondary glioblastoma). Primary glioblastomas typically show overexpression of EGFR, but rarely p53 mutations, while secondary glioblastomas frequently carry a p53 mutation, but usually lack overexpression of EGFR, suggesting that these glioblastoma subtypes develop through distinct genetic pathways. In the present study, we assessed the expression of Fas/APO-1 (CD95), an apoptosis-mediating cell membrane protein, and its relation to necrosis phenotype in primary and secondary glioblastomas. Large areas of ischemic necroses were observed in all 18 primary glioblastomas, but were significantly less frequent in secondary glioblastomas (10 of 19, 53%; p = 0.0004). Fas expression was predominantly observed in glioma cells surrounding large areas of necrosis and was thus significantly more frequent in primary glioblastomas (18 of 18, 100%) than in secondary glioblastomas (4 of 19, 21%; p < 0.0001), suggesting that these clinically and genetically defined subtypes of glioblastoma differ in the extent and mechanism of necrogenesis. Necrosis and microvascular proliferation are histologic hallmarks of the glioblastoma. Following incubation of glioblastoma cell lines under hypoxic/anoxic conditions for 24-48 hours, Fas mRNA levels remained unchanged, whereas VEGF expression was markedly upregulated. This suggests that in contrast to VEGF Fas expression is not induced by ischemia/hypoxia. Analysis of Fas mRNA levels in a glioblastoma cell line containing a p53 mutation and an inducible wild-type p53 gene showed little difference under induced and noninduced conditions, suggesting that in glioblastomas, Fas expression is not directly linked to the p53 status.
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PMID:Necrogenesis and Fas/APO-1 (CD95) expression in primary (de novo) and secondary glioblastomas. 960 Feb 16

During postnatal development, the formation of new blood vessels is possible only through angiogenesis. The initial growth of solid neoplasms, including childhood brain tumors, during the genetically determined stages of carcinogenesis, even at clinically undetectable sizes (a few mm3), depends upon the continuous formation of new blood capillaries [i.e. neovascularization (NV)/neoplasm-related angiogenesis (NRA)]. The generation of a malignant, invasive cellular immunophenotype (CIP) and distant metastases are also NRA-dependent processes. Endothelial cells undergo rapid proliferation during brain tumor related angiogenesis. Human endoglin (CD105/EDG), is a homodimeric cell surface component of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) type I receptor complex and is also a proliferation-associated antigen (PAA) expressed at high density on endothelial cells. Formalin fixed, paraffin-wax embedded (3-5 microns thick), as well as frozen tissue sections (6 microns thick) of 62 childhood brain tumors [34 medulloblastomas (MEDs) and 28 astrocytomas (ASTRs)], were employed for the assessment of EDG expression. Both an indirect, four-step, alkaline phosphatase (AP) conjugated, biotin-streptavidin based (or a diamino-benzidine [DAB]) conjugated immunoperoxidase antigen detection technique were employed, utilizing the SN6h anti-EDG monoclonal antibody (DAKO Corp.). Another antigen detection method, based on the Histogold (Zymed) reaction was also employed using the same antibody on formalin fixed, paraffin-wax embedded tissues. Strong expression (A; +3 to +4) of EDG on endothelial cells and demonstrated in all 62 childhood brain tumor cases. The most striking feature of the newly formed tumor-related capillaries was the presence of a markedly enlarged perivascular space. Blood vessels in several normal human tissues (cortex, cerebellum, thymus, tonsil, spleen, lymph node, skin) used as control tissues contained significantly lower levels of EDG (B and mostly C; +/- to +), in accordance with the extremely slow turnover rate of normal endothelial cells. A close apposition between the capillaries and the adjacent parenchyma was also observed. Brain tumors, especially glioblastoma, are among the most vascularized human neoplasms, and thus are candidates for antiangiogenic therapy. VEGF/PF-R1 (flt-1) and VEGF/PF-R2 (flk-1) are formed de novo in a glioma progression-dependent manner. Further studies should substantiate the importance of EDG in the earliest possible detection, diagnosis and NRA inhibition-based treatment of mammalian solid neoplasms, especially childhood brain tumors.
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PMID:Upregulation of endoglin (CD105) expression during childhood brain tumor-related angiogenesis. Anti-angiogenic therapy. 967 60

Oxygen deprivation is an important biological feature of tumor growth. We previously showed that in glioma, anoxia increases expression of IL-8, a chemokine and angiogenic factor. Here, we analysed for the first time the biochemical mechanisms inducing the IL-8 gene upon anoxia in glioma cells, and showed that they differ from those inducing the VEGF gene. Both genes are induced in biologically and genetically heterogenous glioblastoma cell lines (LN-229, LN-Z308, U87MG, T98G), whereas, in gliosarcoma cells (D247MG), only the VEGF gene is induced. The kinetics of IL-8 and VEGF mRNA inductions differ in these cells and reoxygenation experiments showed that the induction is due to the anoxic stress per se. Furthermore, in LN-229 and LN-Z308 cell lines actinomycin D, DRB and nuclear run-on experiments showed that anoxia stimulates increased transcription of both genes. Electromobility shift assays show increased protein binding to the AP-1 site on the IL-8 promoter following anoxia treatment. Finally, in situ hybridization on glioblastoma sections shows that the in vivo expression patterns of IL-8 and VEGF genes overlap, but are not identical. Since intratumoral augmentation of IL-8 and VEGF secretion, following microenvironmental decreases in oxygen pressure, may promote angiogenesis, further definition of these pathways is essential to appropriately target them for antitumoral therapy.
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PMID:Regulation of interleukin-8 expression by reduced oxygen pressure in human glioblastoma. 1005 Aug 81

VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), one of the most potent angiogenic factors, has recently been identified as an inducer of neoangiogenesis in many tumors including gliomas. VEGF itself appears to be regulated through different pathways. Since malignant gliomas frequently show EGF receptor amplification and express IL-1, a pivotal regulatory cytokine involved in angiogenesis, we analyzed interactions between EGF/EGF receptor and IL-1/IL-1 receptor and VEGF in the established glioblastoma cell lines U-87 MG and A-172. Basal VEGF expression was an order of magnitude higher in U-87 MG compared to A-172. IL-1 caused a fast and strong increase of VEGF secretion in U-87 MG which appeared to harbor an intracellular VEGF pool for enhanced exocytosis. The IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1-ra) reversed this effect suggesting an IL-1 receptor-associated mechanism. In contrast, VEGF secretion could not be increased by exogenous IL-1 exposure in A-172, which apparently lacked an intracellular VEGF pool for augmented exocytosis. However, IL-1-ra treatment alone caused a significant reduction of basal VEGF secretion in both U-87 MG and A-172. This suggests that baseline secretion of VEGF involves IL-1 receptor activation by endogenously produced IL-1. EGF also stimulated the secretion of VEGF into the cell supernatant. However, this effect, observed in both U-87 MG and A-172, was delayed and only occurred following replenishment of the intracellular VEGF pool. EGF upregulated the amount of VEGF mRNA. In general, the effects of IL-1 and EGF on VEGF were additive, suggesting independent mechanisms. Since IL-1 appears to be involved in VEGF secretion in glial tumors through an autocrine/paracrine mechanism, recombinant human IL-1-ra may evolve as a new agent for anti-angiogenic glioma therapy.
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PMID:Differential control of VEGF synthesis and secretion in human glioma cells by IL-1 and EGF. 1057 18

In situ hybridization coupled to immunohistochemistry for antigens of interest allows unequivocal identification of tumor cells from reactive stroma cells and normal adjacent structures in human glioblastoma multiforme grafts transplanted into nude mice. With this methodology, we have explored the development of glioblastoma multiforme solid grafts transplanted into nude mouse brains or flanks. The brain transplants closely resembled the human situation, particularly in relation to differentiation and growth patterns. The morphological features of peritumoral reactive gliosis were similar to those observed in humans. A mouse glial stroma within the main tumor masses was also demonstrated. Kinetic studies showed that the compartment of isolated tumor cells that infiltrated host brains and the reactive gliosis constituted two cycling cell populations. Despite VEGF protein expression by tumor cells and some reactive astrocytes, the abnormally permeable microvascular beds were not hyperplastic. The observation of a non-infiltrative pattern of growth when grafts were established in host flanks demonstrated that the organ-specific environment plays a determining role in the growth and invasive properties of glioblastoma. The phylogenetic distance between man and mouse and the recipient immunoincompetence should not impose serious limitations on the use of this model for studying malignant glioma biology and therapy in vivo.
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PMID:Analysis of tissue chimerism in nude mouse brain and abdominal xenograft models of human glioblastoma multiforme: what does it tell us about the models and about glioblastoma biology and therapy? 1082 Jan 58

ImClone is developing IMC-IC11, an anti-angiogenesis chimeric monoclonal antibody specific vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2, also known Flk-1 in mice), for the potential treatment of cancer [156625]; it in phase I trials for the treatment of colorectal carcinoma [379143]. The related antibody DC-101 provided proof-of-principle that an anti-VEGF receptor antibody could strongly inhibit tumor growth and even cause tumor regression with the glioblastoma tumor cell line, GBM18 [388236]. In May 1998, the company was granted US-05747651 by the USPTO, covering antibodies against the extracellular portion of the FLK-1/KDR receptor [284054].
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PMID:Technology evaluation: IMC-1C11, ImClone Systems. 1152 67


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