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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor mRNA Expression and Peritumoral Edema in Canine Primary Central Nervous System Tumors

Departments of Surgical and Radiological Sciences (PJD, BKS, BNR, RAL), Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology (RJH) and Medicine and Epidemiology (CML), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA; and Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA (AWB)

Abstract

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important regulator of tumor angiogenesis and vascular permeability, and has been implicated both in progression of central nervous system (CNS) tumors and development of vasogenic peritumoral edema. A retrospective study was done to characterize the levels of expression of the 3 major canine VEGF isoforms (VEGF₁₂₀, VEGF₁₆₄, VEGF₁₈₈) in a variety of spontaneous canine CNS tumors using quantitative TaqMan reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction. Presence and degree of peritumoral edema also were determined in sampled tumors using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Increased expression of VEGF relative to normal cerebral cortex tissue was seen predominantly in high grade astrocytic (grade IV) and oligodendroglial (grade III) tumors, with lower expression in low grade astrocytomas (grade II) and meningiomas (grade I). All 3 major VEGF isoforms were present; VEGF₁₆₄ was the predominant isoform, particularly in the tumors with the highest VEGF expression. Peritumoral edema was present in all tumor types; however, a significant association between the extent of peritumoral edema and the level of VEGF expression was not apparent.

Key words: Canine; central nervous system tumors; edema; reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; vascular endothelial growth factor; VEGF.

Request reprints from Dr. P. J. Dickinson, Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, Tupper Hall, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616 (USA). E-mail: pjdickinson{at}ucdavis.edu