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. 2004 Feb;164(2):391-4.
doi: 10.1016/S0002-9440(10)63129-X.

Higher vessel densities in retinoblastoma with local invasive growth and metastasis

Jochen Rössler  1 , Torsten Dietrich, Helena Pavlakovic, Lothar Schweigerer, Werner Havers, Andreas Schüler, Norbert Bornfeld, Harald Schilling
Affiliations

Higher vessel densities in retinoblastoma with local invasive growth and metastasis

Jochen Rössler et al. Am J Pathol. 2004 Feb.

Abstract

In this study, the importance of angiogenesis (the growth of new blood vessels from existing ones) for the growth of retinoblastoma was investigated by a retrospective immunohistochemical analysis. An individual vessel index for each tumor was determined using the endothelial-specific antibody CD 31 for vessel staining. The obtained data were correlated with clinical features, pathohistological characteristics, and the presence of metastasis. In 107 retinoblastomas collected between 1980 and 1990, we found no difference in the vessel densities between uni- and bilateral retinoblastomas (P = 0.41). However, tumors that had invaded the chorioid and/or the optic nerve statistically showed higher vessel densities than tumors without local invasive growth (P = 0.05 and P = 0.024). A tendency of higher vessel densities in retinoblastomas presenting with metastasis at the time of diagnosis was observed (P = 0.11). Based on this observation, we proceeded to examine all retinoblastomas presenting with metastasis at the time of diagnosis. These included patients that were treated between 1968 and 1993. The 18 investigated retinoblastomas had significantly higher vessel densities than all other retinoblastomas presenting without metastasis (P = 0.025). Our data indicate that in retinoblastoma, blood vessels are essential for local and systemic invasive growth. Therefore, an anti-angiogenic therapy could be considered in the multimodal therapy concept for retinoblastomas with invasive growth, both locally and systemically.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Immunohistochemical staining for endothelial cells with CD31 antibody in retinoblastoma. a: Poorly vascularized tumor. b: Well vascularized tumor. c: Tumor with very exceptionally high number of vessels. Peroxidase, magnification: ×200.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparison of vessel densities per 0.25-mm field. a: Unilateral versus bilateral. b: No local invasive growth versus invasive (choroid or optic nerve involvement, and both choroid and optic nerve involvement). c: No metastasis versus metastasis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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