Human von Willebrand factor (factor VIII-related antigen) in glial neoplastic cells of brain gliomas

In order to determine whether the glial neoplastic cells within the brain gliomas show human von Willebrand factor (factor VIII-related antigen [FVIII-rA]) expression, and the possible distribution of FVIII-rA positive glial cells within the neoplasm, morphological examination and computerised morphometric analysis were conducted in 35 brain neoplasms, divided into 2 groups: glioblastoma multiforme (15 cases) and astrocytoma II (20 cases). Only in glioblastomas was the expression of FVIII-rA within the glial neoplastic cells found to be significantly higher than in background. The groups of FVIII-rA positive glial cells were usually found near the vascular glomeruloid structures. On the basis of the examination, the following conclusions were drawn: at least a part of the glial neoplastic cells within the glioblastoma multiforme may present expression of FVIII-rA; lack of FVIII-rA expression in the glial cells of astrocytomas II suggests that the activity of FVIII-rA within these cells is connected with the malignancy of gliomas; the role of FVIII-rA positive glial cells remains unknown, but the tendency to location near the vascular glomeruloid structures of glioblastomas might suggest their potential functional connection with endothelial cells.