[Immunohistochemical investigation of serum proteins in human brain gliomas]

Paraffin sections of forty cases of human brain gliomas were immunohistochemically stained for five serum proteins by PAP techniques. In all gliomas P-Alb and Alb were present within the tumor interstitium. Cer was observed around tumor vessels and in highly anaplastic tumors consisting of polymorphic glioma cells. LDL and FN were almost restricted to blood vessels and necrotic areas. These results indicate that the occurrence and distribution of serum proteins in gliomas depend on the molecular weight of serum proteins, serum concentration and the differentiation of tumors. Serum proteins accumulated in peritumoral brain tissue, in reactive astrocytes and, occasionally, in neurons. Therefore, it can be assumed that in human brain gliomas serum proteins extravasate also mainly across tumorous blood vessels and reach the peritumoral tissue.