Evaluation of neo-angiogenesis in a case of chordoid meningioma

Chordoid is a rare variant of meningioma that displays a high recurrence rate. In this study we evaluated the immunohistochemical expression of factors that regulate the neo-angiogenesis process in a case of chordoid meningioma with an adverse clinical course. A high microvessel density (MVD), as well as high VEGF and VEGF-R1 expression, was encountered in this tumor. By contrast, the anti-angiogenic factor semaphorin3A, highly expressed in this chordoid meningioma, was ineffective because of the absence of its receptor neuropilin-1. We suggest that VEGF expression and MVD may represent significant prognostic factors in chordoid meningiomas.