Immunohistochemical study of basic fibroblast growth factor and erythropoietin in cerebellar hemangioblastomas

This report deals with immunohistochemical studies performed on 21 cases of cerebellar hemangioblastomas. Antibodies against basic fibroblast growth factor, glial fibrillary acidic protein, vimentin, factor VIII, and erythropoietin were used. A considerable number of stromal cells and some endothelial cells were positive for basic fibroblast growth factor in all cases studied. The stromal cells of four cases were positive for erythropoietin; two of these cases were associated with secondary polycythemia. Our data suggest that basic fibroblast growth factor may contribute to angiogenesis in cerebellar hemangioblastomas.