[Localization of platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor in human glioblastoma and meningioma]

Localization of platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) in the surgical specimens of 11 human glioblastomas and 12 meningiomas was immunohistochemically examined with a polyclonal anti-PD-ECGF rabbit IgG. PD-ECGF was mainly localized in macrophages distributing around blood vessels at the peripheries of tumor tissue, especially of glioblastoma. PD-ECGF-positive macrophages were frequently accumulated in the vascular-rich stroma of glioblastoma, where occasionally expressed proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive endothelial cells. However, few macrophages expressing PD-ECGF were scatteringly seen in meningioma. These findings suggest that PD-ECGF plays an important role in the growth of glioblastoma by affecting the stromal angiogenesis.