Vascularity and perfusion of human gliomas xenografted in the athymic nude mouse

Br J Cancer. 1995 Apr;71(4):721-6. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1995.141.

Abstract

The vascularisation and perfusion of seven subcutaneously xenografted human glioma lines established from surgical specimens has been analysed using an anti-collagen type IV antibody to visualise the vascular walls in combination with a perfusion marker (Hoechst 33342). A computer-based digital image processing system was employed for quantitative analysis of the parameters. The vascular architecture of individual tumours belonging to the same tumour line showed a consistent similarity, while substantial differences occurred between the various tumour lines derived from different patients. Despite the presence of a large inter-tumour variation in vascular area as a proportion of the tumour area, this vascular parameter clearly showed tumour line-specific characteristics. The perfused fraction of the tumour vessels also showed a large inter-tumour variation for all tumour lines ranging from 20% to 85%, but the majority of tumours of all lines had perfusion fractions of more than 55%. Despite large variation, the perfused vascular area as a proportion of the tumour cross-sectional area exhibited clear tumour line-specific tendencies. These observations suggest that consistent differences in vascular parameters are present between glioma xenograft lines, although the tumour lines all originated from histologically similar human high-grade gliomas. These differences may have important consequences for treatment and clinical behaviour of this type of tumour.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Brain Neoplasms / blood supply*
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Brain Neoplasms / surgery
  • Female
  • Glioma / blood supply*
  • Glioma / pathology*
  • Glioma / surgery
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitosis
  • Perfusion
  • Regional Blood Flow
  • Transplantation, Heterologous
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured