Comparison of tumour tissue VEGF expression level with initial surgical tumour tissue VEGF level in patients with glial tumours who underwent reoperation for recurrence

ABSTRACT COMPARISON OF TUMOUR TISSUE VEGF EXPRESSION LEVEL WITH INITIAL SURGICAL TUMOUR TISSUE VEGF LEVEL IN PATIENTS WITH GLIAL TUMOURS WHO UNDERWENT REOPERATION FOR RECURRENCE Gliomas originate from progenitor cells that form and maintain neuroectodermal tissues and are the most common primary tumours of brain tissue. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays an important role in the angiogenesis and vasculogenesis of these tumours with various genomic differences and clinical outcomes. In this study, tumour VEGF expression level was compared with the initial surgical tumour tissue VEGF level in patients who underwent reoperation for recurrence of glial tumours. The results obtained were discussed in relation to the management of medical therapy. Sixteen glial tumour patients who underwent initial and recurrence surgery in our clinic were included in our study. VEGF level was analysed by immunohistochemical method. The relationship of tumour tissue VEGF level with age, gender, first and recurrent tumour cases and tumour grade was analysed by multiple regression analysis. Of the 16 patients included in the study, 12 were male and 4 were female. The median age at the first operation was 50.5(14-68) and the median age at the recurrence operation was 51(15-69). There was no significant correlation between age, gender, initial and recurrence tissue VEGF levels, but there was a significant correlation between tumour tissue VEGF level and tumour grade. In recent years, inhibition of tumour angiogenesis has been an important therapeutic strategy in neuro-oncology. Increased VEGF levels in tumour recurrence have been reported in some reports. In relation to this, angiogenic drugs have been reported to be effective especially in patients with recurrent glial tumours. In our study, it was observed that VEGF levels in our recurrent glial tumour patients did not show a significant change when compared with the initial surgical tissue VEGF levels. This result does not coincide with the fact that angiogenic drugs have been brought to the agenda as an option after recurrence of glial tumours in terms of medical treatment management. The use of angiogenic drugs in glial tumours should be considered independently of tumour recurrence. Our results should be supported by studies in larger series. Keywords: Glial tumour, vascular endothelial growth factor, antiangiogenic therapy.