Original scientific paper
C-myc Expression in the Microvessels of Medulloblastoma
Gabrijela Stanić
Hrvoje Čupić
Kamelija Žarković
Davor Tomas
Božo Krušlin
Abstract
The increased expression of c-myc is related to neoplastic transformation and angiogenesis. Therefore, the assessment
of expression of c-myc in endothelial cells and neovascularization could help to determine the biological behavior of the
tumor. We analyzed neovascularization and c-myc expression in 36 medulloblastoma specimens. The results were shown
by determining immunohistochemical staining index (ISI), the sum of staining intensity (SI) and the percentage of positive
cells (PPC) in the blood vessels endothelium of the tumor. We also performed the microvessel count (MVC) in 10
high-power fields (400X) with the most prominent vascularization and expressed it as microvessel density per mm2
(MVD). C-myc immunostaining intensity index in blood vessel endothelium is grouped into four groups, 0 – no reaction,
I – weak reaction (ISI = 1 or 2), II – moderate reaction (ISI = 3 or 4), III – strong reaction (ISI = 5 or 6). Statistically significant
differences (p=0.0214) have been found between groups 0 and 1 compared to groups 2 and 3. A higher percentage
of positive cells has been found in male patients than in female ones (p=0.0483). C-myc PPC 0 or 1 has on the average
smaller density of blood vessels per mm2 than c-myc PPC 2 or 3, but the difference is not statistically significant. C-myc
ISI 0 or 1 has, on the average, smaller density of blood vessels per mm2 than c-myc ISI 2 or 3, but the difference is not statistically
significant.We concluded that c-myc staining intensity was associated with higher microvessels density.
Keywords
c-myc; endothelium; medulloblastoma; microvessels; vascularization
Hrčak ID:
64729
URI
Publication date:
7.3.2011.
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