Abstract
BACKGROUND: Vasculogenic mimicry(VM) has been reported in many malignant human tumors, including gliomas. In the present study, we have found four types of microcirculation vessels in human glioblastomas. Method and material: Thirty-seven human glioblastoma samples were examined for VM by CD34 and PAS dual staining,as well as immunofluorescence dual staining for CD34 and GFAP. The GFAP positive (GFAP+) cells were considered as glioma cells. Even though CD34 positive (CD34+) was endothelial cells, but both CD34 + / GFAP+ should be also considered as glioma cells. Result: CD34 and PAS dual staining revealed 4 types of microcirculation vessels in human glioblastoma samples: endothelium dependent vessels, tumor cell dependent vessels, extracellular matrix (ECM) dependent vessels, and mosaic vessels. While immunofluorescence study confirmed VM should be vessels lined with GFAP+ cells (could be CD34- or co-express CD34). Twelve samples were found VM by CD34 and PAS dual staining (32%), while 20 samples were revealed VM by immunofluorescence dual staining (57%). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that glioblastoma cells have potential to express endothelial cell marker CD34. And immunofluorescence dual staining is a more sensitive as well accurate technique revealing VM vessels in glioblastoma.