Levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and matrix metalloproteinase-9 proteins in patients with glioma

Objective To investigate the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) proteins in patients with glioma, in order to determine if either protein has prognostic value. Method The presence of VEGF and MMP-9 proteins in paraffin-embedded tumour specimens from patients with glioma was detected using immunohistochemistry. The correlation between the levels of VEGF and MMP-9 proteins and tumour grade was analysed. Results A total of 32 patients with low-grade gliomas (World Health Organization [WHO] grade II) and 48 patients with high-grade gliomas (WHO grades III-IV) participated in the study. Positive immunohistochemical staining of VEGF and MMP-9 proteins was detected in 58/80 (72.5%) and 60/80 (75.0%) of patients, respectively. The level of VEGF immunostaining was significantly positively correlated with the level of MMP-9 immunostaining (r=0.78). Significantly more high-grade gliomas (grades III-IV) demonstrated positive VEGF and MMP-9 immunostaining compared with the low grade gliomas (grades I-II). Conclusions These data suggest that VEGF and MMP-9 play an important role in the malignant behaviour of gliomas.