Blood group isoantigens in angioblastic meningiomas and hemangioblastomas of the central nervous system

Abstract

The presence of blood group isoantigens in vascular endothelium cells was used in order to identify cells of endothelial origin in CNS tumors. 70 cerebrospinal tumors coded as “angioblastic meningiomas” and 30 cerebellar hemangioblastomas were examined for the detection of BG isoantigens by the specific red cell adherence (SRCA) test by Davidson (1972). In cerebellar and supratentorial hemangioblastomas a positive SRCA reaction in endothelial cells forming the prominent component of this neoplasm was opposed by a negative reaction in the large majority of interstitial (stroma) cells that argues against their endothelial origin. Identical behavior of SCRA test supports the histogenetic identity of hemangioblastomas and angioblastic meningiomas. A consistently negative SRCA reaction in cerebrospinal hemangiopericytomas except for the endothelial cells lining the capillaries supports the concept of a non-endothelial (pericytic) histogenesis of this neoplasm. Richly vascularized meningiomas with positive SRCA reaction restricted to vascular endothelial cells can be separated from angioblastic meningiomas, although transition forms are likely to occur. Angioblastic meningiomas suggested to originate from vasoformative elements (endothelium and pericytes) were found to represent 3.2 percent of a biopsy sample of 660 cases with cerebrospinal meningiomas. Their relationship to primary meningeal neoplasms needs further elucidation.