Heterogeneity of angiogenesis and blood vessel maturation in cartilage tumors

Abstract

Cartilage tumors have a special angiogenic phenotype, with blood vessels arranged predominantly in pericartilage fibrous septa and relatively low microvessel density (MVD), except in dedifferentiated chondrosarcomas. To further elucidate angiogenesis in cartilage tumors, we used double-labeling immunohistochemistry to determine microvessel pericyte coverage index (MPI) and proliferating capillary index (PCI), referring to blood vessel maturation and angiogenic activity in enchondromas, conventional chondrosarcomas, and dedifferentiated chondrosarcomas. Altogether, we found high MPIs (>70%) especially in dedifferentiated chondrosarcomas but without a correlation to the grade of malignancy. PCI was significantly higher in conventional chondrosarcomas grades II and III than in enchondromas, chondrosarcomas grade I, and dedifferentiated chondrosarcomas. Thus, PCI positively correlated with the previously reported differential expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A in cartilage tumors. Altogether, cartilage tumors exhibit a heterogeneous but predominantly mature angiogenic phenotype with differential proliferative activity.