Perifocal edema volume is not associated with immunohistochemical features reflecting proliferation potential, microvessel density, neoangiogenesis and invasiveness in brain metastasis.

OBJECTIVE: Perifocal edema of brain tumors is associated with survival and neurological symptoms. Our aim was to analyze associations between perifocal edema and immunohistochemical features including proliferation potential, microvessel density, neoangiogenesis and invasiveness in brain metastasis (BM).

METHODS: 35 patients with BM were included into the retrospective study. The tumors were localized supratentorial in 25 lesions (71.4%) and infratentorial in 10 lesions (28.6%). The following immunohistochemical features were calculated on histopathological specimens: microvessel density, proliferation index Ki 67, matrix-metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9) extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. Tumor and edema volumes were estimated semiautomatically on magnetic resonance images.

RESULTS: There were no correlations between tumor volume and edema volume. Moreover, no correlation was identified between the investigated immunohistochemical features and tumor/edema volume. In the non-small cell lung cancer subgroup, a positive correlation between tumor volume and VEGF expression was observed (r = 0.52, P = 0.02) and edema volume correlated inversely with MMP9 expression (r = -0.53, P = 0.02).

CONCLUSION: In BM, no linear associations exist between tumor volumes, edema volumes and immunohistochemical features reflecting proliferation potential, neoangiogenesis, microvessel density and MMP9 expression. However, in the subgroup of non-small cell lung cancer, there might be associations between MMP9 expression and edema volume as well as between tumor volume and angiogenesis.