The relationship between genetic aberrations as detected by Comparative Genomic Hybridization and vascularization in glioblastoma xenografts

Angiogenesis is of vital importance for the growth of solid tumors and constitutes a target for anti-cancer therapy. Glioblastomas (GBMs) are histologically characterized by striking microvascular proliferation. The identification of the mechanism of angiogenesis is of major importance for the further development of anti-angiogenic therapy. Tumor angiogenesis might be the result of a combination of local tissue conditions (especially hypoxia) and specific genetic alterations acquired during oncogenesis. In order to investigate the relationship between genetic aberrations and tumor angiogenesis in GBM xenograft lines, the genetic alterations were examined by Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH). Two vascular phenotypes of GBM xenografts could be identified: a well vascularized and a poorly vascularized type. In this model, the poorly vascularized type had a larger number of genetic alterations. However, there was no unequivocal correlation between angiogenesis, growth rate and patterns of genetic alterations as detected by CGH.