Glioblastoma Recurrence after Cediranib Therapy in Patients: Lack of Rebound Revascularization as Mode of Escape

摘要

Recurrent glioblastomas (rGBM) invariably relapse after initial response to anti-VEGF therapy. There are two prevailing hypotheses on how these tumors escape antiangiogenic therapy: switch to VEGF-independent angiogenic pathways and vessel co-option. However, direct evidence in rGBM patients is lacking. Thus, we compared molecular, cellular and vascular parameters in autopsy tissues from five rGBM patients who had been treated with the pan-VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor cediranib versus seven patients who received no therapy or chemoradiation but no antiangiogenic agents. After cediranib treatment, endothelial proliferation and glomeruloid vessels were decreased, and vessel diameters and perimeters were reduced to levels comparable to the unaffected contralateral brain hemisphere. In addition, tumor endothelial cells expressed molecular markers specific to the blood-brain barrier, indicative of a lack of revascularization despite the discontinuation of therapy. Surprisingly, in cediranib-treated GBM cellular density in the central area of the tumor was lower than in control cases and gradually decreased towards the infiltrating edge, indicative of a change in growth pattern of rGBMs after cediranib treatment, unlike that after chemo-radiation. Finally, cediranib treated GBMs showed high levels of PDGF-C and c-Met expression and infiltration by myeloid cells, which may potentially contribute to resistance to anti-VEGF therapy. In summary, we show that rGBMs switch their growth pattern after anti-VEGF therapy – characterized by lower tumor cellularity in the central area, decreased pseudopalisading necrosis and blood vessels with normal molecular expression and morphology without a second wave of angiogenesis.