Background. Expression of hypoxia-related
tissue factors in 1p-aberrant oligodendroglial neoplasms
diminishes patient outcome. Differentiated embryochondrocyte
expressed gene 1 (DEC1) has been
described as novel hypoxia-related tissue factor. In our
study, we assessed the expression of DEC1 in 1p
aberrant oligodendroglial neoplasms and its association
with necrosis and expression of hypoxia-inducible factor
1a (HIF-1a), carbonic anhydrase-9 (CA9), and vascular
endothelial growth factor-mRNA (VEGF). Materials and
methods. 44 primary and 16 recurrent oligodendroglial
neoplasms with 1p-aberrations were investigated
immunohistochemically for the expression of DEC1,
HIF-1a, and CA9. Expression of VEGF was
investigated using in situ hybridization. DEC1
expression was correlated with necrosis and with
expression of HIF-1a, CA9, and VEGF. Results. DEC1
was expressed in tumor cell nuclei, and occasionally in
nuclei of endothelial cells, and glial and neuronal cells of
surrounding brain tissue. High expression (>10% of
tumor cells immunolabeled) of DEC1 was found in 56
cases, low expression (<10% of tumor cells
immunolabeled) was found in 3 cases. In 1 case no
expression of DEC1 was evident. DEC1 expression
showed no topographical association with necrosis or expression of HIF-1a, CA9, or VEGF. Conclusion.
DEC1 expression is found in the majority of 1p-aberrant
oligodendroglial neoplasms and does not correlate with
necrosis or expression of HIF-1a, CA9, VEGF. Thus,
immunohistochemical analysis of DEC1 expression is in
our hands not suitable for detection of tissue hypoxia in
this type of primary brain tumor