Relationship between survival and edema in malignant gliomas: role of vascular endothelial growth factor and neuronal pentraxin 2.

Purpose: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent mediator of vascular permeability. VEGF inhibition reduces edema and tumor burden in some patients with malignant glioma, whereas others show no response. The role of VEGF expression in edema production and the relationship to survival is not well understood.