A case of neoplastic angioendotheliosis--possible mechanism of JC virus infection for the selective growth of tumor cells in the blood vessel]

A case of 55-year-old man pathologically proven as neoplastic angioendotheliosis was reported. He initially developed sensory disturbance and motor weakness in the lower extremities. After admission, he showed progressive deterioration of higher brain functions with moderate fever. Routine laboratory examinations revealed elevated serum LDH level and erythrocyte sedimentation rate without leukocytosis or increased serum globulin level. Immunological tests were normal, except positive RA. Immunocytochemical investigation of tumor cells in the blood vessel gave the results that these cells appeared to be derived from B cells. Southern blot analyses of the brain samples revealed clear positive bands corresponding to JC virus DNA in the blot. JC virus has been known to infect the endothelial cells of the blood vessel as well as urethral epithelial cells. We discussed the possible mechanism of the selective growth of tumor cells in the blood vessel in terms of possible JC virus infection to the endothelial cells of the blood vessel and abnormal recognition between tumor cells and endothelial cells.