In this study we found the expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) mRNA and protein in both the normal human brain and intracranial tumors, using RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. StAR mRNA is expressed at a very low level in the white matter of the normal human brain, but in tumoral tissues StAR mRNA was specifically expressed in oligodendrogliomas and malignant glial tumors. StAR-positive cells were also detected in the normal human brains and gliomas; its frequency and density were higher in glioma tissue. These findings suggest that StAR expression might be correlated with the growth of glial tumors.