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The Prognostic Value of Tumor Markers in Patients with Glioblastoma Multiforme: Analysis of 32 Patients and Review of the Literature

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Abstract

Although several studies have examined brain tumor markers for prognostic value, few investigations have stratified analysis based on specific histologic grade. The objective of this study was to evaluate a single histologic grade of glioma, the grade IV glioma or glioblastoma (World Health Organization Classification), with a comprehensive panel of tumor markers in an attempt to identify those with prognostic significance. Tumor samples from a cohort of patients with glioblastoma multiforme (n=32) were examined for tumor markers, DNA analysis, and clinical variables in an attempt to determine a ‘profile’ for this tumor. We used univariate and multivariate statistical analysis to determine the prognostic value of tumor cell ploidy, percent S-phase, DNA index, p53, and Ki-67 labeling index, as well as the variables of gender, race, age, location of tumor, history of chemotherapy, and primary versus recurrent tumor. Two additional tumor markers, multidrug resistance gene 1 and glutathione-S-transferase subtype pi, were included in the sample testing, but were not analyzed statistically. Univariate analysis indicated that increasing age had a strong association with decreased survival. Female gender, increasing Ki-67, no chemotherapy before sample collection, and primary glioblastoma showed some association with decreased survival in the univariate model. The univariate results indicated that race, side of tumor, ploidy, S-phase, DNA index, and p53 had no prognostic value. Multivariate modeling demonstrated that age, gender, and Ki-67 were the strongest factors associated with survival. The relevant literature is reviewed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hunterian Neurosurgical Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    John F. Reavey-Cantwell, Raymond I. Haroun, Richard E. Clatterbuck & Henry Brem

  2. Department of Biostatistics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Marianna Zahurak

  3. Oncotech Corporation, Irvine, CA, USA

    Ricardo J. Parker, Rita Mehta & John P. Fruehauf

Authors
  1. John F. Reavey-Cantwell
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  2. Raymond I. Haroun
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  3. Marianna Zahurak
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  4. Richard E. Clatterbuck
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  5. Ricardo J. Parker
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  6. Rita Mehta
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  7. John P. Fruehauf
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  8. Henry Brem
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Correspondence to Henry Brem.

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Reavey-Cantwell, J.F., Haroun, R.I., Zahurak, M. et al. The Prognostic Value of Tumor Markers in Patients with Glioblastoma Multiforme: Analysis of 32 Patients and Review of the Literature. J Neurooncol 55, 195–204 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013845004294

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013845004294

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