机构:[1]Capital Med Univ, Beijing Tiantan Hosp, Dept Neurosurg, 6 Tiantan Xili, Beijing 100050, Peoples R China;重点科室诊疗科室神经外科神经外科首都医科大学附属天坛医院[2]Capital Med Univ, Dept Biochem, Beijing Neurosurg Inst, Beijing 100050, Peoples R China;研究所北京市神经外科研究所首都医科大学附属天坛医院[3]Chinese Acad Med Sci, State Key Lab Mol Oncol, Canc Inst & Hosp, Beijing 100730, Peoples R China;[4]Peking Union Med Coll, Beijing 100021, Peoples R China
Background: The overall prognosis of brainstem gliomas is very poor, and the current treatment cannot significantly prolong the overall survival of these patients; therefore, studying the molecular biological mechanisms of the occurrence and development of brainstem gliomas has important significance for their treatment. The Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway is closely associated with the occurrence and development of tumors, but its relationship with brainstem gliomas remains unclear. Methods: This study used Western blot and immunohistochemistry methods to detect the expressions of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway-related components such as Wnt-1, Wnt-2, beta-catenin and C-myc in six cases of normal brain tissues and 24 cases of brainstem gliomas and analyzed the relationship between their expressions and clinicopathological characteristics. Results: Wnt-1 had no obvious expression in normal brain tissues and did not show any significant difference between high-and low-grade brainstem gliomas; the expressions of Wnt-2, beta-catenin and C-myc in high-grade brainstem gliomas were significantly higher than that in low-grade brainstem gliomas and normal brain tissues and were positively correlated with the expression of Ki-67. Moreover, the expressions of Wnt-2 and C-myc were significantly associated with the prognosis of brainstem glioma patients; additionally, there was a trend toward increased beta-catenin expression with shorter survival, but there was no statistical difference. Conclusions: Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway might be abnormally activated and plays an important role in the occurrence and development of brainstem gliomas. Wnt-2, beta-catenin and C-myc may be potential targets for brainstem glioma treatment.
基金:
National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaNational Natural Science Foundation of China [30772237, 30900479]; Capital Medical Development Foundation [2009-1040]; Beijing Science and Technology New Star Program [2010B121]