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Decreased expression of antioxidant enzymes is associated with aggressive features in ependymomas

  • Clinical Study - Patient Study
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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between antioxidant enzyme expression and clinicopathological features in 67 ependymal tumors. We included into the analysis antioxidant enzymes (AOEs) and related proteins, such as, manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), gammaglutamylcysteine synthetase catalytic and regulatory subunits (GLCL-C and GLCL-R), thioredoxin (Trx) and thioredoxin reductase (TrxR). Their expression was studied in 46 primary (10 grade I, 30 grade II and 6 grade III) and 21 recurrent (3 grade I, 12 grade II and 6 grade III) tumors. Immunoreactivity for MnSOD was found in 87%, GLCL-C in 74%, GLCL-R in 89%, Trx in 72%, TrxR in 54%, of primary tumors. Lower GLCL-C and GLCL-R expression was associated with higher tumor grade (P = 0.047 and 0.049, respectively). MnSOD, GLCL-C and TrxR expressions were significantly higher in tumors located in the spinal cord compared to those in the brain (P = 0.044, 0.046 and 0.004, respectively). In the primary tumors Trx-positivity was found to correlate significantly with patient survival. In univariate survival analysis patients whose tumors did not express Trx had shorter survival (P = 0.045) and there was even more significant association (P = 0.011) when only adults were included in the analysis (in the total material median follow-up time of Trx-positive tumors was 9.7 years and of Trx-negative 5.4 years). The results indicate that AOEs have several biological functions in ependymal tumors. Trx had important prognostic value: all adults with Trx-positive tumors were alive at follow-up (median 7.8 years).

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Acknowledgements

We thank Mrs Eila Pohjola, Mrs Reija Randen and Mr Manu Tuovinen for skilful technical assistance. Prakash Oommen, M.D. and Mike Nelson, Ph.D. are acknowledged for their help in revising the language of the manuscript and Jani Raitanen, M.Sc, for his help with the statistics. This study was financially supported by Medical Research Fund of Tampere University Hospital, Finnish Cancer Society and Nona and Kullervo Väre Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Tampere University Hospital, P.O. Box 2000, 33521, Tampere, FI, Finland

    Sally Järvelä, Kristiina Nordfors, Miia Jansson, Joonas Haapasalo, Leo Paljärvi & Hannu Haapasalo

  2. Unit of Neurosurgery, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland

    Pauli Helén

  3. Department of Pathology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

    Hannu Kalimo

  4. Department of Pathology, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden

    Hannu Kalimo

  5. Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

    Vuokko Kinnula

  6. Department of Clinical Pathology and Forensic Medicine, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland

    Ylermi Soini

  7. Department of Pathology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland

    Ylermi Soini

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  1. Sally Järvelä
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  2. Kristiina Nordfors
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Correspondence to Kristiina Nordfors.

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Sally Järvelä and Kristiina Nordfors share first authorship.

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Järvelä, S., Nordfors, K., Jansson, M. et al. Decreased expression of antioxidant enzymes is associated with aggressive features in ependymomas. J Neurooncol 90, 283–291 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-008-9658-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-008-9658-6

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