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Journal of Neuro-Oncology

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Open Access 01-01-2019 | Laboratory Investigation

Lower expression of Bax predicts poor clinical outcome in patients with glioma after curative resection and radiotherapy/chemotherapy

Authors: Pei-Guo Wang, Yu-Ting Li, Yi Pan, Zhen-Zhu Gao, Xu-Wen Guan, Li Jia, Feng-Ting Liu

Published in: Journal of Neuro-Oncology | Issue 1/2019

Abstract

Background

The prognosis in patients with gliomas after surgical resection followed by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy is still very poor. The pro-apoptotic protein Bax, a short-lived protein in cancers, plays important roles in the sensitivity of glioma cells to spontaneous and therapy-induced apoptosis but and its prognostic value in gliomas is unknown.

Methods

By an immunohistochemical method, we determined Bax protein expression from 96 patients with gliomas after curative resection. Two statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the prognostic significance of Bax protein: an independent continuous and a multivariate categorical analysis, with test/validation set-defined cut points, and Kaplan–Meier estimated outcome measures of overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS).

Results

Bax protein levels in glioblastoma were significantly decreased compared with grade II gliomas. Lower levels of Bax expression confer worse OS (continuous P = 0.025; categorical P = 0.003) and RFS (continuous P = 0.014; categorical P < 0.0001) and negatively correlate with the grades of gliomas. Patients underwent radiotherapy followed by surgical resection showed significantly increased OS (median = 45 vs. 17 months) and RFS (median = 39 vs. 16 months). Patients with higher levels of Bax and radiotherapy showed greatly increased survival rates (median OS = 66 months and median RFS = 105 months). Lower expression of Bax also confers inferior clinical outcome for gliomas patients after chemotherapy with temozolomide (OS and RFS P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Decreased expression of Bax correlates with poor clinical outcome in patients with gliomas. We propose that Bax protein levels can be used as a reliable prognostic marker for risk-stratify patients with gliomas after curative resection and radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy.

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Title: Lower expression of Bax predicts poor clinical outcome in patients with glioma after curative resection and radiotherapy/chemotherapy
Authors: Pei-Guo Wang
Yu-Ting Li
Yi Pan
Zhen-Zhu Gao
Xu-Wen Guan
Li Jia
Feng-Ting Liu
Publication date: 01-01-2019
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Neuro-Oncology / Issue 1/2019
Print ISSN: 0167-594X
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7373
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-018-03031-9

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Lower expression of Bax predicts poor clinical outcome in patients with glioma after curative resection and radiotherapy/chemotherapy

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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