Prognostic relevance of MAPK expression in glioblastoma multiforme

The objective of this study was to determine the immunoexpression pattern of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and related signalling proteins [protein kinase C (PKC), phospholipase Cgamma (PLCgamma)], in glioblastoma multi-forme, and to investigate their prognostic value. Paraffin-embedded biopsy samples from 26 patients [13 patients with long-term survival (LTS; N=13; median 28 months, range 13-76 months), and, for comparison, 13 patients with short-term survival (STS; N=13; median 7 months, range 1-12 months)] were investigated for the immunoexpression of MAPK, the activated pMAPK, PKC, PLCgamma, EGFR, and PTEN. Additionally, the MIB-1 proliferation index was determined. The immunoexpression pattern were related to clinical data, including analysis of their prognostic value using the Cox-proportional hazard model. No significant differences were found between STS and LTS in terms of age, Karnofsky performance status, and treatment. Whereas EGFR expression did not differ between STS and LTS and does not influence survival, expression of MAPK and activated pMAPK was significantly correlated with survival time. The percentage of pMAPK expressing cells correlated strongly with the percentage of MIB-1 positive cells. Furthermore, survival in patients with tumors expressing PKC or PLCgamma was significantly shorter. No differences were found for PTEN expression. Our findings indicate that the MAPK pathway is correlated with proliferation in gliomas, and that patient subgroups exist, in which expression of MAPK-related signalling proteins (PKC, PLCgamma) is associated with poorer prognosis. These patient subgroups may benefit from additional chemotherapeutic agents which specifically inhibit these signalling proteins.