Expressions of some vital molecules: glioblastoma multiforme versus normal tissues

The aim of this study was to assess plasma and/or tissue levels of adhesion and apoptotic molecules, cytokines, nitric oxide metabolites, levels of lipid peroxidation, myeloperoxidase and superoxide dismutase in patients with glioblastoma multiforme and controls.

All the molecules were evaluated in 25 tumors and 30 controls: 15 were normal healthy subjects for plasma and 15 were normal brain tissues that were collected during autopsy. Commercially available kits for measurements were used.

Superoxide dismutase was significantly lower in tumors, while all other molecules were significantly elevated compared to the controls (p=0.0001). Superoxide dismutase negatively correlated with plasma interleukin-1beta (p=0.04) and plasma Fas (p=0.016). Plasma intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 correlated positively with plasma 3-nitrotyrosine (p=0.019) and nitrite/nitrate (p=0.019), respectively. Furthermore, plasma interleukin-1beta also positively correlated with plasma nitrite/nitrate (p=0.003).

These results suggest that there is a complex relationship between pro- and anti-apoptotic molecules in glioblastoma multiforme pathogenesis. Thus, targeting multiple pathways with advanced chemotherapeutic agents or radiotheraupetic regimens following total resections might be helpful in patients with glioblastoma multiforme since preventing a single pathway does not seem to be reasonable.