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Ferritin in glioblastoma
Heidi Jaksch-Bogensperger1,2,3, Sabine Spiegl-Kreinecker4, Paolo Arosio5
1Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, Salzburg, A-5020, Austria.
British Journal of Cancer
|March 24, 2020
Summary
Serum ferritin (SF) levels are elevated in glioma patients, but its clinical use as a marker is limited. Glioma cells release ferritin that stimulates apoptosis, suggesting a role in tumor biology.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Cancer Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Elevated serum ferritin (SF) is linked to various cancers.
- The association between ferritin and glioma, a primary brain tumor, is not well understood.
- Ferritin's role in glioma pathogenesis requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum ferritin levels in glioblastoma (GBM) patients.
- To examine ferritin expression in glioma tissues.
- To determine if GBM-derived glioma cells release ferritin and its functional effects.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of pre-surgical serum ferritin (SF) levels in GBM patients.
- Immunohistochemical analysis of ferritin in resected glioma tissues.
- In vitro studies of ferritin release by GBM-derived glioma cells and its effect on apoptosis.
Main Results:
- GBM patients exhibited elevated pre-surgical SF levels within the normal range (ferritinaemia).
- Significant ferritin immunoreactivity was detected in resected glioma tissues.
- GBM-derived glioma cells were shown to release ferritin in vitro.
- Tumor-derived ferritin demonstrated an apoptosis-stimulating activity.
Conclusions:
- While SF levels are altered in GBM, their indirect association with tumor ferritin synthesis limits their clinical utility as a direct tumor marker.
- Tumor-derived ferritin released in vitro plays a role in stimulating apoptosis.
- Ferritin species may have a distinct growth-regulatory function in glioma biology.
