Abstract
To evaluate the association of signals of apoptosis namely, TGF-β1, TNF-α and cytochrome
c release in cytoplasm with survival rate to determine the potential use of such parameters as predictive markers for patients with astrocytomas.
We measured TGF-β1, TNF-α and cytoplasmic cytochrome
c in 30 astrocytic tumors Grade II, III and IV.
We found that TNF-α and cytochrome
c release in Grade IV tends to be significantly lower than those in Grade II, whereas TGF-β1 did not significantly change in the different grades. Patients with astrocytic tumors having elevated cytochrome
c showed a better survival rate compared to those with less release. There is neither a correlation shown between TNF-α and cytochrome
c release nor between TNF-α and patient survival. TGF-β1 was positively correlated with cytochrome
c release. Patients showing such correlation had increased survival rate over 18 months follow up period.
These data suggest that TGF-β1 and cytochrome
c may be useful prognostic markers that help patients' stratification and in adjusting the disciplines of therapy.