THESES
Immunohistochemical study of the molecular alteration in the astrocytic tumors: tumorigenic pathways and resistance markers (Abstract)* * Estudo imuno-histoquímico das alterações moleculares nos tumores astrocíticos: vias tumorigênicas e indicadores de resistência (Resumo). Dissertação de Mestrado, Universidade Federal do Ceará (Área: Neuropatologia, Biologia Molecular). Orientador: Manoel Odorico de Moraes Filho. Co-Orientador: Silvia Helena Barem Rabenhorst. ** Address: Laboratório de Genética Molecular – LABGEM (Departamento de Patologia e Medicina Legal), Universidade Federal do Ceará, Rua Alexandre Baraúna s/n, 60430-270 Fortaleza CE, Brasil. E-mail: mariofaria@doctor.com. . Dissertation. Fortaleza, 2005
Mário Henrique Girão Faria** * Estudo imuno-histoquímico das alterações moleculares nos tumores astrocíticos: vias tumorigênicas e indicadores de resistência (Resumo). Dissertação de Mestrado, Universidade Federal do Ceará (Área: Neuropatologia, Biologia Molecular). Orientador: Manoel Odorico de Moraes Filho. Co-Orientador: Silvia Helena Barem Rabenhorst. ** Address: Laboratório de Genética Molecular – LABGEM (Departamento de Patologia e Medicina Legal), Universidade Federal do Ceará, Rua Alexandre Baraúna s/n, 60430-270 Fortaleza CE, Brasil. E-mail: mariofaria@doctor.com.
The present study aimed to evaluate the expression of genes involved in the tumorigenic process and in the chemoresistance mechanisms of the astrocytic tumors.
A clinical and epidemiological analysis, histopathological evaluation and immunohistochemical study of the proteins Ki-67, c-Myc, GFAP, p53, p21WAF1/CIP1, p27KIP1, Bcl-2, Bax, EGFR, erbB-2, p21Ras, MGMT, GSTp, TS and TopoIIa using streptoavidin-biotin-peroxidase method were performed in 55 different graduations of astrocytomas (WHO) (13 grade I, 14 grade II, 7 grade III, 21 grade IV) and 05 samples of non-tumoral tissue (control group).
The distribution by age, sex and tumoral localization of astrocytomas patients in Fortaleza reproduced, in a general way, the worldwide trends.
The histopathological findings evaluated with semiquantitative criteria confirmed the classification parameters for astrocytomas established by WHO.
The stain for Ki-67 antigen increased as according to astrocytic tumors progression; its detection in more than 8.0% of the tumoral cells distinguished Astrocytomas Grade IV, labeled index between 1.5 and 8.0% differentiated Astrocytomas Grade III and values below 1.5% discriminated low-grade tumors (I and II).
The TopoIIa and c-Myc (nuclear) expression demonstrated association with cellular proliferation in astrocytomas, however not in an exclusive way.
The cytoplasmic c-Myc protein positive index was bigger among high-grade tumors (71.43%), with maximum expression scores in Astrocytomas Grade IV (LI mean=15.57; H mean=24.42).
In general, 76.9% of the Astrocytomas Grade IV tumoral cells revealed moderate positive index for GFAP.
The positive index and expression scores for p53 and p27KIP1 (nuclear and cytoplasmic) proteins showed a tendency to increase with the astrocytic tumors progression, while the p21WAF1/CIP1 tumor suppressor detection demonstrated opposite orientation (except in grade IV).
The percentage of Bcl-2 and Bax positive tumors increased in accordance with histological grade of astrocytomas, with general positive index of 43.26% and 24.67%, respectively. Bcl-2 staining scores demonstrated propensity to addition according to tumoral evolution, while the scores for Bax was similar in all graduations.
The erbB2 protein expression was evidenced only between Astrocytomas Grade IV (positive index=14.28%), while the overexpression of EGFR protein was distinguished in grade I and IV astrocytic tumors, with respectively 46.15% and 61.90% of positive cases.
p21Ras protein detection was preponderant in Astrocytomas Grade II (positive index=37.71%), being absent in high-grade tumors (III and IV).
The EGFR overexpression and p53 mutation configured mutually exclusive events in astrocytomas tumorigenesis, as well as p21Ras protein and ErbB receptors family overexpression.
High positive index for enzymes MGMT, GSTp and TS was evidenced in astrocytic tumors. MGMT expression scores were high and constant among different histological categories, including non-tumoral specimens (LI mean = 69.43).
GSTp scores demonstrated tendency to reduction in accordance with malignant evolution of astrocytomas, while the values for TS reached higher levels on Astrocytomas Grade IV (H mean=63.33).
TopoIIa positive index demonstrated inclination to augment in agreement with the progression of astrocytic tumors, whereas the staining scores had been similar in grade II, III and IV astrocytomas (LI mean=27.71).
The results obtained by current investigation indicated Ki-67 antigen as the best cell proliferation marker. The p53 mutation configured an initial and relevant event in astrocytomas, as well as potential indicative of tumor progression. p21WAF1/CIP1 tumor suppressor detection represented important resource for deduction of functional situation of p53 gene, while the p27KIP1 functional activation was not compromised by astrocytomas tumorigenic process. Astrocitomas Bcl-2/Bax ratio denoted increasing of cellular survival orientation in accordance with malignant evolution of these tumors.
p21Ras protein overexpression was distinguished as a grade II typical molecular event and a virtual marker of tumor not-progression.
Cytoplasmic accumulation of c-Myc protein configured initial and significant phenomenon in astrocytomas tumorigenesis, being a direct reflex of the nuclear expression of c-myc gene and the tumoral malignance.
The combined analysis of the investigated molecular markers confirmed p53 gene mutation as the main tumorigenic pathway of astrocytomas, even though EGFR overexpression has been the predominant alteration in grade IV tumors and the c-myc gene expression has represented a distinct and alternative molecular pathway to different tumor graduations.
The remarkable presence of MGMT, GSTp and TS enzymes configured virtual indication of chemoresistance for many antineoplastic agents, while the high expression of TopoII? revealed this enzyme as a potential therapeutic target in the astrocytic tumors
Key words: astrocytoma, immunohistochemistry, molecular markers, tumorigenesis, tumoral resistance.
Publication Dates
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Publication in this collection
02 Mar 2006 -
Date of issue
Sept 2005
