doi: 10.5732/cjc.011.10149

Long-term molecular changes in WHO grade II astrocytomas following radiotherapy

Wei-Ying Yue, Ke Sai, Qiu-Liang Wu, Yun-Fei Xia, Su-Huan Yu, Zhong-Ping Chen

State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Department of Neurosurgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, P. R. China

[Abstract] Monitoring the long-term radiotherapy-associated molecular changes in low-grade gliomas (LGGs) facilitates the understanding of LGG response to radiotherapy. In this study, we used immunohistochemistry to analyze the expression of Ki-67, tumor protein P53 (TP53), P21, and P27 in 8 paired WHO grade II astrocytoma samples. The interval between radiotherapy (RT) and the second surgery was more than 3 months in all cases. The average Ki-67 labeling index (LI) was 5.3% in pre-RT samples and 11.54% in post-RT samples. Ki-67 LI was higher in the primary tumors that underwent malignant transformation observed at the second surgery after radiation. Post-RT Ki-67 LI decreased in 2 cases with an interval of less than 12 months between RT and the second surgery. TP53 expression was found in 3 out of 4 pre-RT samples with malignant transformation and in 1 out of 4 pre-RT samples without malignant transformation. Post-RT TP53 increased in 2 cases in which increased expression of P21 or P27 was also observed. Our study suggests that radiotherapy can inhibit WHO grade II astrocytoma proliferation as reflected by Ki-67 LI, but the effect attenuates with time. In addition, there is a tendency of malignant transformation for WHO grade II astrocytomas with a high Ki-67 level or TP53 expression in initial samples.

Chinese Journal of Cancer 2012, Volume: 31, Issue 3, Page: 159-165

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Wei-Ying Yue, Ke Sai, Qiu-Liang Wu, Yun-Fei Xia, Su-Huan Yu, Zhong-Ping Chen. Long-term molecular changes in WHO grade II astrocytomas following radiotherapy. Chin J Cancer. 2012, 31(3):159-165. doi:10.5732/cjc.011.10149


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