RhoA protein expression correlates positively with degree of malignancy in astrocytomas

Neurosci Lett. 2006 Oct 23;407(2):124-6. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2006.08.032. Epub 2006 Sep 15.

Abstract

Astrocytic tumors are the most common intracranial neoplasms. Their prognoses correlate with a conventional morphological grading system that suffers from diagnostic subjectivity and hence, inter-observer inconsistency. A molecular marker that provides an objective reference for classification and prognostication of astrocytic tumors would be useful in diagnostic pathology. RhoA, a GTPase protein involved in cell migration and adhesion, has been shown to be upregulated in a variety of human cancers. Based on direct analysis of clinical materials, our study demonstrates increased expression of RhoA in high-grade astrocytomas. This observation may be relevant to astrocytoma biology and the development of potential therapeutics against high-grade astrocytomas. Of more immediate consequence, utilization of this marker may aid in the routine pathological grading (and hence prognostication) of astrocytomas.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Astrocytoma / metabolism*
  • Astrocytoma / pathology*
  • Brain Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / pathology
  • Paraffin Embedding
  • Tissue Fixation
  • Up-Regulation
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / biosynthesis*

Substances

  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein