Although the c-Myc oncogene is frequently deregulated in human cancer, its involvement in the pathogenesis of glioblastoma is not clear. We conducted immunohistochemical analysis of the expression of c-Myc, polycomb ring finger oncogene (BMI1), and acetylation of the lysine 9 (H3K9Ac) of histone 3 in 48 patients with glioblastoma who underwent surgery followed by radiotherapy and temozolomide treatment. The expression of c-Myc, BMI1, and H3K9ac was correlated with clinical characteristics and outcome. We found that overexpression of c-Myc was significantly associated with that of BMI1 (P = .009), and that patients who harbored glioblastomas overexpressing c-Myc and BMI1 showed significantly longer overall survival (P < .0001 and P = .0009, respectively). Our results provide the first evidence of the prognostic value of c-Myc and associated genes in patients with glioblastoma. The favorable effect of c-Myc and BMI1 expression on survival is likely mediated by the sensitization of cancer cells to radiotherapy and temozolomide through the activation of apoptotic pathways.
Prognostic relevance of c-Myc and BMI1 expression in patients with glioblastoma.
Nasi S;
2012
Abstract
Although the c-Myc oncogene is frequently deregulated in human cancer, its involvement in the pathogenesis of glioblastoma is not clear. We conducted immunohistochemical analysis of the expression of c-Myc, polycomb ring finger oncogene (BMI1), and acetylation of the lysine 9 (H3K9Ac) of histone 3 in 48 patients with glioblastoma who underwent surgery followed by radiotherapy and temozolomide treatment. The expression of c-Myc, BMI1, and H3K9ac was correlated with clinical characteristics and outcome. We found that overexpression of c-Myc was significantly associated with that of BMI1 (P = .009), and that patients who harbored glioblastomas overexpressing c-Myc and BMI1 showed significantly longer overall survival (P < .0001 and P = .0009, respectively). Our results provide the first evidence of the prognostic value of c-Myc and associated genes in patients with glioblastoma. The favorable effect of c-Myc and BMI1 expression on survival is likely mediated by the sensitization of cancer cells to radiotherapy and temozolomide through the activation of apoptotic pathways.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
