title: Correlation of ganglioside patterns of primary brain tumors with survival.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Classification/grading schemes for brain tumors are based mainly on histologic examinations, but these have major limitations, which has led to a search for more objective prognostic markers. Gangliosides have several biologic effects relevant to tumors, and ganglioside compositions of primary brain tumors correlate with diagnosis. This led to the authors' hypothesis that ganglioside patterns of brain tumors might be useful as prognostic indicators.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gangliosides in primary brain tumors of different histologic types from 84 patients were analyzed. Specific ganglioside patterns and several other relevant variables were examined for associations with survival using a Cox proportional hazards model. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were analyzed using the log-rank test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients in whom less than 30% of total tumor gangliosides consisted of 1b pathway gangliosides (GD1b, GT1b, and GQ1b) had significantly higher risk ratios than those with more than 30% 1b gangliosides (P approximately 0.03). The presence of 6'-LM1 (NeuAc alpha 2-->6Gal beta 1-->4Glc-NAc beta 1-->3Gal beta 1-->4Glc beta 1-->1Cer was also associated with a higher risk ratio (P approximately 0.007). Combinations of 1b gangliosides and 6'-LM1 identified three groups of patients regardless of histologic diagnosis. Group A, with less than 30% 1b and the presence of 6'-LM1, had a median survival time of 331 days. Group B, with less than 30% 1b but no 6'-LM1, had a median survival time of more than 698 days. Group C, with more than 30% 1b had a median survival time of more than 776 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The correlation of ganglioside patterns with survival in this initial investigation suggests the potential of 1b gangliosides and 6'-LM1 to be used as prognostic indicators. Continuing research is being conducted to assess this possibility prospectively.
authors: Division of Neuropathology, Ohio State University, Columbus.
authors: C C
authors: CC
authors: Sung
authors: D K
authors: DK
authors: Pearl
authors: S W
authors: SW
authors: Coons
authors: B W
authors: BW
authors: Scheithauer
authors: P C
authors: PC
authors: Johnson
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Zheng
authors: A J
authors: AJ
authors: Yates
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005732:Gangliosides; C033851:ganglioside, GD1b; C016481:trisialoganglioside GT1; C039129:GQ1b ganglioside