title: Differential expression of MMAC/PTEN in glioblastoma multiforme: relationship to localization and prognosis.
abstract: MMAC/PTEN, a tumor suppressor gene located on chromosome 10q, has recently been shown to act as a phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-triphosphate phosphatase and to modulate cell growth and apoptosis. Somatic mutations of MMAC/PTEN have been reported in a number of human cancers, especially in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), although the number of identified mutations (approximately 10-35%) is significantly lower than the frequency of LOH affecting the MMAC/PTEN locus in the specimens (approximately 75-95%). To further investigate the possible alterations that may affect MMAC/PTEN, we examined the expression of the gene by reverse transcription-PCR in a series of gliomas. A significant difference (P < 0.001) was observed between the expression of MMAC/PTEN in GBMs versus lower grades of gliomas, thus mimicking the difference in allelic deletion associated with the locus in these tumors. Furthermore, Kaplan-Meier survival plots, adjusted for age and tumor grade, showed a significantly better prognosis for patients whose tumors expressed high levels of MMAC/PTEN. Additionally, immunostaining of GBMs revealed little or no MMAC/PTEN expression in about two-thirds of the tumors, whereas the other approximately one-third of tumors had significantly higher levels of expression. However, in about two-thirds of the high-expressing specimens, a heterogeneous pattern of expression was observed, indicating that certain cells within the tumor failed to express MMAC/PTEN. The combination of these results suggest that, in addition to molecular alterations affecting the gene, altered expression of MMAC/PTEN may play a significant role in the progression of GBM and patient outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuro-Oncology, The Brain Tumor Center, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Langford
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Koul
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bondy
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Yung
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Steck
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011379:Prognosis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015996:Survival Rate; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; C494929:PTEN protein, human