title: Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) 4 correlated with the malignancy of human astrocytomas.
abstract: Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) 4 possesses high affinity to acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors (FGFs). The authors focused on FGFR 4 expression in astrocytoma because the FGF expression increases as the tumor malignancy progresses. Forty-one astrocytoma specimens were examined by immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction-Southern blot. FGFR 4 was negative in all seven Grade II astrocytomas by immunohistochemistry, while positive in four among 15 Grade III and in 13 among 19 Grade IV astrocytomas. The median survival time of Grade III astrocytoma patients was 22.3 months in FGFR 4 negative group and 14.5 months in positive group (p < 0.05). Those of Grade IV patients were 14.2 months in FGFR 4 negative group and 11.9 months in positive group (p > 0.05, not significant). However, FGFR 4 mRNA was detected in all specimens suggesting activated translation system of FGFR 4 in progression of the tumor malignancy. Histologically diagnosed Grade III astrocytoma patients can be divided into two groups; one with median survival time close to those with Grade II astrocytoma patients, and the other similar to that of glioblastoma patients. The authors concluded that FGFR 4 must be an important factor which predicts short survival Grade III astrocytoma patients, who require strict adjuvant therapy in accordance with glioblastoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan. smyamada@med.teikyo-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Shoko M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Shokei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Yasuto
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Teramoto
authors.forename: Koshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051499:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; C496371:FGFR4 protein, human; D051499:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4