[Detection and clinical significance of urinary epidermal growth factor in brain tumor patients].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the clinical significance of urinary epidermal growth factor (EGF) in patients with brain tumors.


METHODS
The levels of EGF in urine samples collected from 20 patients (9 low grade astrocytomas, 6 anaplastic astrocytomas, and 5 meningiomas) and 5 healthy individuals were determined. EGF levels were measured by radioimmunoassay technique. A preoperative and one postoperative determination were performed.


RESULTS
Preoperative urinary EGF levels of astrocytoma patients were statistically higher than those of meningioma patients and the controls (P < 0.01). Preoperative urinary EGF levels showed a positive correlation with the degree of malignance in the astrocytoma patients (P < 0.05). A significant decrease of the postoperative levels of EGF was observed in the astrocytoma patients who underwent gross total resection (P < 0.01). The pre/postoperative urinary EGF levels of the meningioma patients showed no significant fluctuations and showed no significant difference with those of healthy individuals (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The urinary EGF levels of astrocytoma patients correlate with the WHO grade of malignance and significantly decrease after gross total removal. Urinary EGF may be of practical value in diagnosing and evaluating the surgical efficacy of astrocytomas.
Huang
Chui-xue
CX
Department of neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China. ledongren@yahoo.com.cn
Liu
Yun-sheng
YS
Hou
Yong-hong
YH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000652:urine*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000652:urine*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000652:urine*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008579:Meningioma / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor