Expression of survivin, platelet-derived growth factor A (PDGF-A) and PDGF receptor alpha in primary central nervous system lymphoma.
OBJECTIVE
Primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSL) are rare tumours occurring in the brain. Their biology and the factors predicting survival are not well known. This study investigated expression of the antiapoptotic protein survivin and platelet-derived growth factor A (PDGF-A) and receptor (PDGFRalpha) in PCNSL.


METHODS
A total of 44 patients with histologically confirmed PCNSL treated between 1992 and 2004 were included in this study, and tumour specimens were investigated immunohistochemically for expression of survivin, PDGF-A and PDGFRalpha. Protein expression and clinical variables were analyzed statistically.


RESULTS
Of the 44 tumours 43(98%) were diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) and one was a T-cell NHL. Around 37 (84%) of the examined PCNSL specimens showed expression of survivin, 16 (36%) of PDGF-A and 34 (77%) of PDGFRalpha. Tumours expressing surviving co-expressed PDGFRalpha frequently and PDGF-A occasionally. Expression of the above proteins was not predictive for survival in this patient group. Except for age and therapy, no other clinical variables correlated significantly with overall survival.


CONCLUSIONS
PCNSL express survivin and PDGFRalpha in the majority of investigated cases. PDGF-A is expressed less frequently. Immunohistochemical detection of these proteins does not correlate with overall survival and cannot be used as a prognostic factor.
Karabatsou
K
K
Department of Neurosurgery, The Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery NHS Trust, L9 7LJ, Liverpool, UK.
Pal
P
P
Dodd
S
S
Mat
A
A
Haylock
B
B
Aguirreburualde
M
M
Moxam
N
N
Pinson-Ellis
W
W
Broome
J
J
Rainov
N G
NG
D000368:Aged; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D000077022:Survivin; D014018:Tissue Distribution
C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D000077022:Survivin; C075278:platelet-derived growth factor A; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha