title: Serum granulocyte colony-stimulating factor levels in gliomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Apart from its known effects on granulopoiesis, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is also involved in growth and progression of malignant cells. In this study we report the serum G-CSF levels and their relationship with survival in patients with glial cell tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum G-CSF levels of 17 patients (10 male, 7 female, median age 55 years, range 19-75), with histologically proven glial cell tumors and of 17 sex- and age-matched healthy controls were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients were treated with radiotherapy and concomitant temozolomide, followed by temozolomide alone. Eight patients were treated with carboplatin plus cyclophosphamide combination as second-line chemotherapy. The median follow-up was 21 months (4-42). The median OS was 36 months (95% CI, 15.7-56.4). Serum G-CSF levels in glioma patients and healthy controls were 44.14 ± 18.89 pg/ ml and 28.84±15.65 pg/ml, respectively (p=0.027). There was no significant correlation between survival time and serum G-CSF levels (r=0.384; p=0.217).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum G-CSF levels were high in glioma patients compared with healthy controls and they may be involved in tumor progression, but the G-CSF role in prognosis was not clarified. Further studies with larger numbers of patients must be conducted to elucidate the role of G-CSF in glial cell tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Gazi University, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Coskun
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buyukberber
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sancak
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gulbahar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benekli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor