title: Association of Aurora A and gamma-tubulin expression in astrocytomas and patient survival.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose was to evaluate the association of Aurora A and gamma-tubulin expression with disease characteristics and survival in patients with astrocytoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective study of patients who had surgical specimens that were pathologically diagnosed as astrocytoma. The expression level of Aurora A and gamma-tubulin in tumor tissue was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Clinical information, Karnofsky performance status scale, and survival status of patients were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that high protein levels of gamma-tubulin or Aurora A were associated with patients 45 years of age, high tumor grade, more advanced non-fully resectable tumors, and poorer survival status. The survival time for patients whose tumors had high gamma-tubulin and Aurora A expression was about 12 months compared with approximately 41 months for patients with low levels of expression of these proteins. Poor patient performance status following resection was also associated with high levels of gamma-tubulin and Aurora A expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression levels of gamma-tubulin or Aurora A kinase were associated with patients' age, astrocytoma grade, respectability, as well as patient survival and performance. These findings support the idea that these factors may potentially be important prognostic indicators for patients with astrocytomas.
authors.forename: Hung-Pei
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Cheng-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Ann-Shung
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lieu
authors.forename: Chee-Yin
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: Aij-Lie
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Kwan
authors.forename: Shen-Long
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Howng
authors.forename: Joon-Khim
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Loh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality*; D064096:Aurora Kinase A / Q000378:metabolism*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014404:Tubulin; C576917:AURKA protein, human; D064096:Aurora Kinase A
keywords: Aurora A,; Gamma-tubulin,; Kinase,; Performance; Prognosis,; Survival,