title: Survivin, caspase-3 and MIB-1 expression in astrocytic tumors of various grades.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors. The etiology is still unclear and the progression from low to high-grade gliomas is frequent. The molecular mechanisms are quite established, however the heterogeneity of glioblastomas force the scientist to look for the new therapeutic targets. The aim of the study was to evaluate the caspase-3 and survivin expression in correlation with MIB-1 expression in gliomas of various grade to assess the apoptosis in gliomas and to determinate new possible targets for the future therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We identified 131 patients with a histopathological diagnosis of astrocytic tumors (diffuse astrocytoma, anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma). The evaluation of caspase-3, survivin and MIB-1 expression was done using immunohistochemical methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Caspase-3 and survivin expression was observed both in low- and high-grade astrocytomas. The differences in expression were the most evident in glioblastoma group. All primary glioblastomas (31 cases) expressed caspase-3. In secondary glioblastoma group only 17 out of 30 specimens were positive for caspase-3. Survivin expression was observed in 80.6% primary glioblastomas and in all examined secondary glioblastomas and the staining was strong and diffuse in all cases. MIB-1 expression was low in diffuse astrocytomas (DA) and ranged between 1 and 5%. In anaplastic astrocytoma group it was ranged between 5 and 10% and the highest percentage of the positive cells was observed in glioblastoma cases and ranged from 10% even to 30%. The most evident MIB-1 expression was observed in the cells surrounding the pathological blood vessels and necrosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high incidence of survivin and caspase-3 expression in diffuse and anaplastic astrocytoma cases may suggest, that the regulation between pro- and antiapoptotic proteins may play an important role in tumor growth and progression. The overexpression of survivin and MIB-1 expression in glioblastoma cases also may confirm the theory about the important role of anti-apoptotic and proliferation processes in glioblastoma progression and as such may be potential therapeutic targets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lebelt
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rutkowski
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery Department, Regional Hospital, Olsztyn, Poland.
authors.forename: Waldemar
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Och
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Pathomorphology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Kamil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jaczun
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial and Plastic Surgery, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dziemiańczyk-Pakieła
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics and Medical Informatics, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Milewski
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Zenon
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mariak
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Pathomorphology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland. Electronic address: joannareszec@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reszeć
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D000077022:Survivin; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D000077022:Survivin; C513496:MIB1 ligase, human; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D053148:Caspase 3
keywords: Caspase-3; Gliomas; MIB-1; Survivin