Expression changes of transforming growth factor-β and vascular endothelial growth factor in malignant brain gliomas and their values in tumor resectability evaluation

Abstract

Objective To analyze the expression changes of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in malignant brain gliomas and their values in tumor resectability evaluation. Methods One hundred and eighty-eight patients with malignant brain gliomas received surgery in our hospital from January 2010 to January 2017 were chosen in our study as patient group; during the surgery, the glioma tissues and peritumoral tissues were collected; Western blotting was employed to detect the VEGF and TGF-β expressions. Fifty healthy controls accepted healthy examinations at the same time-period were enrolled. Peripheral blood 24 h before surgery of the two groups was collected. ELISA was used to test the serum VEGF and TGF-β levels. The values of serum VEGF and TGF-β levels in tumor resectability were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results In the patient group, significantly higher levels of VEGF and TGF-β in the tumor tissues were noted as compared with those in the para-tumor tissues (P<0.05). Significantly higher levels of VEGF and TGF-β in the patient group were noted as compared with those in the control group (P<0.05). There were 126 patients received total tumor resection, while 62 just had partial tumor resection; one year after surgery, 22 patients with total tumor resection (17.46%) died, and 20 patients with partial tumor resection (32.26%) died, which indicated that the cumulative mortality rate one year after surgery in patients with total tumor resection was significantly lower than that in patients with partial tumor resection (P<0.05). With cut-off point value of 588.0 pg/mL, ROC analysis showed that the sensitivity of VEGF in prediction of total tumor resection was 80.65%, and specificity 80.16%, and area under curve 0.82, which were better than those of TGF-β. Conclusion For malignant brain glioma patients, the levels of VEGF and TGF-β increase, and VEGF shows an ideal value in tumor resectability evaluation. Key words: Malignant brain glioma; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Transforming growth factor-β; Prognosis; Diagnosis