Follistatin, a Novel Biomarker for Malignant Gliomas

Elvira Lekka,Charles Davies,Gregory Hall,Nicolas Tsesmetzis,Timothy Dawson,Katherine M Ashton,Peter Abel,Robert W Lea

doi:10.4236/nm.2015.63020

Elvira Lekka, Charles Davies + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4236/nm.2015.63020

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Abstract

Molecular biomarkers are commonly used for the management of several types of malignant tumours in routine clinical practice. However, this is not the case for malignant gliomas. Cytokines and Angiogenesis factors are potential candidates due to their intrinsic role in tumourigenesis. Pre- and post-operative serum from 36 malignant glioma patients and 36 controls was analysed using the Bio-Plex Pro Angiogenesis and Cytokines Assay (Bio-Rad, USA). Amongst the molecules tested, the serum concentration of follistatin was significantly higher in patients than in controls. Moreover, the serum concentration of follistatin of the patients postoperatively was significantly reduced compared to that preoperatively. Factors such as age and gender did not affect the concentrations of follistatin measured in the serum of patients pre- and post-operatively as well as healthy controls. This is the first report of follistatin as potential biomarker for the detection of malignant gliomas.

Highlights

A biomarker is a measurable substance, which can be used to indicate a biological state
The serum concentration of follistatin was significantly higher in glioma patients (P < 0.001) prior to operation (1133 ± 279 pg/ml) than after the operation (86 ± 44 pg/ml) (Figure 1, Boxplot (a))
A significant difference was observed in the preoperative serum concentration of follistatin between patients and controls (α = 0.001)

Summary

Introduction

A biomarker is a measurable substance, which can be used to indicate a biological state Such state can be a normal biological process, a disease or even a pharmacological response to treatment. Biomarkers are widely used in the overall management of malignant tumours [2]. They are important aids, as they allow prognostication, early detection of recurrence and monitoring during treatment [2]. They are already used as part of disease monitoring in several common cancers, such as prostate cancer and ovarian cancer, hepatocellular cancer, to name a few [3]-[5]

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