Ceramide levels are inversely associated with malignant progression of human glial tumors.

摘要: Ceramide represents an important sphingoid mediator involved in the signaling pathways that control cell proliferation, differentiation, and death. To determine whether ceramide levels correlate with malignant progression of human astrocytomas, we investigated these surgical specimens glial tumors low-grade high-grade malignancy. Tumor samples obtained from 52 patients who underwent therapeutic removal primary brain were used. The classified according to standard morphologic criteria grouped into Sections normal tissue adjacent tumor also analyzed 11 patients. After extraction partial purification, was measured by quantitative derivatization ceramide-1-phosphate using diacylglycerol kinase [γ-32P]ATP. significantly lower combined compared both groups peritumoral tissue. results indicate inverse correlation between amount malignancy as assessed histological grading ganglioside pattern. Moreover, overall survival analysis 38 indicates are associated patient survival. present findings is inversely astrocytomas poor prognosis. downregulation emerges a novel alteration may contribute neoplastic transformation. low provide advantage for their rapid growth apoptotic resistant features. This study appears support rationale potential benefits ceramide-based chemotherapy. GLIA 39:105–113, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.