Introduction: Owing the high recurrence rate and poor outcomes with the current treatment modalities of high grade glial tumors, the development of targeted therapeutic strategies is a key imperative. Several biomarkers have been studied in cancer patients; however, no studies have investigated the serum levels of visinin-like protein-1 (VILIP-1), caveolin-1 (Cav-1) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) before and after glioma resection. Aims: Aim of the study is observe changes in the serum levels of VILIP-1, Cav-1 and NSE after glioma resection.
Methods: Consecutive 14 glioma patients with different histologic grade and 14 age and gender-matched healthy subjects were included in this pilot study. From the patients serum samples were taken in preoperative and on day 2 and 10 of postoperative periods. Healthy subjects provided serum sample once. The serum changes of three proteins were evaluated by ELISA. The results were compared between preoperative and postoperative periods and between patients and controls.
Results: Preoperative serum levels of VILIP-1 (p=0.008) and Cav-1 (p = 0.012) were significantly higher in the patients. Mean serum levels of VILIP-1 (p = 0.002) and Cav-1 (p = 0.013) again were significantly higher than those of the controls. None of the periods NSE did not show significant changes compared to controls. There was a steady decline regarding all three molecules from preoperative to postoperative day 10. However, statistical comparisons did not reveal any significant difference with respect the decline in any molecule. Significant positive correlation was detected between preoperative serum levels of VILIP-1 and Cav-1 (p = 0.00001) in the patients and the controls (p = 0.0000).
Conclusion: This pilot study suggested that Cav-1 and particularly VILIP-1 may be used as a valuable serum biomarker for follow-up and for early detection of recurrence in high-grade gliomas. Future studies including larger cohort of patients with homogeneous group of glioma is required.
Funding: Authors state no funding involved.
