Comparison of Cox, CKit and Ki67 Immunohistochemical Markers in Glioblastoma and Other Brain Tumors in a 10-year Survey

Background:
Glioblastoma multiform (GBM) is the most frequent and malignant primary tumor of brain. Today, the intracellular pathways and the mediators of these pathways are one of the treatment methods regarding to malignancies. Cyclo-oxygenase, C-kit, and Ki67 are the immunohistochemestry agents to staging and treatment of tumors. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the aforementioned mediators and GBM in the sample of Iranian patients.

Methods:
In a cross sectional study with control group, the GBM and other brain tumors pathology slides were extracted from the pathology laboratory files in Shahid Bahonar medical center in Kerman University of Medical sciences. The immunohistochemestry patterns of all slides were reviewed by two pathologists, separately; considering the COX-2, Ki67 and C-kit markers. The frequencies of the markers were compared between GBM and non-GBM patients by t-test and non parametric Mann-Whitney tests. Spearman correlation coefficient was used between age and degree of markers.

Findings:
The GBM patients were 81 and 45 patents were in the control group among which medoloblastoma and oligodendroglioma were the most prevalent tumors. There was complete agreement between two pathologists. Relationship between COX-2, Ki67 and C-kit in two groups of study were not observed.

Conclusion:
The result of current study was difference from the other studies. These differences might due to genetic variation in Iranian patients from other ethnic groups. Further studies like cellular and experimental studies should apply to investigate the frequency of markers in brain tumors.

Key words: Brain tumor, Glioblastoma multiform, Pathology, Immunohistochemestry.