Abstract
Background. Both experimental and human tumors often synthesize high levels of prostaglandins, most notably prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). This compound may play an important role in tumor growth and immunosuppression. Little is known of the production of PGE2 by brain tumors. The present study was designed to investigate the levels of PGE2 in the plasma of human brain tumors before and after tumor removal.
Methods. The plasma PGE2 levels of brain tumors before and after tumor removal were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
Results. There is a significantly high concentration of PGE2 in malignant brain tumor before tumor removal. Significantly decrease of PGE2 concentration after total removal of the tumor was found both in the malignant and benign brain tumor groups (P=0.0001 and P=0.0039 respectively). However, compared to the control group, only malignant brain tumor showed a significant decrease of PGE2 concentration after tumor removal (P=0.0009).
Conclusion. Our study demonstrates the malignant brain tumor synthesized higher relative proportions of PGE2 and surgical removal of the brain tumor can reduce the production of PGE2.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Tada M, De Tribolet N: Recent advances in immunobiology of brain tumors. J Neuro-Oncol 17: 261-271, 1993
Mahaley MS, Brooks WH, Bigner DD, Roszman TL: Immunobiology of primary intracranial tumors. I. Studies of the cellular and humoral general immune competence of brain tumor patient. J Neurosurg 46: 467, 1997
Brooks WH, Caldwell HD, Mortara RH: Immune responses in patients with gliomas. Surg Neurol 2: 419, 1974
Roszman T, Elliott L, Brooks W: Modulation of T-cell function by gliomas. Immnol Today 12: 370-374, 1991
Couldwell WT, Dore-Duffy P, Apuzzo MLJ, Antel JP: Malignant glioma modulation of immune function: relative contribution of different soluble factors. J Neuroimmunol 33: 89-96, 1991
Fontana A, Hengartner H, de Tribolet N, Weber E: Glioblastoma cells release interleukin-1 and factors inhibiting interleukin-2 mediated effects. J Immunol 132: 1837-1844, 1984
Lauro GM, Di Lorenzo N, Grossi M, Maleci A, Guidetti B: Prostaglandin E2 as an immunomodulating factor released in vitro by human glioma cells. Acta Neuropathol 69: 278-282, 1986
Roszman TL, Brooks WH, Elliott LH: Inhibition of lymphocyte responsiveness by a glial tumor cell-derived suppressive factor. J Neurosurg 67: 874-879, 1987
Miescher S, Whiteside TL, de Tribolet N, Von Fliedner V: In situ characterization, clonogenic potential and antitumor cytolytic activity of T lymphocytes infiltrating human brain cancers. J Neurosurg 68: 438-448, 1988
Constam DB, Philipp J, Malipiero UV, ten Dijke P, Schachner M, Fontana A: Differential expression of transforming growth factor-B1, B2 and B3 by glioblastoma cells, astrocytes and microglia. J Immunol 148: 1404-1410, 1992
Sporn MB, Roberts AB: Transforming growth factor-B: recent progress and new challenges. J Cell Biol 119: 1017-1021, 1992
Koff A, Ohtsuki M, Polyak K, Roberts JM, Massague J: Negative regulation of G1 in mammalian cells: inhibition of cyain E-dependent kinace by TGF-B. Science 260: 536-539, 1993
Lee SC, Liu W, Dickson DW, Brosnan CF, Berman JW: Cytokine production by human fetal microglia and astrocytes. Differential induction by lipopolysaccharide and IL-1B. J Immunol 150: 2659-2667, 1993
Betz M, Fox BS: Prostaglandin E2 inhibits production of TH1 lymphokines but not of Th2 lymphokines. J Immunol 146: 108, 1991
Hilkens CM, Vermeulen H, Joost Van Neerven: Differential modulation of T helper type 1 (Th1) and T helper type 2 (Th2) cytokine secretion by prostaglandin E2 critically depends on interleukin-2. Eur J Immunol 25: 59, 1995
Krstulovic AM: Investigations of catecholamine metabolism using HPLC. J Chromatogr 229: 1-34, 1982
Holly JMP, Makin HLJ: The estimation of catecholamines in human plasma. Anal Biochem 126: 257-274, 1983
Anagnostopoulos-Schleep J, Schlegel W, Krähling KH, König HJ: Prostaglandins F2á and E2 as possible mediatiors of peritumoral brain edema. Adv Neurosurg 16: 243-249, 1988
Köko¢glu E, Tüter Y, Sandikci KS, Yazici Z, Ulako¢glu E2, Sönmez H, Özyurte E: Prostaglandin E2 levels in human brain tumor tissues and arachidonic acid levels in the plasma membrane of human brain tumors. Cancer Lett 132: 17-21, 1998
Castelli MG, Chiabrando C, Fanelli R, Martelli L, Butti G, Gaetani P, Paoletti P: Prostaglandin and thromboxane synthesis by human intracranial tumors. Cancer Res 49: 1505-1508, 1989
Cooper C, Jones HG, Weller RO, Walker V: Production of prostaglandins and thromboxane by isolated cells from intracranial tumors. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 47: 579-584, 1984
Chouaib S, Robb RJ, Weite K, Dupont B: Analysis of Prostaglandin E2 effect on T lymphocyte activation. J Clin Invest 80: 333-340, 1987
Eddleston M, Mucke L: Moleculor profile of reactive astrocytes-implications for their role in neurologic disease. Neuroscience 54: 15-36, 1993
Goodwin JS: Prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors as immunoadjuvants in treatment of cancer. J Immunopharmacol 2: 397-424, 1980
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Loh, JK., Hwang, SL., Lieu, AS. et al. The Alteration of Prostaglandin E2 Levels in Patients with Brain Tumors before and after Tumor Removal. J Neurooncol 57, 147–150 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015782809966
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015782809966