The proteomic response in glioblastoma in young patients

Increasing age is an important prognostic variable in glioblastoma (GBM). We have defined the proteomic response in GBM samples from 7 young patients (mean age 36 years) compared to peritumoural-control samples from 10 young patients (mean age 32 years). 2-Dimensional-gel-electrophoresis, image analysis, and protein identification (LC/MS) were performed. 68 proteins were significantly altered in young GBM samples with 29 proteins upregulated and 39 proteins downregulated. Over 50 proteins are described as altered in GBM for the first time. In a parallel analysis in old GBM (mean age 67 years), an excellent correlation could be demonstrated between the proteomic profile in young GBM and that in old GBM patients (r(2) = 0.95) with only 5 proteins altered significantly (p < 0.01). The proteomic response in young GBM patients highlighted alterations in protein–protein interactions in the immunoproteosome, NFkB signalling, and mitochondrial function and the same systems participated in the responses in old GBM patients. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11060-014-1474-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Lessons from traumatic head injury for assessing functional status after brain tumour

Assessment of global functional status plays a central role in describing outcome after traumatic head injury, but has played a relatively minor role as an endpoint in brain tumour studies. Advantages of functional status as an outcome include simplicity, objectivity, and interpretability, and it is particularly useful in conditions where cognitive impairment is common. Work in the field of traumatic brain injury, specifically on the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), provides lessons in how the validity and reliability of global outcome assessment can be improved. Functional status is conceptually and empirically distinct from cognition and health-related quality of life, and neither of these can adequately substitute for it as an outcome. The strongest candidate for a global outcome measure in brain tumour work is the Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS). Many of the lessons from the GOS could be applied to improvement of KPS assessment. However, the KPS has additional limitations, particularly that it is not brain injury specific. Global functional status is potentially a useful outcome for brain tumour studies, but there is a gap in the tools currently available