Prognostic significance of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in glioblastoma

Aim:The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR)has prognostic value in patients with a variety of cancers.The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of NLR in patients with glioblastoma.Methods:A prospective study was conducted on patients receiving surgery for glioblastoma.Preoperative NLR was recorded and correlated with other prognostic factors and survival.Results:Fifty-one patients were included in the study.The mean NLR ratio was 6.7±4.6.Using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis,an NLR cut-off value of 4.7 was determined to best predict survival.Patients with NLR ratios exceeding 4.7 differed significantly from those with NLR ratios≤4.7 and were associated with reduced survival.Patients with gross total tumor excision had a median survival of 18 months,whereas the median survival time was 11 months in patients with subtotal tumor excision.No significant difference in survival was observed with respect to patient age,gender,Karnofsky performance status,or tumor location.Using multivariate analysis,NLR and extent of tumor resection were identified as factors with independent prognostic power.Conclusion:Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is an inexpensive,widely available biomarker of glioblastoma aggressiveness and should be used alongside current glioblastoma prognostic factors.

The influence of postoperative infection in survival of patients with high-grade gliomas

High‑grade gliomas are the most common type of brain tumors.Of these,glioblastoma account for 60-70%and despite treatment carries a dismal prognosis.Postoperative surgical site infection has been associated with prolonged survival.Herewith,we present a case of glioblastoma and a case of anaplastic oligoastrocytoma that developed postoperative infection of the surgical site and had prolonged survival.A thorough literature review is also presented.

Serum IgE levels in patients with intracranial tumors

Aim:Several epidemiological studies have shown an inverse correlation between allergy and brain cancer.The purpose of this study was to compare the serum IgE levels between patients with gliomas and nonglial tumors and their possible prognostic role.Methods:A total of 84 patients with intracranial tumors were included in this study.At clinical presentation,estimation of serum IgE levels was assessed by nephelometry.Detailed information regarding the history of allergies was collected by interview.Results:Of the 84 cases,42 were gliomas,23 were meningiomas,16 were metastases and 3 were primary central nervous system lymphomas.Patients with high‑grade glioma had lower IgE levels than patients with low‑grade glioma.Patients with glioma and meningioma had statistical significant lower serum IgE levels than patients with metastases.Patients with glioblastoma with serum IgE levels greater than 24 U/mL had a better survival.Conclusion:Patients with glioma and meningioma had lower IgE levels than patients with metastatic lesions.A prognostic role of serum IgE levels was found in glioblastoma.Further studies in larger patient series are required in order to verify our preliminary observations.

Immunotherapeutic strategies for glioma treatment

Glioblastoma is the most common and malignant primary brain tumor.Despite intensive clinical investigation and several novel therapeutic approaches,the median survival continues to remain poor and it is usually in the range of fifteen months.Immunotherapy is a beacon of hope for cancer treatment and offers a different approach against glioma.Various approaches have been used,such as dendritic cell based vaccines,peptide vaccines,T-cell-based therapies and immune checkpoint blockade with promising results.This paper provided an overview of the results of the most exciting immune therapeutic strategies for the treatment of gliomas.

Targeting glioblastoma with oncolytic adenovirus delta 24

ONCOLYTIC VIRUSES Oncolytic viruses have been introduced in cancer treatment in the last two decades,offering new opportunities and hopes for ultimate therapy.Earlier studies had also tried to take advantage of the antineoplastic activity of natural viral species,but it was genetic engineering that led to the production of modified viral strains selectively infecting and killing neoplastic cells.[1]The two major characteristics of oncolytic viruses are their tropism for malignant cells and their augmented cytotoxicity.