Turkish Neurosurgery
Circulating Levels of Thrombospondin-1 and Thrombospondin-2 in Patients with Common Brain Tumors
Rahsan Kemerdere1, Mehmet Yigit Akgun 1, Sureyya Toklu1, Seckin Aydin2, Bagnu Orhan3, Berrin Bercik Inal3, Taha Sukru Korkmaz1, Berkay Aktas1, Tibet Kacira4, Taner Tanriverdi1
1Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Neurosurgery, İstanbul,
2University of Health Sciences, Okmeydani Training and Research Hospital, Neurosurgery, İstanbul,
3Istanbul Training and Research Hospital, Clinical Biochemistry, İstanbul,
4 Sakarya University, Medical Faculty, Neurosurgery, İstanbul,
DOI: 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.28624-20.3

Aim:Angiogenesis is linked to the development of cancer and plays an important role in tumor growth and malignant transformation. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) and thrombospondin-2 (TSP-2) are potent angiostatic molecules that were highly expressed in developing blood vessels. The objective of this study is to measure serum levels of TSP-1 and TSP-2 in patients with common brain tumors, namely high-grade glioma (HGG), low-grade glioma (LGG), and meningioma.Material and Methods:For this prospective study, a total of 56 patients were operated on for supratentorial gliomas and meningiomas, and 18 healthy subjects were evaluated. Serum levels of angiostatic molecules were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results of patients were compared with those of healthy subjects.Results:High serum levels of TSP-1 were seen in HGG, followed by LGG, meningioma groups, and controls. The only significant difference was found between HGGs and controls (p = 0.004). There was a trend to decrease from HGG to controls. High serum levels of TSP-2 were seen in controls, followed by meningioma, LGG, and HGG. None of the patient groups showed significant differences compared with controls. Among the patient groups, TSP-2 was significantly higher in the meningioma group than the HGG group (p = 0.01). No correlation was found with any of the molecules and the clinical parameters, including the presence of peritumoral edema or seizure, the anterior-posterior diameter of the tumor, and, more importantly, the grade of glioma.Conclusion:Our results indicate that TSP-2 might be more important than TSP-1 in preventing angiogenesis and a major angiostatic factor in glioma cells.

Corresponding author : Rahsan Kemerdere