Roles of microRNA-21, epidermal growth factor receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor expression in the prognosis of advanced glioma

Pan Liu, Yang Zhang, Weipeng Su, Huarong Zhao^*

Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, China

Background: We aim to investigate the correlation between microRNA-21 (miRNA-21), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGF) expression and the prognosis of glioma. 

Materials and methods: The expression of miR-21 was determined using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The expression of EGFR and VEGF were measured using immunohistostaining. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to investigate the potential correlation between miR-21 and the expression of VEGF and EGFR. Cox regression analysis was performed to investigate the correlation between the prognosis of glioma and the expression of miR-21, VEGF, and EGFR. 

Results: The expression of miR-21 in the VEGF- or EGFR-expressing specimens was higher than that with no VEGF- or EGFR-expressing specimens (P<0.05). Cox regression analysis showed miR-21 and grading were the independent risk factors for the prognosis of glioma. The 5-year survival of patients with miR-21 over-expression in the grade III or IV patients was statistically lower than that of those with low miR-21 expression (P<0.05). 

Conclusions: The expression of miR-21 was correlated with the grading and malignancy of the glioma. Additionally, miR-21 expression was positively correlated to that of EGFR and VEGF. Over-expression of miR-21 was a risk factor for prognosis of glioma.