Prognostic value of OCT4 in primary intracranial germinoma: a single institute analysis of 31 cases

Br J Neurosurg. 2012 Apr;26(2):237-46. doi: 10.3109/02688697.2011.605483. Epub 2011 Oct 5.

Abstract

OCT4 expresses variably in primary intracranial germinomas. In this study, we tested our hypothesis that such variation of OCT4 is predictive of outcome in primary intracranial germinomas. Thirty-one histologically identified CNS germinoma patients were enrolled in our study. We collected medical data, immunohistochemically evaluated the OCT4 expression level, and followed up all patients from April 2001 to May 2010. We found that 7 of the 31 patients expressed OCT4 weakly, 11 expressed OCT4 moderately, and 13 expressed OCT4 strongly. No significant correlation between the OCT4 expression level and clinicopathological characteristics was observed. WV-CS combined treatment modality showed a better 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate than other treatment modalities and a low expression level of OCT4 showed a significantly better 5-year PFS. In both the WV-CS combined treatment modality and other treatments modality group, patients received a better 5-year PFS and had a lower level of OCT4 expression. As a result, we suggest OCT4 as a probable prognostic marker for intracranial germinoma.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Brain Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Brain Neoplasms / mortality
  • Brain Neoplasms / therapy
  • Child
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Germinoma / metabolism*
  • Germinoma / mortality
  • Germinoma / therapy
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / mortality
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / metabolism*
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3
  • POU5F1 protein, human