Oncosuppressive Role of RUNX3 in Human Astrocytomas
Figure 2
(a) Representative Western blot result of RUNX3 protein expression in astrocytomas. AI-AIII: astrocytoma malignancy grades I-III, respectively; GBM: glioblastoma. Two isoforms of RUNX3 were identified in all the specimens that is consistent with what has been described in the literature [6]. (b) RUNX3 protein expression levels in different astrocytoma grade. Protein expression was significantly downregulated in glioblastomas (GBM) as compared to grade II astrocytomas (p<0.005, Kruskal-Wallis test) and a tendency as compared to grade III astrocytomas (p=0.124, Kruskal-Wallis test). (c) Relative RUNX3 protein expression stratified by promoter methylation groups. Significant association between RUNX3 gene methylation and protein expression was found (p=0.026, Kruskal-Wallis test). (d) Kaplan-Meier curves for survival of all astrocytoma patients (n=72) stratified in two groups (low; high) according to protein expression revealed significant better survival rates for patient with high RUNX3 protein level (Log-rank test, χ2=6.11, df=1, p=0.013). (e) Kaplan-Meier survival curves of high malignancy grade (III-IV) astrocytoma patients only (n=39) (Log-rank test, χ2=13.74, df=1, p<0.001).