LMX1B-associated gankyrin expression predicts poor prognosis in glioma patients

OBJECTIVE: To explore the potential of the transcription factor LMX1B and downstream gankyrin as prognostic biomarkers of glioma. METHODS: The expression levels of gankyrin and LMX1B were detected in 52 normal brain specimens and 339 glioma specimens. Correlations of gankyrin and LMX1B expression levels with pathological stages and clinical characteristics were statistically analyzed. Furthermore, the binding of LMX1B to the gankyrin promoter was evaluated using ALGGEN PROMO. RESULTS: Levels of LMX1B and gankyrin were significantly increased in tumor tissue, and were significantly associated with advanced glioma grade and poor survival. Compared with gankyrin- and LMX1B-negative glioma, the mean survival of patients with higher gankyrin and LMX1B expression was significantly reduced, from 83.46 to 18.87 months and from 63.79 to 18.29 months, respectively. Furthermore, LMX1B had a moderate positive correlation with gankyrin expression (Pearson’s r = 0.650), and it was also found to act as a transcription factor with NF-κB and E47 on the gankyrin promoter. CONCLUSIONS: Increased expression of LMX1B and gankyrin has independent prognostic value in glioma patients. The transcription factor LMX1B may have an upstream role in the mechanism of action.