Serum Levels of APRIL Increase in Patients with Glioma,Meningioma and Schwannoma

Objective: Brain tumors are of high mortality and morbidity for which there is still no cure. The TNF family cytokine,A Proliferation Inducing Ligand (APRIL), is shown to help proliferation and development of tumor cells. We assessedserum levels of APRIL in patients with glioma, meningioma and schwannoma in comparison to healthy individuals.Methods: Peripheral blood samples of 68 patients with brain tumors, divided into three groups of gliomas (n=25),meningiomas (n=30) and schwannomas (n=13), as well as 45 healthy individuals were obtained. Serum samples wereprepared and stored in -40°C until usage. Using a commercial ELISA method, APRIL concentration was measured ineach serum sample. The obtained data were then analyzed using SPSS software. Results: APRIL serum levels werehigher in all patients compared to the controls (P<0.001). Moreover, APRIL serum levels were higher in each of thetumor bearing groups (gliomas, meningiomas and schwannomas) in comparison to the controls (P<0.001, <0.001and =0.001, respectively). Comparing APRIL between the patients groups showed no significant difference. Age andgender showed no significant correlation with serum APRIL levels, although the age of patients in glioma group wassignificantly lower than controls (P=0.017). The serum APRIL levels in gliomas with histological grade showed nodifference, but in meningiomas, it was lower in tumors with higher grades (P= 0.011). Conclusion: Increased serumlevels of APRIL in patients with meningioma and schwannoma as well as glioma may indicate a common role of thiscytokine in brain tumors.