Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive
brain tumor. Aberrant Notch pathway has been implicated in the formation and progression of
glioblastoma. The present study attempted to investigate the expression of Notch
ligand Jagged1 and its association with patient outcome in primary
glioblastoma.
Tumor tissues from 82 patients with primary
glioblastoma were analyzed using immunohistochemistry for Jagged1 expression. Relationships between Jagged1 expression and clinical features (age, gender, KPS, symptom duration, extent of resection and Ki67 index) were evaluated. The prognostic value of Jagged1 was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier survival estimates and the Cox proportional hazard models. Immunohistochemistry results showed markedly increased Jagged1 expression in
glioblastoma tissues compared to adjacent non-neoplastic brain tissues. Univariate analysis documented that high Jagged1 expression in
tumor cells (TC) and endothelial cells (EC) were both statistically associated with reduced time to progression (
TTP) (P < 0.001 for TC, P = 0.001 for EC) and overall survival (OS) (P < 0.001 for TC, P = 0.003 for EC) in primary
glioblastoma. The median
TTP (P < 0.001) and OS (P = 0.001) were higher in patients with dual-low Jagged1 expression in TC and EC compared to those in patients with non-dual Jagged1 expression and dual high expression. By multivariate survival analysis, we found that high Jagged1 expression in both
tumor cells and endothelial cells was independent unfavorable prognostic factors
TTP (P < 0.001 for TC, P < 0.001 for TC) and OS (P < 0.001 for TC, P < 0.001 for TC) in primary
glioblastoma patients. Jagged1-Notch signaling plays an important role in the progress of
glioblastoma. Jagged1 expression may be used as an independent prognosis factor in patients with
glioblastoma.