Blood Midkine Levels and Neuroblastoma Prognosis
Author Information
Author(s): Ikematsu S, Nakagawara A, Nakamura Y, Sakuma S, Wakai K, Muramatsu T, Kadomatsu K
Primary Institution: Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine
Hypothesis
An elevated plasma level of midkine is correlated with poor prognostic factors in neuroblastomas.
Conclusion
The study found that higher plasma levels of midkine are significantly associated with worse prognostic factors in neuroblastoma patients.
Supporting Evidence
- Plasma midkine levels were significantly higher in neuroblastoma patients compared to those without malignant tumors.
- Median plasma midkine levels increased with advancing neuroblastoma stages.
- High midkine levels correlated with poor prognostic factors such as MYCN amplification and low TrkA expression.
Takeaway
This study shows that measuring midkine in the blood can help doctors understand how serious a child's neuroblastoma is.
Methodology
Plasma samples were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunoassay to measure midkine levels.
Limitations
The study may not account for all factors influencing midkine levels, and some patient data was missing.
Participant Demographics
The study included 220 neuroblastoma patients and 17 individuals without malignant tumors, with ages ranging from under 1 year to older than 1 year.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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