Associations between SOX2 and miR-200b expression with the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of patients with glioma.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the associations between microRNA (miR)-200b and sex determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2) expression with gender, age, clinical staging and pathological staging in 123 patients with glioma. The results revealed higher miR-200b expression levels in the glioma tissue than in the normal brain tissues, and a reduction in miR-200b expression with increasing pathological grading of the gliomas. Immunohistochemistry revealed a 53.7% gross expression rate of SOX2 in the glioma tissues. SOX2 and miR-200b expression levels were significantly correlated with the histological grading of the gliomas (P<0.05); however, no associations were observed with patient gender, age, pathological classification or clinical staging of the glioma (P>0.05). In patients with grade I and II gliomas, no correlation was detected between miR-200b and SOX2, while a significant correlation was observed in grade III and IV gliomas. A median 52-month follow-up revealed 1-, 3- and 5-year gross survival rates of 82.1, 50.0 and 30.7%, respectively, in the 123 patients with a glioma. Univariate analysis revealed no association between survival rate and patient age, gender, Karnofsky Performance Scale score, histological grading or clinical staging (P>0.05). However, miR-200b and SOX2 were independent prognostic factors for glioma (P<0.05). Patients with positive SOX2 expression exhibited a significantly reduced 5-year survival rate, compared with those with negative SOX2 expression (P<0.001). Furthermore, a significantly higher 5-year survival rate was observed in patients with high miR-200b expression than those with low miR-200b expression (P<0.001). The results indicated that SOX2 and miR-200b expression levels are associated with the histological grading of gliomas, but do not correlate with patient gender or age, or the pathological classification or clinical staging of the gliomas. Thus, miR-200b and SOX2 offer useful independent prognostic factors for glioma.