/Li Xia(李侠，Neurosurg Dept，Affil Hosp，4th Mil Med Univ，Xi’an 710032)…∥Chin J Neurosurg.-2011，27(2).-120～124

ObjectiveMalignant gliomas display over-expression of the receptor tyrosine kinase EphA2.However，expression levels of the EphA2 ligand，EphrinA1，have not been fully elucidated.This study aims to determine the expression of EphA2/EphrinA1 in detail，and further detect the predictive roles of EphA2/EphrinA1 for prognosis of malignant glioma patients.MethodsSixty-eight patients with primary gliomas(gradeⅢorⅣ)were included in this study.The expression of EphA2 and EphrinA1 in tumors was assessed by immunohistochemistry and was statistically analyzed in combination with the follow-up data of patients.RusultsOf 68 cases，52 cases were E-phA2-positive and 28 were EphrinA1-positive.The increased EphA2 expression was associated with higher grade histology and poor patient prognosis.On contrary to this，the increased EphrinA1 expression was associated with lower grade histology，but not associated with poor patient prognosis.Moreover，patients with tumors positive for EphA2 and negative for EphrinA1 had significantly shorter overall survival than patients with tumors positive for both EphA2 and EphrinA1，negative for both EphA2 and EphrinA1，or negative for EphA2 and positive for EphrinA1.ConclusionThese data indicate that altered expression of EphA2 and EphrinA1 may correlate with prognosis of malignant glioma patients.13 refs，2 figs，1 tab.