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Introduction: Astrocytic gliomas are the most common and lethal intracranial brain tumours and rely on angiogenesis for the tumour development. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) contribute to the angiogenesis of glioma tumour. Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the matured circulating endothelial cells population in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and its associations with tissue resident angiogenic cells in astrocytic glioma patients. Methods: A total of 22 astrocytic glioma patients were recruited from Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. Tumour were sliced and stained with CD133+ and VEGFA+ for angiogenic cells (n=22). The circulating (CD133-/VEGFR2+) matured endothelial cells in PBMCs (n=22) were quantified using FACS. The paired t-test and Pearson correlation test were used for the data analysis. Results: The angiogenic cells in brain tumour tissue were significantly higher compared to adjacent normal brain tissue (median 1.07±0.96% vs. median 0.69±0.68%; Wilcoxon signed rank test Z=-3.100; p=0.002). Positive correlation was found between the angiogenic cells of brain tumour tissue and adjacent normal brain tissue (Spearman's rho correlation test, r=0.56; p=0.007). Significant positive correlation was found between matured endothelial cells in peripheral circulating systems and angiogenic cells in tumour of astrocytic glioma patients (Pearson correlation test, r=0.60, p=0.003).Conclusion:The findings of the study give support to the possible roles of EPCs in astrocytic glioma patients. Thus targeting tissue resident angiogenic cells and matured circulating endothelial cells by antiangiogenic treatment might be useful to prevent the tumour growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astrocytic gliomas are the most common primary brain tumours that originated from human glial cells. The tumours rely upon endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) for neoangiogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the association between tissue resident EPCs in a brain tumour and normal adjacent tissue in relation to age and grade of astrocytic glioma. Astrocytic glioma patients (n=22), grade I to grade IV were consented from Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. Brain tumour tissue and normal adjacent brain tissue samples were obtained from each patient during surgery. The EPCs were stained with CD133+ and VEGFR-2+ markers. The tissue residents EPCs for each sample were determined using the immunofluorescence microscopy method. The age of the patients increased by disease severity in the following order (Grade I: 21.33±20.79 years) < (Grade II: 46.50±0.707 years) < (Grade III: 47.38±11.95 years) < (Grade IV: 48.44 ±10.66 years). The EPCs in brain tumour correlated significantly with the age of the patients with positive correlation (Spearman's rho correlation test, r=0.52; p=0.013). The tissue resident EPCs in the brain tumour (median=0.40, IqR=0.59) were significantly higher compared with the adjacent normal brain (median=0.067, IqR=0.29) (Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test, Z stat=-3.587, p<0.001). Higher tissue resident EPCs were found in high grade (III & IV) glioma compared with EPCs in low grade (I & II) glioma (median=0.61, IqR=0.70 vs. median=0.26, IqR=0.30; z=-1.763 p=0.078). This study showed increased EPCs with age and grade of malignancy in astrocytic glioma patients. Therefore, targeting EPCs in gliomas based on tumour grade malignancy and age of the patients might be useful in effective treatment of astrocytic glioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The paper examined the quality of life of haematological cancer patients according to their socio-demographic profiles and clinical diagnoses. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the tertiary referral centre of Ampang Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, involving 105 patients. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life (EORTC QLQ-C30) questionnaire was used to measure their quality of life. Results: The study involved patients diagnosed with all types of haematological cancer, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), and multiple myeloma (MM), with a response rate of 83.3%. The patients with ALL, HL, without NHL, and without MM were younger than other patients. There were significant differences in quality of life scores in different socio-demographic groups and types of cancer diagnosis. The global quality of life of the female patients was much better than that of the male patients. Patients who were 40 years old or younger had a better global quality of life and physical functioning, as well as fewer symptoms of constipation, nausea, and vomiting. Employed patients were in less pain but showed greater impairments of cognitive function than did unemployed patients. Patients who earned a monthly wage of RM1000 or less had reduced physical function, more symptoms of pain, and more financial difficulties compared with patients who earned more. Patients with AML tended to have better physical functioning than did patients with MM, whose physical functioning was impaired. Comparatively, more symptoms of dyspnoea were found in ALL and HL patients than in other types of lymphoma. Compared with other patients, those with ALL had a greater loss of appetite, and other lymphoma patients had fewer symptoms of pain. Patients with NHL had impaired role functioning and more constipation compared with other patients. The results were all statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The quality of life of haematological cancer patients is affected by sociodemographic factors and clinical diagnoses. Efforts should be made to improve the overall quality of life of these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]