Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) have recently been suggested to have a role in tumorigenesis.

We studied the expression of Prx I− VI and their relationship to patient survival in 383 grade II−IV diffuse astrocytic brain tumors.

Prx I positivity was found in 68%, Prx II in 84%, Prx III in 90%, Prx IV in 5%, Prx V in 4% and Prx VI in 47% of the tumors. Prx I and Prx II expression decreased significantly with increasing malignancy grade (p<0.001 and p<0.001), while Prx IV was associated with increasing grade (p=0.014). Patients with Prx I or Prx II positive tumors were significantly younger than the average age of all the patients (p=0.014 and p=0.005). A lower proliferation rate was associated with Prx I and Prx VI positive tumors (p=0.019 and p=0.033), and a lower apoptotic rate was found in Prx I and Prx II positive tumors (p<0.001 and p=0.007). Patients with Prx I and Prx II positive tumors had a significantly better survival rate than their Prx−negative counterparts (p=0.0052 and p=0.0002).

The expression of Prx I and Prx II correlates with astrocytic tumor features, such as grade and patient age and proliferation activity (Prx I), and accordingly with patient survival.

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