Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain tumor, with limited survival despite standard treatments such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. High recurrence rates after gross total resection underline the need for identifying new therapeutic targets. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) plays a role in angiogenesis and cellular proliferation, making it a potential marker in glioblastoma pathogenesis. This study aimed to evaluate the association between ACE I/D polymorphism and glioblastoma in the Turkish population and explore its potential as a therapeutic target. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 35 patients with glioblastoma and 36 healthy controls. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples and genotyped using TaqMan SNP Genotyping Assays. Statistical analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics (v23), with chi-square and Fisher's exact tests assessing genotype and allele distribution differences. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. RESULTS: Genotype distribution showed no significant differences between glioblastoma and control groups (p=0.171). However, the D allele was significantly more prevalent in glioblastoma patients (43.7%) than in controls (33.8%) (p=0.027), indicating a fourfold increased risk of glioblastoma (OR=0.258, 95% CI=0.074-0.901). The I allele exhibited a non-significant protective trend. CONCLUSION: The D allele of the ACE I/D polymorphism contributes to glioblastoma risk, highlighting ACE as a potential therapeutic target. Further studies are needed to confirm these results and investigate the clinical utility of ACE inhibitors in glioblastoma management.