Abstract
Background: Astrocytoma is the most common type of glioma. Fli-1 is a nuclear transcription factor that increase cellular proliferation and tumorigensis providing a prognostic tool for many human tumors. Therefore, Fli- 1 may have a role in astrocytoma.
Aim: To study the expression of Fli-1 in astrocytoma and its correlation to clinicopathological aspects.
Material and methods: This is a retrospective study performed upon 45 cases grouped as 22.2 % of grade I astrocytoma, 26.7% of grade II astrocytoma, 13.3 % of grade III astrocytoma and 37.8% of grade IV astrocytoma. Immunohistochemical staining of Fli-1 antibody was applied on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks. The correlation between Fli-1 expression and clinicopathologic parameters was statistically studied.

Results: High expression of Fli -1 was seen in 60% of astrocytoma, while low expression was seen in 40 % of astrocytoma cases. Fli -1 expression showed highly significant associations with age, tumor size, tumor site, tumor grade, tumor type, progression free and overall survivals of studied cases (P value 2 is better to discriminate between low and high grade astrocytoma.
Fli-1 score can be diagnostic to differentiate between low and high grade astrocytoma
Fli-1 may be a prognostic marker in astrocytoma to predict recurrence & patient survival.