Neuronal and glial markers in tumours of neuroblastic origin - Virchows Archiv

The presence and distribution of different neural markers in 30 neuroblastic tumours (neuroblastomas, ganglioneuroblastomas) and 6 non-neuroblastic tumours were investigated by immunocytochemistry. Neuron-specific enolase (NSE), S-100 protein, tyrosine hydroxylase, neurofilaments and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were localized in 3 undifferentiated neuroblastic tumours (group A), 12 poorly differentiated tumours (group B) and 15 well differentiated neuroblastic tumours (group C). Non-neuroblastic tumours (3 lymphomas and 3 Ewing sarcomas) showed no immunoreactivity.

Tyrosine hydroxylase and, in particular, NSE were found in mature ganglion cells and developing neuroblasts of poorly and well differentiated tumours (groups B and C). S-100 was localised in neuroblasts with slender cytoplasmic processes in the same groups. Neurofilaments were detected in ganglion cells and differentiated neuroblasts (groups B and C) while GFAP was localised in immature neuroblasts of undifferentiated and poorly differentiated tumours (groups A and B). Thus, there are differences in the neural proteins found in neuroblastic tumours and a wide panel of antibodies against neural markers may be a useful tool in the histological assessment of nervous system neoplasms.

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Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Histochemistry, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, W12 OHS, London, Great Britain

   F. Carlei & J. M. Polak

2. Dept. of Neuropathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

   D. Dahl

3. Biological Psychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, 20205, Bethesda, MD, USA

   P. J. Marangos

4. Department of Anatomy, Università Cattolica, Rome

   D. Cocchia & F. Michetti

5. 2nd Department of Pathology, Università la Sapienza, Rome, Italy

   A. Ceccamea

6. 6th Surgical Clinic, Università la Sapienza, Rome, Italy

   E. Lezoche & V. Speranza

Cite this article

Carlei, F., Polak, J.M., Ceccamea, A. et al. Neuronal and glial markers in tumours of neuroblastic origin. Vichows Archiv A Pathol Anat 404, 313–324 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00694896

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• Accepted: 24 July 1984

• Issue Date: September 1984

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00694896

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