title: Secretogranin II expression in Ewing's sarcomas and primitive neuroectodermal tumors.
abstract: Production of chromogranins, the acidic components of the chromaffin granules regarded as specific neuroendocrine markers, was analyzed by immunocytochemistry and hybridization (Northern blotting and in situ hybridization) in primary lesions and cell lines of Ewing's sarcomas, primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs), and neuroblastomas. Antibodies and probes specific for chromogranin A (CgA), chromogranin B (CgB), and secretogranin II (SgII) were used. Ewing's sarcomas and PNETs, unlike neuroblastomas, were negative for CgA and CgB. Two primary Ewing's sarcomas, one primary PNET (an Askin tumor), and one PNET cell line (TC32) were found to strongly express the SgII gene, as shown by the presence of specific mRNA. This result supports the hypothesis that some Ewing's sarcomas represent a most primitive form of neuroectodermal tumor; in addition, it indicates a diagnostic role of SgII in cases of Ewing's sarcomas and PNETs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pagani
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fischer-Colbrie
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sanfilippo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cerrato
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bussolati
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018242:Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012512:Sarcoma, Ewing / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018228:Sarcoma, Small Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins; D011506:Proteins