Flow cytometric and molecular analysis of proliferative activity and DNA content in neuroblastoma: presence of stationary cells in S-phase.
Twenty-nine previously untreated neuroblastomas were analyzed for DNA content and percentage of cells in S-phase, both determined by flow cytometry, and N-myc oncogene copy number. Twelve of them were also tested for histone H3 transcript levels as a marker of actual proliferative activity. A significantly higher S-phase fraction was associated with advanced stages of disease, unfavorable (i.e., near-diploid and near-tetraploid) DNA content, and N-myc amplification. The occurrence of six tumors with a remarkable (greater than or equal to 10%) S-phase fraction but lacking histone H3 transcripts suggests the presence of stationary S-phase cells in neuroblastoma.
Dominici
C
C
Department of Pediatrics, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
Negroni
A
A
Romeo
A
A
McDowell
H
H
Padula
A
A
Pucci
S
S
Cappelli
C
C
Castello
M A
MA
Raschellà
G
G
D002455:Cell Division; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005784:Gene Amplification; D016259:Genes, myc; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D016196:S Phase
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D012333:RNA, Messenger