Expression of tenascin and of the ED-B containing oncofetal fibronectin isoform in human cancer.
Tenascin (TN) and the oncofetal ED-B containing fibronectin isoform (B-FN) have been reported to be stromal markers of a number of malignancies. Here we report on studies of the distribution of TN and B-FN in normal adult tissues and in benign and malignant tumors, as well as on the levels of the B-FN mRNA in cultured fetal and non-fetal human fibroblasts originating from different tissues. B-FN has an extremely restricted distribution in normal adult tissues, is not expressed in benign tumors, but is greatly expressed in a high percentage of malignant tumors. On the contrary, human TN in normal adult tissues is less restricted than what has previously been reported and it is largely expressed in a number of both benign and malignant tumors. Moreover, we observed a great variability in the relative amount of B-FN mRNA among the 17 normal human fibroblast cell lines tested. We found very low levels in non-fetal skin fibroblasts and higher levels in fetal lung fibroblasts. We also found differences in the relative amounts of B-FN mRNA between fibroblast cell lines originating from the skin and the lung of the same subject.
Nicolò
G
G
Laboratory of Anatomic Pathology, Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genoa, Italy.
Salvi
S
S
Oliveri
G
G
Borsi
L
L
Castellani
P
P
Zardi
L
L
D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000737:chemistry; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D012326:RNA Splicing; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D019063:Tenascin
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D005353:Fibronectins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D019063:Tenascin