title: [Demonstration of polysialic acid and N-CAM in neuroendocrine tumors].
abstract: The neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) is a general calcium-independent cell adhesion molecule. A common structural feature of N-CAM is the presence of homopolymers of alpha-2,8-linked sialic acid residues, which regulates the homophilic adhesive properties of N-CAM. N-CAM undergoes a change from a highly sialyated to a less sialylated form from embryonic to adult life. We have investigated the presence of N-CAM, using a monoclonal antibody against polysialic acid, and polyclonal antibodies against N-CAM. We found the presence of highly sialylated N-CAM in pheochromocytomas, medullary carcinomas of the thyroid, neuroblastomas, small cell cancer of lung and pituitary adenomas. We failed to visualize N-CAM in neuroendocrine tumors of various organs (carcinoids), melanomas and pancreatic endocrine tumors. The visualization of polysialic acid and N-CAM could serve as an additional criterium for the differential diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pathologie, Universität Zürich.
authors.forename: P U
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Heitz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Komminoth
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Lackie
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zuber
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roth
mesh_terms: D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000032:analysis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000032:analysis; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D011134:Polysaccharides; D012794:Sialic Acids; C021319:polysialic acid
vernacular_title: Nachweis von Polysialinsäure und N-CAM in neuroendokrinen Tumoren.