A polyclonal antiserum against chromogranin A and B--a new sensitive marker for neuroendocrine tumours.
Chromogranins A, B, and C, proteins that are co-stored and co-released with peptides and amines, have been identified in a variety of neuroendocrine tissues, both normal and neoplastic. We examined the secretion of chromogranin A and chromogranin A + B by hormone-producing tumours in patients with endocrine pancreatic tumours, carcinoid tumours, pheochromocytomas, and small cell lung cancer. The radioimmunoassay determining the plasma concentrations of chromogranin A + B showed a greater sensitivity than that determining chromogranin A alone. All patients with endocrine pancreatic tumours, carcinoids, and pheochromocytomas had increased levels of chromogranin A + B, whereas a small number of the patients (5/18 with endocrine pancreatic tumours and 1/3 with pheochromocytomas) had normal levels of chromogranin A. Also in immunocytochemical stainings, our polyclonal antiserum detecting both chromogranin A and B showed a greater sensitivity than other available antisera against chromogranin A, B and C. We have demonstrated that a polyclonal antiserum against a mixture of chromogranin A and B might be a more sensitive marker than chromogranin A alone for diagnosing neuroendocrine tumours. This is not surprising, since both chromogranins are widely distributed in neuroendocrine cells.
Eriksson
B
B
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
Arnberg
H
H
Oberg
K
K
Hellman
U
U
Lundqvist
G
G
Wernstedt
C
C
Wilander
E
E
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000097:blood* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats
D000596:Amino Acids; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C506150:CHGA protein, human; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins; D007106:Immune Sera; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C506153:chromogranin A, rat