Chromogranins--new sensitive markers for neuroendocrine tumors.
Chromogranins A, B and C, proteins that are costored and coreleased with peptides and amines, have been identified in a variety of endocrine and nervous tissues, both normal and neoplastic. We examined the secretion of chromogranin A and chromogranin A + B by hormone-producing tumors in patients with endocrine pancreatic tumors (EPT), carcinoid tumors, pheochromocytomas and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Radioimmunoassay (RIA) of the plasma/serum concentrations of chromogranin A + B showed a greater sensitivity than RIA of chromogranin A alone. All patients with EPT, carcinoids and pheochromocytomas had increased levels of chromogranin A + B, whereas a small number of the patients (5/18 with EPT 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.
Eriksson
B
B
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Biomedical Center, Uppsala, Sweden.
Arnberg
H
H
Oberg
K
K
Hellman
U
U
Lundqvist
G
G
Wernstedt
C
C
Wilander
E
E
D007516:Adenoma, Islet Cell / Q000378:metabolism; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000378:metabolism; D002864:Chromogranins / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D009380:Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002864:Chromogranins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins