title: Immunological detection and definition of minimal residual neuroblastoma disease in bone marrow samples obtained during or after therapy.
abstract: Immunological staining by the alkaline phosphatase/anti-alkaline phosphatase (APAAP) technique has been used to recognize low levels of neuroblastoma cells in bone marrow mononuclear cells. Immunological phenotyping with 11 well characterized monoclonal antibodies was performed on 16 children with neuroblastoma and BM involvement during or after therapy. Neuroblasts were detected in 11 of 16 patients (0.1-5%), whereas BM biopsies on six of these patients were classified as normal. Aspirates, stained conventionally, were positive for pathological cells in three patients only. The comparison of the phenotype of the neuroblastoma cells at the time of diagnosis to the phenotype of the residual cells within one patient revealed differences. The phenotype of residual disease in different patients on the other hand showed a unique pattern. The above mentioned results lead to the conclusion that the immunological procedure is particularly suitable for the analysis of minimal residual neuroblastoma since the technique allows very minor cell populations to be identified in BM samples.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, J.W. Goethe Universität, Frankfurt, F.R.G.
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Gussetis
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ebener
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wehner
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kornhuber
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy