Expression of microtubule-associated proteins, MAP-1 and MAP-2, in human neuroblastomas and differential diagnosis of immature neuroblasts.
The expression of microtubule-associated proteins, MAP-1 and MAP-2, was studied in human neuroblastomas at various developmental stages using the immuno-alkaline-phosphatase technique and immunofluorescence microscopy. Of 15 cases examined, including grade I, grade II, and grade III neuroblastomas (M. Hughes, H. B. Marsden, and M. K. Palmer, Cancer 34:1706, 1974), rabbit antibodies raised against individual MAP-1 and MAP-2 from mammalian brain showed strong reactions with the whole spectrum of tumor cells including the immature small neuroblasts, partially mature neuroblasts, neurofibrils, and ganglion cells. Antibodies to alpha- and beta-tubulin showed similar staining patterns. In contrast, antibodies to the Mr = 200.000 neurofilament protein were reactive only with the mature and partially mature tumor cells, as well as with neurofibrils, but not with immature "round-cell" neuroblasts. Other types of round-cell tumors examined, including several cases of Ewing's sarcoma, undifferentiated rhabdomyosarcoma, and malignant lymphoma, showed no reaction with antibodies to MAP-1 and MAP-2. These tumors were reactive, however, with antibodies to various other tumor-specific as well as nonspecific antigens. It is concluded that antibodies to neuronal MAPs provide a valuable new tool for the differential diagnosis of neuroblastomas.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins