title: Immunohistochemical detection of high-affinity nerve growth factor receptor in neuroblastoma.
abstract: High levels of mRNA (as assessed by northern blot) for the high-affinity nerve growth factor receptor (p140TRK) are predictive of favourable outcome in neuroblastoma. The feasibility of determining p140trk on frozen sections using a recently developed monoclonal antibody was evaluated, and immunohistochemical findings were compared to those obtained from northern blot analysis. Primary tumour samples from 28 untreated patients were quick frozen and an indirect immunofluorescence assay was performed on 4-microns acetone-fixed cryostat sections. 9 cases were positive with immunohistochemistry, and these were among the 15 cases also positive by northern blot. None of the cases negative by northern blot were positive with immunohistochemistry. The concordance rate was 79% (P < 0.03), with a sensitivity of 60% and a specificity of 100%. Immunohistochemistry can thus be rather reliable for assessing p140trk expression, even when only very small amounts of tissue are available, such as with needle biopsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dominici
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Nicotra
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Digiesi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: McDowell
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alemà
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Padula
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gargano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Donfrancesco
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Castello
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Natali
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002648:Child; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000737:chemistry*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D020917:Receptor, trkA; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D020917:Receptor, trkA