Expression and function of Trk-C in favourable human neuroblastomas.
Human neuroblastomas express the neurotrophin receptors trk-A and trk-B. Favourable outcome is associated with expression of trk-A, while unfavourable, MYCN amplified tumours express trk-B. In this study we examined the expression of trk-C in primary neuroblastoma tumour-derived cell lines. We found by Northern blot analysis that trk-C mRNA is expressed in 14 of 55 (25%) primary tumours. Trk-C was expressed in significantly more lower stage tumours (stage 1, 2, 4S) than higher stage tumours (stage 3, 4, P < 0.04). The expression of trk-C was correlated positively with survival and negatively correlated with MYCN amplification. We also studied the function of trk-C in transfected cell lines and found that NT-3 promotes both cell survival and differentiation. Our results suggest that trk-C is involved in the biology of favourable neuroblastomas.
Yamashiro
D J
DJ
Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-4318, USA.
Liu
X G
XG
Lee
C P
CP
Nakagawara
A
A
Ikegaki
N
N
McGregor
L M
LM
Baylin
S B
SB
Brodeur
G M
GM
D015152:Blotting, Northern; D005784:Gene Amplification; D016259:Genes, myc / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D020812:Receptor, trkC; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D020812:Receptor, trkC