title: [Expression of the neural cell adhesion molecule in human astrocytomas].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) in human astrocytomas, and evaluate the relationship between NCAM and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight astrocytomas were studied by SP method with monoclonal antibody against NCAM and PCNA proteins.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All normal brain tissues expressed NCAM; NCAM expression was positive in Grade I-II glioma [95% (19/20)], Grade III glioma [38.9% (7/18)], Grade IV glioma [20% (2/10)] respectively. An inverse correlation was observed between the degree of NCAM expression and that of PCNA (r = -0.657, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NCAM is a down-regulated factor in the development of the malignancy of astrocytomas; and it is suggested that the reduced NCAM expression might be involved in the development of biological malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
authors.forename: C X
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: S X
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen