title: Caspase 3 and 8 deficiency in human neuroblastoma.
abstract: An altered apoptotic response represents a pivotal feature of cancer and is involved in cancerogenesis and resistance to chemotherapy. So far, however, only a few studies have been devoted to survey caspase content in malignant cell lines and primary tumor specimens. In this report, we investigated the expression of two pivotal caspases, 3 and 8, in 63 neuroblastoma specimens by three complementary techniques (i.e., reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry). We confirmed the frequent absence of caspase 8 expression. Moreover and most important, we demonstrated, for the first time to our knowledge, that a significant percentage of neuroblastomas lack caspase 3 mRNA and protein. Both caspase alterations do not show any correlation with tumor stage and MYCN status. Immunohistochemistry showed a large number of caspase-negative cell islets also present in positive samples. Our findings suggest that the absence of caspases might play an important role in neuroblastoma development and resistance to apoptosis-based treatments.
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D053148:Caspase 3; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D000071447:N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015513:Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: C459801:MYCN protein, human; D000071447:N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; C505530:CASP8 protein, human; C506433:CASP9 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases