Apoptotic proteins and markers of differentiation in childhood pineal parenchymal tumors: relationships and prognostic value.
Pineal parenchymal tumors (PPTs) in children and adolescents are uncommon and more data on their biological activity and behavior are still needed. The aim of our study was to estimate the expression and prognostic value of some proteins regulating apoptosis and cell cycle as well as being markers of cellular differentiation in PPTs. Tumor specimens obtained from 27 patients who underwent surgical treatment for PPTs were evaluated in immuno-histochemical analysis. The expression of Bcl-2, Bax, p53, NSE (neuron specific enolase), GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein), beta-III tubulin and nestin were studied. Co-localization of two chosen antibodies (e.g. Bcl-2/Bax, BCl-2/NSE, p53/NSE, etc.) was also made with a scanning confocal microscope. Histopathological examination revealed: 15 pineocytomas, 1 intermediately differentiated PPT and 11 pineoblastomas. For further analysis two groups were created: Group I: patients with pineocytoma or intermediately differentiated PPTs (16 cases) Group II: patients with pineoblastoma (11 cases). A statistically significant positive correlation between patients' survival time and tubulin and NSE expression was found. Bcl-2, p53 and nestin correlated negatively with survival time.
Marcol
W
W
Department of Physiology, Medical Univeristy of Silesia, Medykow 18, Katowice 40-752, Poland. wmarcol@tlen.pl
Mandera
M
M
Grajkowska
W
W
Malinowska-Kołodziej
I
I
Olakowska
E
E
Właszczuk
A
A
Lewin-Kowalik
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010871:Pinealoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014404:Tubulin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D014404:Tubulin; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein