Nestin expression in astrocytic tumors delineates tumor infiltration.
Nestin is an intermediate filament protein expressed in undifferentiated cells during central nervous system development, and glioma is known to be a highly infiltrative tumor. We determined whether nestin was expressed in astrocytic tumors and could identify infiltrating tumor cells. We screened 65 archival, paraffin-embedded adult astrocytic tumors using immunohistochemical staining and computerized overlaid photographs. Normal biopsied brains and metastatic brain tumors were also examined. The intensity of nestin expression corresponded to the tumor grade. All 33 glioblastoma cases showed positive and extensive staining, which was less positive in diffuse astrocytoma. Overlaid images showed that nestin immunostaining delineated tumor invasion into adjacent gray and white matter. Nestin is a useful marker for examining the infiltration of malignant cells into surrounding tissue.
Kitai
Ryuhei
R
Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Fukui University, Matsuoka, Yoshida-gun, Fukui 910-1193, Japan. kitai@u-fukui.ac.jp
Horita
Ryosuke
R
Sato
Kazufumi
K
Yoshida
Kazuhiko
K
Arishima
Hidetaka
H
Higashino
Yoshifumi
Y
Hashimoto
Norichika
N
Takeuchi
Hiroaki
H
Kubota
Toshihiko
T
Kikuta
Ken-Ichiro
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D064231:Nestin; D055815:Young Adult
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; C577484:NES protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D064231:Nestin