title: Immunohistochemical analyses of alpha1 and alpha3 Na+/K+-ATPase subunit expression in medulloblastomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The levels of expression of the α1 and α3 subunits of the Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase (the NaK sodium pump) in medulloblastomas are unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study investigated the expression of the NaK subunits using immunohistochemical methods in 29 medulloblastomas including 23 classic, three large-cell/anaplastic and three nodular/desmoplastic medulloblastomas, as well as in three atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (AT/RTs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was overexpression of the α1 or α3 NaK subunits in more than half of the medulloblastomas and atypical AT/RTs, with about one-third of these tumours displaying overexpression of both subunits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary data suggest that targeting these subunits in AT/RTs and medulloblastomas that overexpress these proteins may lead to therapeutic benefit. These findings warrant confirmation in larger numbers of patients than those used in this study. Moreover, it should be determined whether inhibition of the α1/α3 NaK subunits can be integrated into the risk stratification schemes already in use for medulloblastoma patients.
authors.affiliation: Service de Neurochirurgie, Hôpital Erasme, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 808 route de Lennik, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Mariona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suñol
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cusi
authors.forename: Ofelia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kiss
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lefranc
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000378:metabolism*; D018335:Rhabdoid Tumor / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism*; D013724:Teratoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: C488756:ATP1A3 protein, human; D021122:Protein Subunits; C499076:ATP1A1 protein, human; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase