Oncotargets GD2 and GD3 are highly expressed in sarcomas of children, adolescents, and young adults.
GD2 and GD3 are the tumor-associated glycolipid antigens found in a broad spectrum of human cancers. GD2-specific antibody is currently a standard of care for high-risk neuroblastoma therapy. In this study, the pattern of GD2 and GD3 expression among pediatric/adolescent or young adult tumors was determined, providing companion diagnostics for targeted therapy.



Ninety-two specimens of human osteosarcoma (OS), rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), Ewing family of tumors, desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT), and melanoma were analyzed for GD2/GD3 expression by immunohistochemistry. Murine monoclonal antibody 3F8 was used for GD2 staining, and R24 for GD3. Staining was scored according to both intensity and percentage of positive tumor cells from 0 to 4.



Both gangliosides were highly prevalent in OS and melanoma. Among other tumors, GD3 expression was higher than GD2 expression. Most OS samples demonstrated strong staining for GD2 and GD3, whereas expression for other tumors was highly variable. Mean intensity of GD2 expression was significantly more heterogeneous (P < 0.001) when compared to GD3 across tumor types. When assessing the difference between GD2 and GD3 expression in all tumor types combined, GD3 expression had a significantly higher score (P = 0.049). When analyzed within each cancer, GD3 expression was significantly higher only in DSRCT (P = 0.002). There was no statistical difference in either GD2 or GD3 expression between primary and recurrent sarcomas.



GD2/GD3 expression among pediatric solid tumors is common, albeit with variable level of expression. Especially for patients with sarcoma, these gangliosides can be potential targets for antibody-based therapies.
Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York.
Konstantin
K
Dobrenkov
Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York.
Irina
I
Ostrovnaya
Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York.
Jessie
J
Gu
Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York.
Irene Y
IY
Cheung
Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York.
Nai-Kong V
NK
Cheung
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000737:chemistry*; D055815:Young Adult
D005732:Gangliosides; C026226:ganglioside, GD3; C019403:ganglioside, GD2
DSRCT; GD2; GD3; melanoma; sarcoma