Diagnostic value of microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP-2) for neuroendocrine neoplasms

Microtubule associated proteins (MAPs) are major components of cytoskeleton proteins associated with microtubule assembly. Microtubule associated protein-2 (MAP-2), a component of the MAP family, has been shown to be specifically expressed in neuronally differentiated cells, and has been previously used as a sensitive and specific marker for neurons. Immunoreactivity of MAP-2 has been demonstrated in most neuroendocrine and neuroectodermal related neoplasms such as small cell carcinoma, large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, carcinoid tumor of the lung, Merkel cell carcinoma of the skin, medulloblastoma, neurocytoma of the central nervous system, extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma and carcinoid tumor, and malignant melanomas. This report details the diagnostic value of MAP-2 on tumors with neuroendocrine differentiation and neoplasms derived from the neural crest.