Immunohistochemical analysis of hSNF5/INI1 in pediatric CNS neoplasms

Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) may be misdiagnosed as primitive neuroectodermal tumor/medulloblastoma (PNET) and occasionally as other tumors. Molecular genetic analysis of AT/RT demonstrates deletion and mutation of the hSNF5/INI1 gene in most cases, with decreased or absent expression at the RNA or protein level. Immunohistochemistry with an antibody to INI1 was performed to determine whether this would be a sensitive and specific means of assessing INI1 loss in pediatric brain tumors. Fifty-three tumors consisting of 20 AT/RTs, 10 PNETs, and 23 other central nervous system tumors were examined. No nuclear staining was found in all 20 AT/RTs. Most other central nervous system tumors demonstrated nuclear staining. Eight cases in which classification as AT/RT or PNET was difficult were also examined. Seven cases had no chromosome 22 deletion or INI1 mutation; INI1 antibody showed nuclear staining in these cases. One case was a recurrent tumor with features consistent with an AT/RT. INI1 immunostaining was negative in this case, and a mutation in INI1 was subsequently identified. Immunohistochemical staining with an INI1 antibody correlates with molecular findings in AT/RT and may be useful in confirming the histologic diagnosis. INI1 immunostaining may have particular utility in the analysis of tumors with indeterminate histologic features or atypical immunophenotypic profiles.