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Updated: Aug 16, 2026
Quantitative Immunohistochemistry of the Cellular Microenvironment in Patient Glioblastoma Resections
Published on: July 31, 2017
CD117 expression in glial tumors
Neslihan Cetin1, Gerald Dienel, Murat Gokden
1Department of Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham St., Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.
Abstract:
C-kit is a proto-oncogene involved in normal growth and development and neoplastic processes, and its product, CD117, is a highly specific immunohistochemical diagnostic marker for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Because GISTs that express immunohistochemically-detectable CD117 respond dramatically to treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, identification of central nervous system tumors that express CD117 might open new therapeutic approaches for treatment of brain tumors. Specimens from 52 glial tumors of various histologic types and grades were assayed for CD117 immunoreactivity, and about 75% of the tumors were positive for CD117 expression; all except a few exhibited strong cytoplasmic and membranous staining. The proportion of high grade tumors of all tumor types with detectable CD117 immunoreactivity was statistically significantly greater than low grade tumors, and glioblastoma and anaplastic oligodendroglioma showed the highest staining grade. These findings support further investigation into the possibility that CD117 has an important role in growth of glial tumors and that patients with brain tumors expressing CD117 might benefit from treatment with receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Insights
CD117 expression is common in brain tumors, particularly high-grade gliomas. This finding suggests CD117 may drive tumor growth and could be a target for new brain tumor treatments.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Molecular pathology
- Cancer biology
Background:
- C-kit (CD117) is a proto-oncogene crucial in development and cancer.
- CD117 is a specific marker for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs).
- GISTs expressing CD117 respond well to tyrosine kinase inhibitors, suggesting therapeutic potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate CD117 expression in central nervous system (CNS) tumors.
- To determine if CD117 expression correlates with tumor grade or type.
- To explore potential therapeutic implications of CD117 in brain tumors.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical assay for CD117 expression.
- Analysis of 52 glial tumor specimens of diverse histologic types and grades.
- Statistical comparison of CD117 immunoreactivity across tumor grades.
Main Results:
- CD117 immunoreactivity was detected in approximately 75% of glial tumors.
- Strong cytoplasmic and membranous staining was observed in most positive cases.
- High-grade tumors, including glioblastoma and anaplastic oligodendroglioma, showed significantly higher CD117 expression than low-grade tumors.
Conclusions:
- CD117 is frequently expressed in glial tumors, especially high-grade types.
- CD117 may play a role in the growth of brain tumors.
- Targeting CD117 with receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors could offer new therapeutic strategies for brain tumor patients.
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