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Published on: August 25, 2021
Nestin expression in central nervous system germ cell tumors
1Department of Neurosurgery, Yamagata University School of Medicine, 2-2-2 Iidanishi, Yamagata, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan. kasakura@med.id.yamagata-u.ac.jp
Neurosurgical Review
|December 20, 2007
Summary
Nestin protein expression in central nervous system (CNS) germ cell tumors may predict tumor spread. Detecting nestin in these rare pediatric brain tumors could aid in managing dissemination and progression.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Developmental Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Central nervous system (CNS) germ cell tumors are rare, primarily affecting children and adolescents, originating from displaced primordial germ cells.
- While treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy have improved outcomes, some CNS germ cell tumors remain refractory.
- Nestin, an intermediate filament protein, marks undifferentiated cells and is found in CNS tumors, including brain tumor stem cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate nestin expression in various types of CNS germ cell tumors for the first time.
- To determine the correlation between nestin expression and clinical behavior, specifically tumor dissemination and progression.
Main Methods:
- Examined nestin protein expression in 19 CNS germ cell tumors, including germinomas, yolk sac tumors, choriocarcinomas, embryonal carcinomas, and teratomas.
- Correlated nestin expression levels with clinical data on tumor dissemination.
Main Results:
- Nestin was expressed in 14 out of 19 CNS germ cell tumors.
- Nestin was not detected in pure germinomas or mature teratomas.
- Nestin-negative tumors showed no dissemination, while all disseminating tumors strongly expressed nestin.
Conclusions:
- Nestin expression is a potential biomarker in CNS germ cell tumors.
- Detecting nestin could serve as an auxiliary predictor for tumor dissemination and progression in CNS germ cell tumors.
- This finding may assist in the clinical management of these rare pediatric neoplasms.
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