Immunohistochemical markers in (ganglio)neuroblastomas

17 commercially available antibodies were applied on formalin fixed and paraffin embedded tissues of neuroblastomas (NBLs, n = 20), ganglioneuroblastomas (GNBLs, n = 7) and ganglioneuromas (GNs, n = 7), to assess their reliability as markers for neuroendocrine differentiation and the degree of tumor cell maturation. Our results indicate, that antibodies directed to neuron specific enolase, HISL 19, dopamine beta-hydroxylase, neurofilament, EGC, LK2H10 and leucocyte common antigen may be useful in discrimination of neuroblastomas from non-neuroendocrine round and small cell tumors in routinely processed tissue. Antibodies to neuron specific enolase, EGC, PGP 9.5, VIP, and S 100 protein may contribute to the determination of the maturation grade of (ganglio)neuroblastomas.