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Intermediate filament expression in astrocytic neoplasms.
M Cosgrove1, P L Fitzgibbons, A Sherrod
1Department of Pathology, Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center 90033.
The American Journal of Surgical Pathology
|February 1, 1989
Summary
Keratin and vimentin intermediate filaments are commonly expressed in astrocytic neoplasms, irrespective of tumor grade. This finding is consistent across various histological subtypes, including well-differentiated astrocytomas, anaplastic astrocytomas, and glioblastomas multiforme.
Area of Science:
- Neuropathology
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Astrocytic neoplasms exhibit diverse histological features.
- Intermediate filament protein expression is crucial for cell structure and function.
- Understanding protein expression patterns aids in classifying and diagnosing brain tumors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of intermediate filament proteins in astrocytic neoplasms.
- To correlate the expression of keratin, vimentin, desmin, neurofilament protein, and GFAP with histological subtypes.
- To determine the diagnostic utility of these markers in astrocytic tumors.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis of 30 paraffin-embedded astrocytic neoplasms.
- Utilized monoclonal antibodies against keratin (AE1/AE3, 34 beta E12, 34 beta H11), vimentin, desmin, 200-kd neurofilament protein, and GFAP.
- Correlated protein expression with histological subtypes: well-differentiated astrocytomas (WDAs), anaplastic astrocytomas (ANAs), and glioblastomas multiforme (GBMs).
Main Results:
- Keratin expression (AE1/AE3) was observed in 80% of cases across all grades.
- Vimentin expression was detected in 80% of cases, with higher prevalence in ANAs and GBMs (92%).
- Coexpression of keratin and vimentin occurred in 67% of tumors; GFAP was universally expressed (100%).
- No reactivity was found for desmin or 200-kd neurofilament protein.
Conclusions:
- Keratin and vimentin intermediate filament expression is a common feature in astrocytic neoplasms.
- This expression pattern is largely independent of the tumor's histological grade.
- The findings support the utility of keratin and vimentin as markers in the study of astrocytic tumors.