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Tenascin distribution in human brain tumours
P Castellani1, A Dorcaratto, A Siri
1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Genoa Medical School, Italy.
Acta Neurochirurgica
|January 1, 1995
Summary
Tenascin (TN) is a stromal marker, not a tumor marker, in intracranial growths. Its varied distribution in gliomas may affect treatment response to anti-TN antibodies.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Immunohistochemistry
- Cancer Biology
Background:
- Tenascin (TN) is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein implicated in various cellular processes.
- Its role as a specific marker for malignant tumors versus stromal component is not fully elucidated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression patterns of tenascin (TN) in various intracranial growths using immunohistochemistry.
- To determine if TN serves as a marker for neoplastic cells or the tumor stroma.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis of 180 intracranial growths.
- Utilized a monoclonal antibody specific for human tenascin (TN).
- Evaluated TN reactivity in neoplastic cells and stromal components across different tumor types.
Main Results:
- Tenascin (TN) was predominantly found in the stroma of all intracranial growths studied, including meningiomas, gliomas, metastases, abscesses, and tuberculomas.
- Neoplastic cells in meningiomas were largely negative for TN, with stromal positivity noted.
- Gliomas showed variable TN reactivity in both cellular and stromal components, with higher heterogeneity in anaplastic astrocytomas and glioblastomas.
Conclusions:
- The findings support the hypothesis that tenascin (TN) functions as a stromal marker rather than a direct marker of malignant tumor cells.
- The heterogeneous distribution of TN in anaplastic gliomas could influence the efficacy of treatments using radiolabeled anti-TN monoclonal antibodies.