rss
J Clin Pathol 2006;59:160-165 doi:10.1136/jcp.2004.023598
  • Original article

cDNA microarray analysis of cancer associated gene expression profiles in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours

  1. K Karube2,
  2. K Nabeshima1,
  3. M Ishiguro1,
  4. M Harada2,
  5. H Iwasaki1
  1. 1Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Nanakuma 7-45-1, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan
  2. 2Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Internal Medicine, Medicine and Surgery, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Science, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr K Karube
 Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Nanakuma 7-45-1, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan; xs255{at}cis.fukuoka-u.ac.jp
  • Accepted 22 April 2005

Abstract

Background: Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour (MPNST) is a highly aggressive malignancy that arises within peripheral nerves, and is associated with poor prognosis. Little is known about the underlying biology of MPNST, especially the mechanisms involved in cell proliferation, invasion, or escape from apoptosis.

Aims: To identify genes differentially expressed in MPNST compared with benign tumours, such as neurofibromas and schwannomas, by means of cDNA microarray analysis.

Methods: Six MPNST cases and five benign cases (three schwannomas and two neurofibromas) were analysed.

Results: Six genes (keratin 18, survivin, tenascin C, adenosine deaminase, collagen type VIa3, and collagen type VIIa1) were significantly upregulated in MPNST, whereas one gene, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 6, was downregulated in MPNST. Survivin and tenascin C expression was validated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Immunohistochemistry confirmed upregulation of survivin in MPNST at the protein level in six of eight cases compared with benign tumours. Tenascin C was also expressed at the invasive front and tumorous stroma in all MPNST cases. MPNST cells expressed tenascin C in four of nine cases.

Conclusions: Survivin and tenascin C may be associated with the malignant potential of MPNST and could be considered as potential therapeutic targets.

Footnotes

    This Article

    1. Abstract
    2. Full text
    3. PDF

    Responses

    1. Submit a response
    2. No responses published

    Register for free content

    The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

    Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.