Heparanase Expression and TrkC/p75NTR Ratios in Human Medulloblastoma

ND Sinnappah-Kang, RE Mrak, DB Paulsen… - Clinical & experimental …, 2006 - Springer
ND Sinnappah-Kang, RE Mrak, DB Paulsen, D Marchetti
Clinical & experimental metastasis, 2006Springer
Medulloblastoma (MB), the most devastating and common brain tumor in children, is highly
invasive and extremely difficult to treat. Identifying the properties of MB tumors that cause
them to invade and metastasize is therefore imperative for the development of novel
treatments. We performed investigations to elucidate prognostic implications of heparanase
(HPSE-1) and TrkC/p75 NTR expression in MB using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded
(FFPE) MB clinical specimens from children aged 1–19 years. Expressions of p75 NTR and …
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB), the most devastating and common brain tumor in children, is highly invasive and extremely difficult to treat. Identifying the properties of MB tumors that cause them to invade and metastasize is therefore imperative for the development of novel treatments. We performed investigations to elucidate prognostic implications of heparanase (HPSE-1) and TrkC/p75NTR expression in MB using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) MB clinical specimens from children aged 1–19 years. Expressions of p75NTR and HPSE-1 correlated with each other (Pearson’s correlation R = 0.899; P < 0.0001; R 2 = 81%; n = 14). In addition, TrkC:p75NTR ratios correlated with MB meningeal spread (R = 0.608; P = 0.0212; R 2 = 37%; n = 14). Secondly, using antibodies specific to TrkC and HPSE-1, we carried out immunohistochemistry (IHC) on 22 human MB tissue samples. IHC reaction scores revealed a significant expression of HPSE-1 in 76% of MB tissues from children aged 3 years and older (P = 0.0490; n = 17) while TrkC immunoreactivity was detected in 71% of these patient samples. Of note, TrkC was significantly present in 100% of MB female patients (P = 0.0313; n = 6). These studies support the role of p75NTR and HPSE-1 as two novel molecular determinants involved in the biology and clinical progression of MB.
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