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Differential expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAM), neural CAM and epithelial cadherin in ependymomas and choroid plexus tumors

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Abstract

A series of frozen specimens of 18 ependymomas and 7 choroid plexus tumors were examined for their expression of cell adhesion molecules, such as neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), its polysialylated isoforms (PSA NCAM), and epithelial (E-) cadherin, and of intermediate filament proteins, such as glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and cytokeratin, using various monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. Normal choroid plexus and ependyma were taken as controls. Anti-E-cadherin immunoreactivity was observed on the basolateral part of most adult choroid plexus and benign choroid plexus papilloma cells. However, a small number of atypical papillomas and carcinoma cells showed anti- E-cadherin immunoreactivity throughout their cell surface membrane. NCAM were not expressed by adult choroid plexus and benign papilloma cells. Only a few cells expressed NCAM and PSA NCAM in developing choroid plexus, atypical papillomas and carcinomas. Cytokeratin expression was always observed in choroid plexus and their tumors; GFAP expression was variable from case to case. In contrast, ependymal cells and their tumors never expressed E-cadherin but strongly expressed NCAM. PSA NCAM was found in ependymomas exhibiting anaplastic features. All ependymomas strongly expressed GFAP and a few demonstrated slight expression of cytokeratin. These data suggest that, besides GFAP and cytokeratin, NCAM and E-cadherin are of potential diagnostic value in distinguishing choroid plexus tumors from ependymomas. E-cadherin and NCAM may play a role in the functional organization of normal choroid plexus and ependyma, respectively. In particular, incomplete or irregular anti-E-cadherin expression in choroid plexus tumors and PSA NCAM immunoreativity in ependymomas and choroid plexus tumors correlates with the emergence of anaplastic histological features.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Biopathologie Nerveuse et Musculaire, Faculté de Médecine, 27 Bd. Jean Moulin, F-13005, Marseille, France

    Dominique Figarella-Branger, Hubert Lepidi, Christian Poncet, Danielle Gambarelli, Nicole Bianco & Jean-François Pellissier

  2. Laboratoire de Génétique et de Physiologie du Développement, CNRS case 907, Université de Luminy, F-13009, Marseille, France

    Dominique Figarella-Branger & Geneviève Rougon

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  1. Dominique Figarella-Branger
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  2. Hubert Lepidi
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  3. Christian Poncet
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  4. Danielle Gambarelli
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  6. Geneviève Rougon
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  7. Jean-François Pellissier
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Figarella-Branger, D., Lepidi, H., Poncet, C. et al. Differential expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAM), neural CAM and epithelial cadherin in ependymomas and choroid plexus tumors. Acta Neuropathol 89, 248–257 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00309340

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00309340

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