Abstract
Purpose
Neuroblastoma (NBL) is a tumor from neural crest cells, and is the most frequent solid tumor in children. Midkine (MK) is a pleiotropin analogon, which is frequently expressed in neuronal and epithelial tumors and is a marker for a poor clinical outcome. The aims of this study were to assess MK expression in NBL and investigate the correlation with clinical outcome.
Methods
Fifty-six specimens of NBL were stained for MK on a tissue microarray by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Fresh frozen tumor tissues were used for RNA isolation, and RT-PCR analysis for MK-mRNA expression was performed. Survival data, risk factors and disease stages were correlated with MK status assessed by IHC and RT-PCR analysis.
Results
MK-mRNA expression was found in the majority of the tumor tissues (75%), whereas MK protein could be detected only in 46% of the NBL by IHC. No correlation of MK status with survival, risk factors or disease stage was observed.
Conclusion
A majority of NBL express MK-mRNA, whereas not all MK mRNA positive tumors showed also a positive MK IHC staining. The high expression of MK-mRNA expression might present a promising target for new adenovirus-based gene therapeutic approaches for the treatment of NBL.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Mrs. Beate Roth, the medical student Mrs. E. Varol and Mrs. A. Krickhahn, Dept. Pediatric Surgery, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, and Mr. A. Looft, Dept. Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf for technical assistance.
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Fiegel, H.C., Kaifi, J.T., Wachowiak, R. et al. Midkine is highly expressed in neuroblastoma tissues. Pediatr Surg Int 24, 1355–1359 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-008-2263-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-008-2263-0