Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Glial fibrillary acidic protein expression is an indicator of teratoma maturation in children

  • Original Article
  • Published:
World Journal of Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

The present diagnosis of teratomas is limited to visual examination of their tissues. For the sake of treatment, teratomas are graded according to degrees of nerve tissue maturation. Mature fetal nerve tissue contains the astrocyte-specific intermediate filament protein, the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). This study aimed to investigate GFAP expressions in the nerve tissue of immature and mature teratomas, and to evaluate if GFAP is indicative of teratoma maturation in pediatric patients.

Methods

Nerve tissue specimens were collected from immature (10 children) and mature teratomas (45 children). Nerve tissue specimens as a control group were taken from 33 children with neuroblastoma. GFAP expression of the specimens was studied by immunohistochemical and semi-quantitative analyses.

Results

GFAP expression was low in the nerve tissue of immature teratomas and high in that of mature ones. A semi-quantitative analysis confirmed statistically significant difference between the GFAP expressions of immature and mature teratomas (P=0.0001).

Conclusion

GFAP is highly expressed in the nerve tissue of mature teratomas and low in that of immature ones, suggesting that the GFAP expression is a meaningful indicator of teratoma maturation. It is helpful for pathologists to diagnose and classify teratomas.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Harms D, Zahn S, Göbel U, Schneider DT. Pathology and molecular biology of teratomas in childhood and adolescence. Klin Padiatr 2006;218:296–302.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Gonzalez-Crussi F. Extragonadal teratoma. Atlas of tumor pathology, 2nd series, fascicle 18. Washington, DC: Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Heifetz SA, Cushing B, Giller R, Shuster JJ, Stolar CJ, Vinocur CD, et al. Immature teratomas in children: pathologic considerations: a report from the combined Pediatric Oncology Group/Children’s Cancer Group. Am J Surg Pathol 1998;22:1115–1124.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Notohara K, Hsueh CL, Awai M. Glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity of chondrocytes in immature and mature teratomas. Acta Pathol Jpn 1990;40:335–342.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Simon R, Mirlacher M, Sauter G. Tissue microarrays. Biotechniques 2004;36:98–105.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Culine S, Lhomme C, Kattan J, Michel G, Duvillard P, Droz JP. Pure malignant immature teratoma of the ovary: the role of chemotherapy and second-look surgery. Int J Gynecol Cancer 1995;5:432–437.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Göbel U, Calaminus G, Schneider DT, Koch S, Teske C, Harms D. The malignant potential of teratomas in infancy and childhood: the MAKEI experiences in non-testicular teratoma and implications for a new protocol. Klin Padiatr 2006;218:309–314.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Cushing B, Giller R, Ablin A, Cohen L, Cullen J, Hawkins E, et al. Surgical resection alone is effective treatment for ovarian immature teratoma in children and adolescents: a report of the pediatric oncology group and the children’s cancer group. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999;181:353–358.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Fan Q, Huang H, Lian L, Lang J. Characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of hepatic metastasis of pure immature ovarian teratoma. Chin Med J 2001;114:506–509.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Mann JR, Gray ES, Thornton C, Raafat F, Robinson K, Collins GS, et al. Mature and immature extracranial teratomas in children: the UK Children’s Cancer Study Group Experience. J Clin Oncol 2008;26:3590–3597.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Kim E, Bae TS, Kwon Y, Kim TH, Chung KW, Kim SW, et al. Primary malignant teratoma with a primitive neuroectodermal tumor component in thyroid gland: a case report. J Korean Med Sci 2007;22:568–571.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Rutka JT, Smith SL. Transfection of human astrocytoma cells with glial fibrillary acidic protein complementary DNA: analysis of expression, proliferation and tumorigenicity. Cancer Res 1993;53:3624–3631.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Malhotra S, Shnitkn T, Elabrink J. Reactive astrocytes. A review. Cytobios 1990;61:133–160.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Kang MK, Ahn YC, Park JO, Han J, Lee KS. Lung metastasis from an immature teratoma of the nasal cavity masquerading as small cell carcinoma of the lung. Yonsei Med J 2006;47:571–574.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200127, China

    Song Gu & Li Hong

  2. Department of Pathology, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200127, China

    Zhong-De Zhang & Min-Zhi Yin

  3. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200092, China

    Ye-Ming Wu

  4. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai, 200092, China

    Ye-Ming Wu

Authors
  1. Song Gu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ye-Ming Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Li Hong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zhong-De Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Min-Zhi Yin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ye-Ming Wu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gu, S., Wu, YM., Hong, L. et al. Glial fibrillary acidic protein expression is an indicator of teratoma maturation in children. World J Pediatr 7, 262–265 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12519-011-0258-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12519-011-0258-8

Key words

Search

Navigation