Immunophenotypical analysis and immunobiology of childhood brain tumors.

Cancer associated markers (CAMs) are the biochemical and immunological counterparts of the morphology of neoplasms. The expression of an immunocytochemically defined CAM is related to the tissue of origin and is not a random event. During the past two decades, the use of MoABs against oncofetal, neoplasm associated, cell lineage specific, endothelial, and cell proliferation related antigens in the diagnosis and biological assessment of prognosis in neoplastic disease gained increased importance. A sensitive direct correlation exists between the expression of certain molecules and the development of an invasive, highly malignant immunophenotype (IP) of neoplastic cells, allowing for the occurrence of angiogenesis and metastasis. Our systematic and detailed cellular IP analyses of 82 childhood brain tumors [34 medulloblastomas (MEDs)/primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs), 42 astrocytomas (ASTRs), 5 choroid plexus papillomas (CPPs) and 1 choroid plexus carcinoma (CPC)], was conducted using over 55 MoABs. An indirect, four-step, enzyme linked [alkaline phosphatase (AP) and peroxidase (PO)], biotin-streptavidin based, antigen detection technique was employed. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)