Polysialic Acid Overexpression in Malignant Astrocytomas

Overview

Journal Acta Neurochir (Wien)

Specialty Neurosurgery

Date 2009 Apr 24

PMID 19387537

Citations 21

Authors

Athanasios K Petridis

Hanna Wedderkopp

Hans Hermann Hugo

Hubertus Maximilian Mehdorn

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: Polysialic acid (PSA) is a carbohydrate binding on the neural cell adhesion molecule NCAM and impedes cell-cell interactions. It prevents neural progenitor cell differentiation and promotes their migration. Highly malignant tumours like small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) also overexpress PSA and this correlates with a negative prognosis.

Methods: Intra-operatively collected biopsies from 30 patients with different astrocytoma grades were immuno-histochemically examined to identify expression of PSA.

Results: Astrocytoma grade I and II had 4% PSA expressing cells whereas in grade III and IV the number of PSA expressing cells was 45%. This difference was statistically highly significant.

Conclusion: In this short communication we show that highly malignant astrocytomas express significantly more PSA compared to less malignant astrocytomas. Cleavage of PSA could be used in future therapeutic approaches.

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