lmmunohistochemical demonstration of neuronal and astrocytic markers and oncofoetal antigens in retinoblastomas

Abstract

General opinion is that retinoblastomas, though not everyone agrees with that view. Some authors suggest that retinoblastomas are derived from a primitive retinal cell able to differentiate into both neuronal and glial cell lines. The aim of tlie present work was to study immunohistocheniically tlie expression of neuronal and astrocytic markers in retinoblastomas and at the same time the presence of tlie oncofoetal antigens carcinocnihryoiiic antigen (CEA) and alpha Focto Protein (AFP). since patients with retinoblastomas often show high oncofoctal antigen in serum levels. For this purpose we cnnployed the strcptavidin-biotin inimunopcroxidase technique in 13 cases of retinobla5toma to evaluate the presence ancl distribution of neuron-specific enolase (NSE). neurofilament protein (NF), glial fihrillary acidic piutein (GFAP), S-l00 protein. CEA and AFP. All 13 tumours \tudicd stained for NSE. Seven of them showed GFAP- and S-l00 positive per ivasc~~lgalri al cells as well as cells distributed randomly in the tuniour that were interpreted as non tumour cells. All 13 retinohlustomas lacked detectable NF, CEA, and AFP. These results \ ~ ~ p p o rtth e idea that retinoblastomas are neuronal tumour\. although retinal glial cells may become incorporated in the tumour and proliferate in response to the t u ~ ~ i o u