Detection of N-Glycolyl GM3 Ganglioside in Neuroectodermal Tumors by Immunohistochemistry: An Attractive Vaccine Target for Aggressive Pediatric Cancer

SCURSONI AM; L. GALLUZZO; CAMARERO S; LOPEZ J; LUBIENICKI F; SAMPOR C; VALERIA I. SEGATORI; GABRI MARIANO R; ALONSO DANIEL F; GUILLERMO CHANTADA; DAVILA, MARÍA

CLINICAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY

HINDAWI PUBLISHING CORPORATION

Lugar: New York; Año: 2011 vol. 2011 p. 245181 - 245181

1740-2522

The N-glycolylated ganglioside NeuGc-GM3 has been described in solid tumors such as breast carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer and melanoma, but is usually not detected in normal human cells. Our aim was to evaluate the presence of NeuGc-GM3 in pediatric neuroectodermal tumors by immunohistochemistry. Twenty-seven archival cases of neuroblastoma and Ewing sarcoma family of tumors (ESFT) were analyzed. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor samples were cut into 5-μm sections. The monoclonal antibody 14F7, a mouse IgG1 that specifically recognizes NeuGc-GM3, and a peroxidase-labeled polymer conjugated to secondary antibodies were used. Presence of NeuGc-GM3 was evident in 23 of 27 cases (85%), with an average of about 70% of positive tumors cells. Immunoreactivity was moderate to intense in most tumors, showing a diffuse cytoplasmic and membranous staining, although cases of ESFT demonstrated a fine granular cytoplasmic pattern. No significant differences were observed between neuroblastoma with and without NMYC oncogene amplification, suggesting that expression of NeuGc-GM3 is preserved in more aggressive cancers. Until now, the expression of N-glycolylated gangliosides in pediatric neuroectodermal tumors has not been investigated. The present study evidenced the expression of NeuGc-GM3 in a high proportion of neuroectodermal tumors, suggesting its potential utility as a specific target of immunotherapy.