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Flow cytometry dna ploidy analysis and catecholamine secretion profiles in neuroblastoma
Author(s) -
Abramowsky Carlos R.,
Taylor Suzanne R.,
Anton Aaron H.,
Berk Ana I.,
Roederer Mario,
Murphy Robert F.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19900501)63:9<1752::aid-cncr2820630916>3.0.co;2-7
Subject(s) - neuroblastoma , homovanillic acid , catecholamine , dopamine , dna , medicine , flow cytometry , endocrinology , secretion , biology , ploidy , norepinephrine , pathology , cancer research , microbiology and biotechnology , cell culture , biochemistry , genetics , serotonin , gene , receptor
Previous studies have shown that catecholamine secretion patterns have been imperfect predictors of clinical behavior of neuroblastomas. Recently, studies of nuclear DNA content in neuroblastoma have shown that an aneuploid DNA content predicts favorable clinical behavior. To determine if a correlation exists between these tumor biologic indicators, the authors analyzed both in a series of 39 patients with neuroblastoma. Flow cytometric DNA analysis performed on paraffin blocks determined that 23 patients had tumors with aneuploid DNA content (aneuploid tumors) and 16 patients showed no demonstrable anomalies of tumor DNA content (nonaneuploid tumors). Comparison of catecholamine levels in urine and tumor homogenates with DNA content data indicate that nonaneuploid neuroblastomas include a significant number (P < 0.02) of biochemically primitive tumors which secrete high levels of 3,4 dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), dopamine and homovanillic acid (HVA). This suggests a dopamine‐norepinephrine pathway block, which supports previous reports of deficiency of dopamine β‐hydroxylasc activity in some neuroblastomas. The study shows that in contrast to aneuploid tumors, nonaneuploid neuroblastomas secrete higher levels of early pathway catecholamine metabolites and are more likely to present in higher (unfavorable) clinical stages of disease.