DEC1 expression in 1p-aberrant oligodendroglial neoplasms
M. Preusser1, P. Birner2, I.M. Ambros3, P.F. Ambros3, H. Budka1, A.L. Harris4 and J.A. Hainfellner1
1Institute of Neurology, 2Institute of Clinical Pathology, Medical University Vienna, 3Children Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), St. Anna Children Hospital Vienna, Austria, and 4Cancer Research UK, Growth Factor Group, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
Offprint requests to: Dr. Johnnes A. Hainfellner, Institute of Neurology, AKH 4J, POB 48, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, A-1097 Vienna, Austria. e-mail: johannes.hainfellner@meduniwien.ac.at
Summary. Background. Expression of hypoxia-related tissue factors in 1p-aberrant oligodendroglial neoplasms diminishes patient outcome. Differentiated embryo-chondrocyte expressed gene 1 (DEC1) has been described as novel hypoxia-related tissue factor. In our study, we assessed the expression of DEC1 in 1p aberrant oligodendroglial neoplasms and its association with necrosis and expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha), carbonic anhydrase-9 (CA9), and vascular endothelial growth factor-mRNA (VEGF). Materials and methods. 44 primary and 16 recurrent oligodendroglial neoplasms with 1p-aberrations were investigated immunohistochemically for the expression of DEC1, HIF-1alpha, and CA9. Expression of VEGF was investigated using in situ hybridization. DEC1 expression was correlated with necrosis and with expression of HIF-1alpha, CA9, and VEGF. Results. DEC1 was expressed in tumor cell nuclei, and occasionally in nuclei of endothelial cells, and glial and neuronal cells of surrounding brain tissue. High expression (>10% of tumor cells immunolabeled) of DEC1 was found in 56 cases, low expression (<10% of tumor cells immunolabeled) was found in 3 cases. In 1 case no expression of DEC1 was evident. DEC1 expression showed no topographical association with necrosis or expression of HIF-1alpha, CA9, or VEGF. Conclusion. DEC1 expression is found in the majority of 1p-aberrant oligodendroglial neoplasms and does not correlate with necrosis or expression of HIF-1alpha, CA9, VEGF. Thus, immunohistochemical analysis of DEC1 expression is in our hands not suitable for detection of tissue hypoxia in this type of primary brain tumor. Histol Histopathol 20, 1173-1177 (2005)
Key words: Oligodendroglioma, Immunohisto-chemistry, Hypoxia
DOI: 10.14670/HH-20.1173