Identification of tumoral glial precursor cells in neuroblastoma.

Sandra Acosta, Gemma Mayol, Eva Rodríguez, Cinzia Lavarino, Katleen de Preter, Candy Kumps, Idoia Garcia, Carmen de Torres, Jaume Mora

Index: Cancer Lett. 312(1) , 73-81, (2011)

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Abstract

Neuroblastic tumors (NBT) are composed by neuroblasts and Schwannian-like stroma. The origin of these two cell subtypes remains unclear. In this study, we describe, a neuroblastic-like subpopulation in neuroblastoma (NB) coexpressing GD2 and S100A6, neuroblastic and glial lineage markers respectively. The GD2(+)/S100A6(+) neuroblastic subpopulation was found to be enriched in low risk NB, distributed around the perivascular niche. Some stromal bundles showed GD2(+)/S100A6 costaining. Metastatic bone marrow specimens also showed GD2(+)/S100A6(+) cells. During in vitro retinoic acid induced differentiation of NB cell lines, rare GD2(+)/S100A6 neuroblatic cells appeared. We conclude that GD2(+)/S100A6(+) neuroblasts may represent a tumoral glial precursor subpopulation in NBT.Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.