Chromogranin A in human neuroendocrine tumors: an immunohistochemical study with region-specific antibodies

• Published in: The American journal of surgical pathology Vol. 25; no. 10; p. 1261
• Main Authors: Portel-Gomes, G M, Grimelius, L, Johansson, H, Wilander, E, Stridsberg, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.10.2001
• Subjects: Adenoma - metabolism; Adenoma - pathology; Bronchial Neoplasms - metabolism; Bronchial Neoplasms - pathology; Carcinoid Tumor - metabolism; Carcinoid Tumor - pathology; Carcinoma, Medullary - metabolism; Carcinoma, Medullary - pathology; Chromogranin A; Chromogranins - classification; Chromogranins - immunology; Chromogranins - metabolism; Digestive System Neoplasms - metabolism; Digestive System Neoplasms - pathology; Endocrine Gland Neoplasms - metabolism; Endocrine Gland Neoplasms - pathology; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Insulinoma - metabolism; Insulinoma - pathology; Pheochromocytoma - metabolism; Pheochromocytoma - pathology
• DOI: 10.1097/00000478-200110000-00006
• ISSN: 0147-5185

Antibodies to six specific regions of the chromogranin A (CgA) molecule were used to study their immunoreactivity in human neuroendocrine (NE) tumors. Tissue specimens from endocrine pancreatic tumors (n = 14), duodenal carcinoids (n = 2), bronchial carcinoids (n = 5), ileal carcinoids (n = 5) appendix carcinoids (n = 2), medullary thyroid carcinomas (n = 6), parathyroid adenomas (n = 2), and pheochromocytomas (n = 8) were analyzed. The results showed that the NE tumor types expressed varying numbers of CgA fragments. A variation in frequency of the expression of immunoreactive cells was sometimes seen also within the same tumor type. The midportion fragment CgA 176-195 (chromacin) was the only fragment expressed in all tumors. Benign and malignant tumors expressed different patterns, being especially true of insulinomas and pheochromocytomas. These findings suggest that region-specific antibodies to CgA fragments can be used as a diagnostic tool for the characterization of NE tumors.