ASSESSMENT OF MUSCARINIC AND NICOTINIC ACETYLCHOLINE RECEPTOR EXPRESSION IN PRIMITIVE NEUROECTODERMAL TUMOR/EWING FAMILY OF TUMOR AND DESMOPLASTIC SMALL ROUND CELL TUMOR: AN IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL AND WESTERN BLOT STUDY OF TISSUE MICROARRAY AND CELL LINES.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Schlauder, Scott M.; Steffensen, Thora S.; Morgan, Michael; Letson, Douglas G.; Pledger, Warren J.; Ma, Le; Bui, Marilyn M.
- Source
- Fetal & Pediatric Pathology. Mar/Apr2008, Vol. 27 Issue 2, p83-97. 15p. 4 Color Photographs, 3 Charts.
- Subject
- *TUMORS
*CHOLINERGIC receptors
*MUSCARINIC receptors
*NICOTINIC receptors
*WESTERN immunoblotting
*IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY
- Language
- ISSN
- 1551-3815
The primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET)/Ewing family of tumors (EFT) and desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) portend a grave prognosis. Ongoing research in similar neurocrest-derived neoplasms has implicated both the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) in the pathogenesis of these neoplasms. Acetylcholine has been reported to impart a modulatory effect on chemotaxis and proliferation, an effect ameliorated by anticholinergic drugs. The aim of our study is to characterize the pattern of expression of mAChR and nAChR in PNET/EFT and DSRCT, in hopes of discovering a potential target for therapeutic improvements. We examined 34 cases of PNET/EFT and 2 DSRCT retrospectively by immunohistochemical studies. We found that AChRs are overexpressed in a significant number of PNET/EFT and DSRCT. The Western blot analysis of 3 human Ewing sarcoma cell lines confirms the presence of AChRs. Future studies are planned to confirm these results as well as to investigate their potential therapeutic implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]