Expression of the cluster 1 antigen (neural cell adhesion molecule) in neuroectodermal tumours.

In this study, we have investigated the expression of the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) in the human brain, primary brain tumours and neuroblastoma. Adult brain was found to express discrete isoforms of 180, 170, 140 and 120 kDa, which on neuraminidase treatment resolved into bands of 180, 170, 140, 120 and 95 kDa. Primary brain tumours such as Schwannoma and medulloblastoma expressed embryonic NCAM characterised by a high level of glycosylation, whereas other tumours, e.g. astrocytoma, meningioma, glioma and oligodendroglioma expressed adult NCAM. Post-neuraminidase treatment, differential expression of the 180, 170, 140, 120 and 95 kDa isoforms were noted in these various tumour types. On the other hand, neuroblastoma cell lines were found to express only embryonic NCAM, which after neuraminidase treatment resulted in differential presence of only 180, 140 and 120 kDa proteins.