Human-specific c-neu proto-oncogene protein overexpression in human malignant astrocytomas before and after xenografting.

Overexpression of human-specific c-neu proto-oncogene transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor protein (p185) is an index of cell transformation and of poor patient survival in several malignancies. The authors studied this protein in low- and high-grade human malignant astrocytomas before and after xenografting into aspiration pockets in rat cortex. Human-specific p185c-neu-positive cells were found in tumor specimens from all grades of astrocytoma. Significantly fewer p185c-neu-positive cells were observed in the low-grade versus the high-grade astrocytomas examined (p < 0.05). Human specific p185c-neu-positive cells were also positive for the human major histocompatibility complex, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR, as well as glial fibrillary acidic protein and S-100 protein. Fresh suspensions of tumor tissue were prelabeled with the plant lectin Phaseolus vulgaris leukoagglutinin and xenografted into pockets in rat cortex. A class of human p185c-neu-positive cells found in tissue samples from all grades of astrocytoma migrated in the rat brain along parallel and intersecting nerve fibre bundles and basement membrane-lined surfaces. Migrated p185c-neu-positive cells were also positive for HLA-DR, Phaseolus vulgaris leukoagglutinin, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and S-100 protein, suggesting that they were in fact human astrocytoma cells. Simultaneous expression of human p185c-neu, HLA-DR, and glial fibrillary acidic protein was observed in a class of human malignant astrocytoma cells in both tumor tissue and xenografted cells that migrated into rat brain. These molecules are signature proteins for the study of the spread of human malignant astrocytomas in an animal model, and indicate that transformed human malignant astrocytoma cells can migrate within the parenchyma of the central nervous system and could play a role in the development of multifocal tumors.