Immunohistochemical staining for ferritin in neuroblastomas

Abstract

Immunohistochemical staining for ferritin was examined in 35 neuroblastomas from 27 children and compared with serum ferritin levels. All but two of the patients presented with advanced (stages III and IV) disease, and the adrenal was the most common primary site (20/27, 74%). Immunostaining was positive in only one of 14 tumour biopsies taken at the time of diagnosis (7%), but eight of 21 neuroblastomas (38%) marked for ferritin after chemotherapy. No consistent association was established between tumour- and serum-associated ferritins in the untreated or treated groups. Ferritin staining in treated neuroblastomas was usually more marked in partly differentiated tumour cells. The increased frequency of ferritin positive neuroblastomas after chemotherapy appeared to be associated with large local accumulations of ferritin and haemosiderin within the treated tumours, and (probably) with the blood transfusions which these children received.

Mobilization of iron from cellular ferritin by ascorbic acid in neuroblastoma SK‐N‐SH cells: an EPR study

“…The serum ferritin level is also known to be a tumour marker in neuroblastoma patients [10]. In addition, as it could be demonstrated for other tumour cells, neuroblastoma tissue contains high amounts of ferritin intracellularly [11,12].…”

“…These effects were especially pronounced in the presence of small amounts of H202 and transition metals like iron [28,29]. Therefore, oxidative damage in neuroblastoma cells may be supported by an initial reductive release of iron from the large ferritin pool [11,12] and by high amounts of intracellularly produced H202 [26,30]. Both, ferritin [11,12] and H202 [26,30], are abundant in neuroblastoma cells at high concentrations.…”

“…Therefore, oxidative damage in neuroblastoma cells may be supported by an initial reductive release of iron from the large ferritin pool [11,12] and by high amounts of intracellularly produced H202 [26,30]. Both, ferritin [11,12] and H202 [26,30], are abundant in neuroblastoma cells at high concentrations. In addition, ascorbate can be accumulated in these cells reaching intracellular concentrations in the millimolar range [31].…”

Adenoma‐carcinoma sequence: A reappraisal with immunohistochemical expression of ferritin

“…[22], renal cell carcinoma [21,23], hepatocarcinoma [24], and endometrial carcinoma 1251. The expression of FRN was suggested to have potential as a marker for neoplasm, but its precise role in tumor cells remains uncertain.…”

“…Small amounts of iron-poor FRN are present in plasma and closely correlate with body iron stores [18]. Elevated serum FRN levels have been reported in solid tumors, unaccompanied by an increase in the tissue iron stores [22], renal cell carcinoma [21,23], hepatocarcinoma [24], and endometrial carcinoma 1251. The expression of FRN was suggested to have potential as a marker for neoplasm, but its precise role in tumor cells remains uncertain.…”