CLINICAL RELEVANCE OF TRKA EXPRESSION ON NEUROBLASTOMA - COMPARISON WITH N-MYC AMPLIFICATION AND CD44 EXPRESSION

TRKA expression was evaluated on 122 untreated neuroblastomas by immun ohistochemistry using an antibody with predetermined specificity. This procedure is simple and reliable for protein detection at cellular le vel in a routine clinical setting. Fourteen tumours were classified as benign ganglioneuroma with a restricted expression of TRKA on ganglio n cells; these patients were excluded from the following analysis. A t otal of 108 tumours were classified as neuroblastoma or ganglioneurobl astoma; 74 expressed TRKA protein, which strongly correlated with low stage, absence of N-MYC amplification, age (<1 year), CD44 expression and favourable clinical outcome. In a univariate analysis including tu mour stage, age, histology, N-MYC amplification, CD44 and TRKA express ion, all parameters had significant prognostic value. The absence of T RKA expression on CD44-positive or N-MYC non-amplified tumours permits the characterization of a subgroup of patients with intermediate prog nosis. However, in a multivariate analysis taking into consideration t he prognostic factors mentioned above, CD44 and tumour stage were the only independent prognostic factors for the prediction of patients' ev ent-free survival.