Laser-capture microdissected Schwannian and neuroblastic cells in stage 4 neuroblastomas have the same genetic alterations

Background. Neuroblastoma (NB) is a heterogeneous tumor composed of mixed p opulations of neuroblastic, Schwannian, and gangliocytic cells. Procedure. We examined the genetic lineage of Schwannian and neuroblastic cells in sta ge 4 NB using laser-capture microdissection (LCM) and allelic analysis of m icrosatellite markers of chromosomes 1p, 11q, and 14q. Results. In 18 out o f 19 cases, individual cell types exhibited the same allelotype. Conclusion . Our results provide evidence that the majority of Schwannian and neurobla stic cells in stage 4 NB are of neoplastic origin, and support the hypothes is of a tumor stem cell capable of development along multiple lineages. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.