LSAMP geninin nöroblastomalarda tümör baskılayıcı olarak analizi

Neuroblastoma constitutes approximately 10 % of all childhood tumors with a worldwide considerable morbidity and mortality. Frequently, in children under the age of 1, it can spontaneously regress and transform into a benign tumor. However, in children older than age of 1 the disease often behaves aggressively and metastasizes to other organs. This unpredictable behavior of unknown origin makes therapeutic applications ineffective.Limbic system associated membrane protein gene (LSAMP) functions in neurite growth, axonal guidance and acts as a cell adhesion and recognition molecule. Recent studies revealed its association to several cancer types and proposed a potential tumor suppressor role. Markers in the LSAMP gene region were also shown to be homozygously deleted in neuroblastoma. In the framework of this study, we investigated LSAMP gene in respect of its potential tumor suppressor role in neuroblastoma. 6 clinical patient samples and 2 neuroblastoma cell lines were studied via PCR methodology to detect any loss in LSAMP gene. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was applied to 6 neuroblastoma tissue sections to determine protein level changes of LSAMP. Moreover, expression analysis in a set of brain tumors was performed. As a result of these efforts, one possible LOH and one homozygous deletion in two different patients were observed. Low levels of LSAMP protein in all of the tumor samples compared to controls were recorded. Downregulation of LSAMP in brain tumors was detected. Based on these results, LSAMP is suggested as a candidate tumor suppressor in neuroblastoma and in broader aspect for nervous system tumors.