Biomaterial Database

Glial fibrillary acidic protein in human gliomas. 1978

J D van der Meulen, and H J Houthoff, and E J Ebels

The presence of GFA protein, an astrocyte specific antigen, was investigated in surgical biopsies of ninety-five gliomas using an immunoperoxidase detection method. In some cases electron microscopy was added and also in one tumour immunoelectron microscopy. The results were correlated with the histological classification and grading of the tumours. In astrocytomas, the number of GFA positive cells decreased with increasing malignancy. Some malignant oligodendrogliomas surprisingly showed GFA in oligodendroglial and gemistocytic tumour cells. Thus, transition from oligodendroglial into astrocytic tumour cells seems to occur. In the mixed astrocytoma/oligodendrogliomas, theoli godendroglioma areas were negative. Subependymomas were strongly GFA positive, whereas ependymomas and medulloblastomas were negative. The presence or absence of GFA seems to contribute a 'hard' criterion for classifying gliomas and may be helpful in grading them according to the degree of malignancy.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008527	Medulloblastoma	A malignant neoplasm that may be classified either as a glioma or as a primitive neuroectodermal tumor of childhood (see NEUROECTODERMAL TUMOR, PRIMITIVE). The tumor occurs most frequently in the first decade of life with the most typical location being the cerebellar vermis. Histologic features include a high degree of cellularity, frequent mitotic figures, and a tendency for the cells to organize into sheets or form rosettes. Medulloblastoma have a high propensity to spread throughout the craniospinal intradural axis. (From DeVita et al., Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology, 5th ed, pp2060-1)	Arachnoidal Cerebellar Sarcoma, Circumscribed,Medulloblastoma, Desmoplastic,Medullomyoblastoma,Sarcoma, Cerebellar, Circumscribed Arachnoidal,Medulloblastoma, Adult,Medulloblastoma, Childhood,Melanocytic Medulloblastoma,Adult Medulloblastoma,Adult Medulloblastomas,Childhood Medulloblastoma,Childhood Medulloblastomas,Desmoplastic Medulloblastoma,Desmoplastic Medulloblastomas,Medulloblastoma, Melanocytic,Medulloblastomas,Medulloblastomas, Adult,Medulloblastomas, Childhood,Medulloblastomas, Desmoplastic,Medulloblastomas, Melanocytic,Medullomyoblastomas,Melanocytic Medulloblastomas
D009363	Neoplasm Proteins	Proteins whose abnormal expression (gain or loss) are associated with the development, growth, or progression of NEOPLASMS. Some neoplasm proteins are tumor antigens (ANTIGENS, NEOPLASM), i.e. they induce an immune reaction to their tumor. Many neoplasm proteins have been characterized and are used as tumor markers (BIOMARKERS, TUMOR) when they are detectable in cells and body fluids as monitors for the presence or growth of tumors. Abnormal expression of ONCOGENE PROTEINS is involved in neoplastic transformation, whereas the loss of expression of TUMOR SUPPRESSOR PROTEINS is involved with the loss of growth control and progression of the neoplasm.	Proteins, Neoplasm
D009837	Oligodendroglioma	A relatively slow-growing glioma that is derived from oligodendrocytes and tends to occur in the cerebral hemispheres, thalamus, or lateral ventricle. They may present at any age, but are most frequent in the third to fifth decades, with an earlier incidence peak in the first decade. Histologically, these tumors are encapsulated, relatively avascular, and tend to form cysts and microcalcifications. Neoplastic cells tend to have small round nuclei surrounded by unstained nuclei. The tumors may vary from well-differentiated to highly anaplastic forms. (From DeVita et al., Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology, 5th ed, p2052; Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p655)	Oligodendroblastoma,Anaplastic Oligodendroglioma,Mixed Oligodendroglioma-Astrocytoma,Mixed Oligodendroglioma-Ependymoma,Oligodendroglioma, Adult,Oligodendroglioma, Childhood,Oligodendroglioma, Well-Differentiated,Well-Differentiated Oligodendroglioma,Adult Oligodendroglioma,Adult Oligodendrogliomas,Anaplastic Oligodendrogliomas,Childhood Oligodendroglioma,Childhood Oligodendrogliomas,Mixed Oligodendroglioma Astrocytoma,Mixed Oligodendroglioma Ependymoma,Mixed Oligodendroglioma-Astrocytomas,Mixed Oligodendroglioma-Ependymomas,Oligodendroblastomas,Oligodendroglioma, Anaplastic,Oligodendroglioma, Well Differentiated,Oligodendroglioma-Astrocytoma, Mixed,Oligodendroglioma-Astrocytomas, Mixed,Oligodendroglioma-Ependymoma, Mixed,Oligodendroglioma-Ependymomas, Mixed,Oligodendrogliomas,Oligodendrogliomas, Adult,Oligodendrogliomas, Anaplastic,Oligodendrogliomas, Childhood,Oligodendrogliomas, Well-Differentiated,Well Differentiated Oligodendroglioma,Well-Differentiated Oligodendrogliomas
D004806	Ependymoma	Glioma derived from EPENDYMOGLIAL CELLS that tend to present as malignant intracranial tumors in children and as benign intraspinal neoplasms in adults. It may arise from any level of the ventricular system or central canal of the spinal cord. Intracranial ependymomas most frequently originate in the FOURTH VENTRICLE and histologically are densely cellular tumors which may contain ependymal tubules and perivascular pseudorosettes. Spinal ependymomas are usually benign papillary or myxopapillary tumors. (From DeVita et al., Principles and Practice of Oncology, 5th ed, p2018; Escourolle et al., Manual of Basic Neuropathology, 2nd ed, pp28-9)	Ependymoma, Myxopapillary,Ependymoma, Papillary,Anaplastic Ependymoma,Cellular Ependymoma,Clear Cell Ependymoma,Papillary Ependymoma,Anaplastic Ependymomas,Ependymoma, Anaplastic,Ependymomas,Ependymomas, Anaplastic,Ependymomas, Myxopapillary,Ependymomas, Papillary,Myxopapillary Ependymoma,Myxopapillary Ependymomas,Papillary Ependymomas
D005910	Glioma	Benign and malignant central nervous system neoplasms derived from glial cells (i.e., astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and ependymocytes). Astrocytes may give rise to astrocytomas (ASTROCYTOMA) or glioblastoma multiforme (see GLIOBLASTOMA). Oligodendrocytes give rise to oligodendrogliomas (OLIGODENDROGLIOMA) and ependymocytes may undergo transformation to become EPENDYMOMA; CHOROID PLEXUS NEOPLASMS; or colloid cysts of the third ventricle. (From Escourolle et al., Manual of Basic Neuropathology, 2nd ed, p21)	Glial Cell Tumors,Malignant Glioma,Mixed Glioma,Glial Cell Tumor,Glioma, Malignant,Glioma, Mixed,Gliomas,Gliomas, Malignant,Gliomas, Mixed,Malignant Gliomas,Mixed Gliomas,Tumor, Glial Cell,Tumors, Glial Cell
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000941	Antigens	Substances that are recognized by the immune system and induce an immune reaction.	Antigen
D000951	Antigens, Neoplasm	Proteins, glycoprotein, or lipoprotein moieties on surfaces of tumor cells that are usually identified by monoclonal antibodies. Many of these are of either embryonic or viral origin.	Neoplasm Antigens,Tumor Antigen,Tumor Antigens,Antigen, Tumor,Antigens, Tumor
D001253	Astrocytes	A class of large neuroglial (macroglial) cells in the central nervous system - the largest and most numerous neuroglial cells in the brain and spinal cord. Astrocytes (from "star" cells) are irregularly shaped with many long processes, including those with "end feet" which form the glial (limiting) membrane and directly and indirectly contribute to the BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER. They regulate the extracellular ionic and chemical environment, and "reactive astrocytes" (along with MICROGLIA) respond to injury.	Astroglia,Astroglia Cells,Astroglial Cells,Astrocyte,Astroglia Cell,Astroglial Cell,Astroglias,Cell, Astroglia,Cell, Astroglial
D001254	Astrocytoma	Neoplasms of the brain and spinal cord derived from glial cells which vary from histologically benign forms to highly anaplastic and malignant tumors. Fibrillary astrocytomas are the most common type and may be classified in order of increasing malignancy (grades I through IV). In the first two decades of life, astrocytomas tend to originate in the cerebellar hemispheres; in adults, they most frequently arise in the cerebrum and frequently undergo malignant transformation. (From Devita et al., Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology, 5th ed, pp2013-7; Holland et al., Cancer Medicine, 3d ed, p1082)	Astrocytoma, Subependymal Giant Cell,Glioma, Astrocytic,Oligoastrocytoma, Mixed,Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytomas,Anaplastic Astrocytoma,Astrocytoma, Grade I,Astrocytoma, Grade II,Astrocytoma, Grade III,Astrocytoma, Protoplasmic,Astroglioma,Cerebral Astrocytoma,Childhood Cerebral Astrocytoma,Fibrillary Astrocytoma,Gemistocytic Astrocytoma,Intracranial Astrocytoma,Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma,Pilocytic Astrocytoma,Subependymal Giant Cell Astrocytoma,Anaplastic Astrocytomas,Astrocytic Glioma,Astrocytic Gliomas,Astrocytoma, Anaplastic,Astrocytoma, Cerebral,Astrocytoma, Childhood Cerebral,Astrocytoma, Fibrillary,Astrocytoma, Gemistocytic,Astrocytoma, Intracranial,Astrocytoma, Juvenile Pilocytic,Astrocytoma, Pilocytic,Astrocytomas,Astrocytomas, Grade III,Astrogliomas,Cerebral Astrocytoma, Childhood,Cerebral Astrocytomas,Childhood Cerebral Astrocytomas,Fibrillary Astrocytomas,Gemistocytic Astrocytomas,Gliomas, Astrocytic,Grade I Astrocytoma,Grade I Astrocytomas,Grade II Astrocytoma,Grade II Astrocytomas,Grade III Astrocytoma,Grade III Astrocytomas,Intracranial Astrocytomas,Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytomas,Mixed Oligoastrocytoma,Mixed Oligoastrocytomas,Pilocytic Astrocytoma, Juvenile,Pilocytic Astrocytomas,Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytoma,Protoplasmic Astrocytoma,Protoplasmic Astrocytomas,Xanthoastrocytoma, Pleomorphic