European Journal of Cancer · 1997 · 83 citations · 15 references
MedicineMolecular BiologyOncologyMolecular OncologyOncogenesSignal TransductionCancer Cell SignalingMalignant TumorsReceptor Tyrosine Kinase OncogenesReceptor Tyrosine Kinase SignalingSignal Transduction In CancerTumor MarkersAmplificationCancer Signaling PathwaysCell Survival AssaysMyc In NeuroblastomaNeuroblastoma BiologyReceptorsTumor Cell Survival Pathways
Human neuroblastomas express the neurotrophin receptors trk-A and trk-B. Favourable outcome is associated with expression of trk-A, while unfavourable, MYCN amplified tumours express trk-B. In this study we examined the expression of trk-C in primary neuroblastoma tumour-derived cell lines. We found by Northern blot analysis that trk-C mRNA is expressed in 14 of 55 (25%) primary tumours. Trk-C was expressed in significantly more lower stage tumours (stage 1, 2, 4S) than higher stage tumours (stage 3, 4, P < 0.04). The expression of trk-C was correlated positively with survival and negatively correlated with MYCN amplification. We also studied the function of trk-C in transfected cell lines and found that NT-3 promotes both cell survival and differentiation. Our results suggest that trk-C is involved in the biology of favourable neuroblastomas.
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