Expression of internexin (INA), a neuronal specific intermediate filament protein, has recently been proposed as a surrogate marker for 1p/19q deletion based on the high degree of correlation between both parameters in oligodendrogliomas.
Combined loss of 1p and 19q was found in 38 of 56 (67.9%) and exhibited distinct concomitant deletion (P = 0.000). p53 overexpression was observed in 17 cases (30.3%), GFAP expression in 18 cases (32.1%), and p16 loss in 40 cases (74%) of oligodendrogliomas.
All tumours but one stained strongly for glial fibrillary acidic protein and all for synapsin I. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis showed a concomitant 1p/19q deletion in 12/16 ODGs.
Furthermore, GFAP-V(12)Ha-ras;GFAP-EGFRvIII mice developed oligodendrogliomas and mixed oligoastrocytoma tumors, instead of the fibrillary astrocytomas observed in GFAP-V(12)Ha-ras mice.
These results: (a) provide molecular data confirming the classification of the two cell lines as oligodendrogliomal and suggest that their molecular profiles are indicative of immature oligodendrocytes; (b) demonstrate the expression of cytokeratins in oligodendrogliomal cell lines and suggest that apparent GFAP expression in oligodendrogliomas detected by immunocytochemical methods may be due to cross-reactivity with cytokeratins, with which they share common polypeptide sequence; and (c) indicate that astrocytoma cell lines can exhibit a "mixed" phenotype, expressing genes associated with fully differentiated oligodendrocytes and neurons.