Here we show that the neuronal marker BRN3A/POU4F1 is expressed abundantly at the protein level in primary EFT but not in rhabdomyosarcoma and neuroblastoma, and EFT cells exhibit high activity of the BRN3A proximal autoregulatory region.
Similarly, reduction of Brn-3a expression using anti-sense constructs reduces endogenous p53 expression in human neuroblastoma or cervical carcinoma cell lines growing in vitro and as tumours in nude mice whilst increasing Brn-3a levels enhances p53 expression.
Moreover, the level of Brn-3a rises and that of Brn-3b falls when neuroblastoma cell lines are exposed to treatments which induce a cessation of proliferation.
In addition, RDC-1 is expressed in a unique subset of tumors of the peripheral nervous system including neuroepitheliomas and Ewing's sarcomas but not neuroblastomas.