Background: We studied the expressions of both Mina53, which is a myc target gene and is related to cell proliferation, and Cap43, which is related to metastasis suppression and downregulation of MYCN gene, in neuroblastoma.
Methods: Forty-eight surgically obtained neuroblastoma specimens were immunohistochemically stained. The Cap43 and Mina53 expression levels were determined, and their relationship to clinical prognostic factors, biological prognostic factors, and the patients' prognosis were examined.
Results: The Cap43 expression score was significantly high in the cases that had one of the good prognostic factors (<1 year old, early stage, mass screening case, no MYCN gene amplification), whereas the Mina53 expression score was high in those with poor prognostic factors. Regarding the MYCN expression site, the Cap43 expression score was significantly high in the cases demonstrating cytoplasm expression, whereas the Mina53 expression score was significantly high in the cases demonstrating nucleus expression. A significant relationship was found between Cap43 and TrkA, between Mina53 and Ki-67, and between Mina53 and TrkA. The prognosis was significantly favorable in the Cap43 high-expression cases, whereas it was significantly poor in the Mina53 high-expression cases.
Conclusions: Cap43 and Mina53 are both considered to be important biological and prognostic factors in neuroblastoma.