Retinoblastoma: Messenger RNA for interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein

Abstract

Histopathology revealed mostly poorly differentiated tumors with necrosis and lack of Flexner-Wintersteiner rosettes. Immunocytochemical staining showed focal IRBP expression in one of the tumors and S-antigen in two cases. Immunoreactivity with rhodopsin was negative. N-CAM, a neural adhesive protein which appears to be involved in the regulation of adhesive interaction during neuronal differentiation, was positive except in two cases. All tumors showed immunoreactivity with NSE, whereas GFAP staining was limited to the perivascular glial tissue confirming the essential neuronal nature of retinoblastoma cells. Tc was detected in all tumors and T_Rα in one case. Messenger RNA for IRBP was detected in tumors in which IRBP immunoreactivity could not be detected.