Expression of the chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan, NG2, in paediatric brain tumors

While neuron-glia 2 (NG2) is well-characterized in the developing brain and in adult high-grade gliomas, little is known about NG2 expression in paediatric brain tumors. Here, NG2 expression was examined in a range of paediatric brain tumors. A retrospective immunohistopathological analysis of 57 paediatric brain tumor biopsies of various tumor types was carried out. Paediatric cell lines, including two medulloblastomas and one dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor, in addition to one adult high-grade glioma, were also assessed for NG2 expression. NG2-positive staining was seen in all dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors (DNETs) examined; however, only two of the fourteen medulloblastomas examined were NG2-positive. Compared to adult glioma, there was a lack of NG2 staining in the vasculature of paediatric brain tumors. NG2 expression in paediatric brain tumors differs depending upon type and, unlike adult glioma, includes expression on lower-grade tumors.