Expression of the periostin mRNA level in neuroblastoma

Background: Neuroblastoma is the most common malignant solid tumor in early childhood. Whether neuroblastoma is diagnosed by mass screening or by clinical symptom, it has been reported to be correlated with prognosis of the disease. The periostin protein shares structural and sequence homology with fasciclin 1, which is an insect adhesion molecule. Methods: Expression of periostin messenger RNAs were evaluated by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay in 24 tumor samples from neuroblastoma using LightCycler. The data were analyzed in reference to clinicopathologic factors. Results: There was a tendency for higher periostin transcripts levels in the tumor samples from stage IV when compared with the stage I (P = .0845). The periostin mRNA level was higher in the group with disease diagnosed by symptom than in the group with disease diagnosed by mass screening (P = .0266). The periostin mRNA level also was higher in the group with disease diagnosed after 1 year of age than in the group with disease diagnosed before 1 year of age (P = .0059). Conclusion: Because the groups with disease diagnosed by symptom or after 1 year of age were reported to be the worse prognosis, the periostin mRNA expression levels were correlated with tumor progression or prognosis of neuroblastoma. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.