Gamma-enolase and glial fibrillary acidic protein in nervous system tumors. An immunohistochemical study using specific monoclonal antibodies.

A large series of central and peripheral nervous system tumors was studied for the presence of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and gamma-enolase (neuron-specific enolase, NSE), using specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Occurrence in and specificity of GFAP to glial and mixed tumors was confirmed and depended on the malignancy grade and features such as meningeal invasion. Using a well-characterized mAb, gamma-enolase was demonstrated in neuronal, as well as in a whole range of non-neuronal tumors. This lack of specificity of gamma-enolase prohibits its use as an exclusive neuronal marker. Nevertheless quantization or comparison with other types of enolases could still prove to be useful in well-defined situations. The advantages inherent to mAbs and a highly sensitive detection system turn GFAP stainings into a specific and readily reproducible technique.