Abstract
This short review deals with our investigations in neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) with antibodies against defined epitopes of chromogranins (Cgs) A and B and secretogranins (Sgs) II and III. The immunohistochemical expression of different epitopes of the granin family of proteins varies in NE cells in normal human endocrine and non-endocrine organs and in NETs, suggesting post-translational processing. In most NETs one or more epitopes of the granins were lacking, but variations in the expression pattern occurred both in benign and malignant NETs. A few epitopes displayed patterns that may be valuable in differentiating between benign and malignant NET types, e.g., well-differentiated NET types expressed more CgA epitopes than the poorly differentiated ones and C-terminal secretoneurin visualized a cell type related to malignancy in pheochromocytomas. Plasma concentrations of different epitopes of CgA and CgB varied. In patients suffering from carcinoid tumors or endocrine pancreatic tumors the highest concentrations were found with epitopes from the mid-portion of CgA. For CgB the highest plasma concentrations were recorded for the epitope 439-451. Measurements of SgII showed that patients with endocrine pancreatic tumors had higher concentrations than patients with carcinoid tumors or pheochromocytomas. SgIII was not detectable in patients with NETs.