Expression of the ret proto‐oncogene product in human normal and neoplastic tissues of neural crest origin

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Abstract
The histological localization of the ret proto‐oncogene (proto‐ret) product was examined in neural crest‐derived and neuronal tissues together with their neoplastic counterparts by immunohistochemistry using a polyclonal antibody. Schwann cells, neurons, sympathetic ganglia, and cells of the adrenal medulla were positive for the proto‐ret product, whereas melanocytes were negative. Positive results were obtained from neural crest‐derived tumours such as schwannoma (69 per cent, 11/16), neurofibroma (59 per cent, 13/22), neuroblastoma (80 per cent, 4/5), phaeochromocytoma (100 per cent, 3/3) and medullary thyroid carcinoma (100 per cent, 3/3). The antibody reacted with all of the 22 astrocytomas examined. With negative proto‐ret expression in melanocytic tumours, proto‐ret expression was considered to correlate with the differentiation of some lineages of neural crest‐derived cells.