The aging mouth: differentiating normal aging from disease.

Aging is the physiologic change that occurs over time. In humans, this change occurs at different rates and are related to lifestyle, environment and genetics. It can be challenging to differentiate normal aging from disease.

Factor analysis of the immunophenotypes of astrocytomas and malignant gliomas: correlations with tumor grade and patient survival.

Our previous investigations correlated the degree of cytogenetic and immunophenotypic heterogeneity of cultured normal glia, astrocytomas and malignant gliomas. The possible significance was suggested by the statistical correlation of individual antigens with diagnosis and patient survival. The present study has established the patterns of covariation of titers of monoclonal antibody reactivity with a panel of cell surface antigens among normal glia (8), astrocytomas (4), anaplastic astrocytomas (12), mixed malignant gliomas (8) and glioblastomas (21).

Immunophenotypic differences between normal glia, astrocytomas and malignant gliomas: correlations with karyotype, natural history and survival.

The karyotypic and antigenic phenotypes of early passage normal and malignant glial cultures were correlated in vitro. Astrocytomas (4) were distinguished from the normal glia (8) by a mixed near-diploid karyotype and anchorage-independent growth. Malignant gliomas (41) demonstrated cytogenetic abnormalities ranging from mixed normal G- and Q-banded and near-diploid cultures, through mixed near-diploid/hyperdiploid to predominantly hyperdiploid stem-lines.

Antigenic phenotypes of cultured malignant astrocytomas: identification of lineage-consistent, lineage-independent and putative tumor-restricted antigenic expression.

The treatment of CNS neoplasms with monoclonal antibody-mediated immunotherapy optimally requires the identification of tumor restricted cell surface antigens. However, little is known regarding the antigenic phenotype(s) of malignant astrocytomas. The interrelated expression of four neuroectodermal tumor antigens, CNT/11, AJ8, A010 and CNT/2, has been studied in cultured malignant gliomas and correlated with anchorage independent growth, morphology, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and the surface expression of other antigens.

Five novel cell surface antigens of CNS neoplasms.

Optimal monoclonal antibody-mediated immunotherapy requires the identification of tumor-restricted cell surface antigens. We have identified and partially characterized 5 new monoclonal antibodies generated against malignant astrocytoma, medulloblastoma, neuroblastoma and melanoma which were used to define 5 neuroectodermal tumor antigenic systems. CNT/1 identifies a 57-kDa, heat-stable, trypsin-sensitive neuroblastoma surface antigen, which is expressed intracellularly in many malignant gliomas, medulloblastomas, ependymomas, breast and ovarian carcinomas.