Circulating disialoganglioside GD2 in neuroblastoma diagnosis

Neuroblastoma is one of the most common solid tumors in children, characterized by high clinical heterogeneity and low predictability of the progression course. To assess the prognosis and response to therapy, protein tumor markers are often used, such as neuron-specific enolase, lactate dehydrogenase, ferritin as well as catecholamine metabolites: homovanillic acid, vanillylmandelic acid, 3-methoxytyramine, meta- and normetanephrine. Immunocytochemical studies have shown that many neuroblastomas are characterized by high surface expression of disialogangliaside GD2. In this case, well-differentiated tumors are often characterized by a lower level of GD2. It is known that GD2 can be detached from the cell surface and transported in the bloodstream as a part of the low density lipoprotein composition. In this connection, it is assumed that the concentration of GD2 in blood may depend on the presence of the tumor, its grade and mass.