Table 2. Gene expression analysis.
| Gene | BT1 | BT2 | BT3 | BT4 | BT5 | Normal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole tumors | ||||||
| CD133 | ND | ± | ++ | + | ++ | + |
| msi1 | ND | ++ | – | + | ++ | ++ |
| Sox2 | ND | ND | ++ | ++ | + | + |
| melk | ND | +++ | + | +++ | ++ | +++ |
| PSP | ND | +++ | +++ | ++ | ++ | ++ |
| bmi-1 | ND | ND | ND | +++ | +++ | +++ |
| Undifferentiated neurospheres | ||||||
| CD133 | + | ± | – | + | – | – |
| msi1 | ++ | – | – | ++ | ± | ++ |
| Sox2 | ++ | ++ | ND | ++ | ± | + |
| melk | +++ | ++ | + | +++ | + | +++ |
| PSP | +++ | + | – | ++ | – | – |
| bmi-1 | +++ | +++ | ND | +++ | ND | + |
| Differentiated neurospheres | ||||||
| CD133 | + | – | ++ | – | – | – |
| msi1 | ++ | – | ND | – | ± | ++ |
| Sox2 | ++ | ++ | ± | – | – | ± |
| melk | +++ | + | – | ++ | ± | + |
| PSP | – | +++ | – | – | – | – |
| Bmi-1 | +++ | +++ | ND | +++ | +++ | ± |
Semiquantitative RT-PCR of pediatric brain tumors (BT1–5) and normal human brain was used to analyze expression of stem cell markers. ND, not determined; –, no signal; ±, minor signal; +, weak signal; ++, moderate signal; +++, strong signal.