Oligodendroglial tumors. An immunohistochemical and electron microscopic study

Fifty-five cases of oligodendrogliomas and mixed oligoastrocytomas were evaluated using immunohistochemical (IH) study for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and electron microscopic (EM) study. Most of the tumors in both of these groups showed many neoplastic oligodendroglial cells with GFAP-positive staining in their cytoplasm by IH study. By EM study too, many tumor cells showing features of oligodendroglial cells contained intermediate filaments. Our observations suggested the presence of a transitional form of cells in these tumors. The current study supports the contention that both oligodendrogliomas and oligoastrocytomas arise from a common progenitor cell capable of differentiation into both oligodendrocyte and astrocyte. The nature and degree of differentiation depends probably on gene expression and/or some microenvironmental factors.