Retinoblastoma is a rare tumor of the young child with an intraocular localization that leads to certain problems of diagnosis. With the aim of defining a biochemical marker-which is still lacking for this disease--the gangliosides of a pool of fresh retinoblastoma tumors were analyzed. The ganglioside pattern was shown to have GM3, GM2, GM I, GD3, GD2, GD I b and GTlb as the major components. The occurrence of a high concentration of GD2 in the tumors led us to investigate the possibility of changes in the level of GD2 in the sera of retinoblastorna patients, using quantitative immunostaining with GD2-specific mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). In 9 out of 10 tumor-bearing patients, the serum level of GD2 ganglioside was significantly higher than the average value found in normal individuals. A 2-year follow-up of patients showed that successful treatment resulted in a rapid decrease in the serum level of GD2 down to the normal range, from which a subsequent elevation was seen only in relapsing patients. Although the clinical study needs further development, the results obtained to date suggest that GD2 is shed in the serum of tumor-bearing patients and that the level of GD2 could be a potential serum marker of human retinoblastoma.8 1993 Wilq-Liss, Inc.

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We have cloned and sequenced the cDNA for the coding region of ovine alveolar macrophage interleukin-1 beta. At the nucleotide level, the ovine cDNA shares 95, 74 and 71% homology with the bovine, human and murine cDNA equivalents or homologs. Comparison at the amino acid level revealed 95% homology with bovine IL-1 beta and approximately 57% with the human and murine homologs.