OLIG2 (Marker of Glial Brain Tumors)

Olig2, a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, is involved in oligodendroglial specification. Olig2 expression has been reported in most glial tumors, such as oligodendrogliomas and astrocytomas. Although more than half of glioblastomas are positive for Olig2, expression is very weak in terms of both percentage of labeled cells and intensity. No Olig2 expression has been found in the non-glial tumors including neuro-epithelial tumors, ependymomas, sub-ependymomas, medulloblastomas, and non-neuroepithelial tumors, such as CNS lymphomas, meningiomas, schwannomas, atypical teratoid / rhabdoid tumor, and haemangioblastomas. Compared to the strong staining seen in glioma samples, a weak expression is observed in non-tumoral brain tissue (gliosis).

[oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2; Oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2; oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2; oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2; Class B basic helix-loop-helix protein 1; bHLHb1; Class E basic helix-loop-helix protein 19; bHLHe19; Protein kinase C-binding protein 2; Protein kinase C-binding protein RACK17]