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Biomedical subjects

A Cavaliere

Publications and source records attributed to A Cavaliere.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Granular cell tumor: an immunohistochemical study.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Granular cell tumor, usually a benign neoplasm, has been the object of many studies because of its uncertain histogenesis and based on many immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies it has been suggested that it originates from the Schwann cell. Our recent observation that granular cell tumor is positive with PG-M1, a new anti-macrophage monoclonal antibody, led us to further investigate the immunophenotypic profile of the tumor. STUDY DESIGN: We studied 11 granular cell tumors using a panel of 20 antibodies, 13 monoclonal and 7 polyclonal. RESULTS: The immunohistochemical study showed in all cases a constant diffuse positivity for S-100 protein, neuron-specific enolase, vimentin, KP1 and PG-M1, as well as occasional and focal positivity for alpha-1-antitrypsin, alpha-1-antichymotrypsin and lysozyme. CONCLUSIONS: The immunophenotypic profile constantly observed could be the expression, on one hand, of the neuroectodermic nature of the neoplasm, proven by positivity for S-100 protein, neuron specific enolase and vimentin, and on the other could be the expression of the phagocytic activity of the tumor cell, proven by positivity for KP1 and PG-M1 antibodies and also by the presence of numerous phagolysosomes.

Adult↗

[Synovial sarcoma. Immunohistochemical study of 4 cases].

We examined 4 cases of synovial sarcoma, 3 biphasic-one of which was located in the abdominal wall-and 1 monophasic, in patients between 16 and 54 years. Immunohistochemistry revealed the capacity of these neoplasms to express mesenchymal and epithelial markers, not only in the sarcomatous-like stroma but also in gland-like component. We also found that in the epitheliomorphous cells vimentin positivity had a characteristic basal position whereas EMA and cytocheratins were much more positive in the apical zone. This double positivity could be profitably utilized when the predominance of the gland-like component in a synovial sarcoma requires differential diagnosis from metastatic adenocarcinoma.

Adolescent↗

PG-M1: a new monoclonal antibody directed against a fixative-resistant epitope on the macrophage-restricted form of the CD68 molecule.

A new anti-macrophage monoclonal antibody (PG-M1) was produced by immunizing BALB/c mice with fresh spleen cells from a patient with Gaucher's disease. PG-M1 reacts strongly with a fixative-resistant epitope of an intracytoplasmic molecule, selectively expressed by virtually all macrophages of the human body. Although attempts to immunoprecipitate the molecule recognized by PG-M1 have failed so far, the reactivity of the antibody with COS-1 and WOP cells transfected with a human complementary DNA clone encoding for the CD68 antigen suggests that PG-M1 is a new member of the CD68 cluster. However, unlike other CD68 antibodies (KP1, EBM11, etc.), which react with both macrophages and myeloid cells, PG-M1 detects a fixative-resistant epitope on the macrophage-restricted form of the CD68 antigen. In 957 routinely fixed, paraffin-embedded samples, PG-M1 showed a more restricted reactivity with elements of the monocyte/macrophage lineage than the previously described monoclonal antibodies MAC-387 (anti-calgranulins), KP1 (CD68) and Ki-M1P. Among hematological malignancies, PG-M1 only labels acute leukemias of M4 and M5 type and rare examples of malignant histiocytosis/true histiocytic sarcoma. In contrast, acute leukemias of the M1, M2, M3, M6, M7, and L1-L3 types, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, and Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells of Hodgkin's disease are consistently PG-M1-negative. In the daily diagnostic practice, PG-M1 seems to be particularly valuable for the diagnosis of myelomonocytic or monocytic leukemia and neoplasms of true histiocytic origin in routine paraffin sections.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

[Surgery after neo-adjuvant therapy of non-small cell lung cancer. Preliminary results].

The Authors report their personal experience of surgical treatment following neo-adjuvant therapy in NSCLC (III a N2) in order to assess: 1) the feasibility and safety of surgical treatment following major responses to neoadjuvant chemotherapy; 2) the sectile rate; and 3) the survival rate. Preliminary results show that: 1) chemotherapy using cisplatin and VP-16 gives a high rate of major responses in these patients; 2) surgery is feasible; 3) there is high radical sectile rate; 4) further research is needed to obtain statistical significance.

Aged↗

Increased reactivity of laminin in the basement membranes of capillary walls in AIDS brain cortex.

To verify how the components of the capillary wall are modified in the course of AIDS we studied the brain cortex from nine cases with AIDS. Cellular and extracellular components were delineated using antibodies for laminin and collagen IV for basement membranes and glial fibrillary acidic protein for astrocyte foot processes. We found a marked increase in reactivity for laminin in the basement membranes of capillary walls and hypertrophy and hyperplasia of astrocyte foot processes around vessels, when compared to control cortical tissue. We suggest that modifications of brain capillary wall may have a role in the pathogenesis of neurological disfunction in AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Chlorambucil carcinogenesis in BALB/c mice.

Chlorambucil, a drug used in the treatment of neoplastic and non-neoplastic disease, was administered by gavage to BALB/c mice at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg body wt. 5 times per week for 12 weeks to test its carcinogenicity. The survival was statistically reduced in treated animals of both sexes (P less than 0.001). The treatment induced a significant increase in lung tumours (males, P less than 0.001; females, P less than 0.001) and lymphoreticular system tumours (males P less than 0.01; females, P less than 0.001) in both sexes and mammary carcinomas in female mice (P less than 0.05). These results with other investigations reported in literature, suggest that chlorambucil is carcinogenic in laboratory animals, mutagenic and that it could be a potential carcinogenic hazard to man.

Adenocarcinoma↗

5-Fluorouracil carcinogenesis in BALB/c mice.

5-Fluorouracil, a drug mainly used in the treatment of gastrointestinal tract neoplasms, was administered i.p. to BALB/c mice at the dose of 30 mg/kg body weight once a week for 50 weeks to test its carcinogenicity. The treatment induced a significant increase in lung tumor in both sexes (males, p less than 0.05; females, p less than 0.01) and tumors of the lymphoreticular system in female mice (p less than 0.001). These results suggest that 5-fluorouracil is carcinogenic in mice.

Animals↗

Immunohistochemical investigation of axillary lymph nodes for micrometastases in patients with breast cancer using E29.

The axillary lymph nodes from 31 mammary carcinoma patients who had undergone radical mastectomy and were negative for metastases at routine histologic examination of hilar sections, were investigated with E29, an anti-epithelial monoclonal antibody, to detect the presence of neoplastic epithelial cells. In 4 of 433 lymph nodes examined (0.9%) this antibody revealed the presence of epithelial metastatic foci which had not been observed at routine histological examination or interpreted as histiocytes. The 4 lymph nodes belonged to 4 different patients.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Bilateral primary malignant lymphoma of the breast. A case report.

A case of bilateral primary malignant lymphoma of the breast in a 30 year old woman is described. The tumors were first discovered during a self-examination of the breast at the 7th month of pregnancy. Thereafter they rapidly increased in size. The patient underwent simple bilateral mastectomy, and histological examination revealed a centroblastic/centrocytic lymphoma. The patient is alive and well 9 months after mastectomy.

Adult↗

Enzymatic activities of human lung tissue: relationship with smoking habits.

Twenty-two S12 preparations of surgical lung specimens obtained from smoker and non-smoker cancer patients were assayed to detect aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH), dimethylnitrosamine demethylase (DMND), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities, in both normal and neoplastic lung tissue from the same patients. Pulmonary fractions were also tested for their ability to activate some precarcinogens into mutagenic metabolites in the Ames test. Statistically significant differences were found for AHH and DMND activities between normal and neoplastic tissue of smoker patients. In addition, higher AHH activity in the neoplastic tissue of the smoker group was observed compared with that found in the non-smoker group. No differences were found for GST activity. All the lung S12 preparations were able to metabolize water-soluble bases and water-insoluble bases, derived from main-stream cigarette smoke condensate, into mutagenic agents in the Salmonella test system. However, S12 preparations from smoker group neoplastic tissues were more effective.

Aged↗

5-Azacytidine carcinogenesis in BALB/c mice.

5-Azacytidine, a drug used in the treatment of acute leukaemias and beta-thalassemia, was administered i.p. to BALB/c mice at a dose of 2.0 mg/kg body wt. once a week for 50 weeks to test its carcinogenicity. The treatment induced a significant increase in lung tumours (males P less than 0.001, females P less than 0.05), lymphomas (males P less than 0.01, females P less than 0.01), skin tumours (males P less than 0.05, females P less than 0.01) in both sexes and mammary carcinomas (P less than 0.01) and a variety of other tumours in female mice. These results, with other investigations reported in literature, suggest that 5-azacytidine is carcinogenic in mice.

Animals↗

Carcinogenicity and cocarcinogenicity test of phenobarbital sodium in adult BALB/c mice.

The carcinogenic and cocarcinogenic action of phenobarbital sodium was investigated in adult BALB/c mice of both sexes when administered alone at a concentration of 0.05% in drinking water for life or after the animals had been treated with a single hydrazine sulphate dose of 5.65 mg. The results demonstrated that phenobarbital sodium is not carcinogenic in this strain of mice, but, since a single dose of hydrazine sulphate was carcinogenic, does not clarify whether it is a cocarcinogen in the lung.

Animals↗

The effect of endogenous estrogen fluctuation on metabolism of 25-hydroxyvitamin D.

To test the hypothesis that estrogen modulates the metabolism of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) and 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (24,25(OH)2D), we studied 20 normal premenopausal women at four consecutive weekly intervals during one menstrual cycle. Estrogen stimulation was semiquantitatively defined into baseline, low-grade, or medium-grade categories, based on endogenous estrone and estradiol concentrations. 1,25(OH)2D increased incrementally from baseline levels of 34 +/- 3(SE) pg/ml to 39 +/- 3 pg/ml (P = 0.2) with low-grade estrogen stimulation and to 43 +/- 3 pg/ml (P less than 0.05) with medium-grade estrogen stimulation, while 25(OH)D, 24,25(OH)2D, vitamin D binding protein, parathyroid hormone, calcium, and phosphate did not change. 24,25(OH)2D was correlated to 25(OH)D at baseline (r = 0.65, P less than 0.01) and with low-grade estrogen stimulation (r = 0.62, P less than 0.01), but not with medium-grade stimulation (r = 0.13); these relationships are consistent with the concepts that 25(OH)D is metabolized predominantly to 24,25(OH)2D at low estrogen levels, but not at higher estrogen levels. We conclude that endogenous estrogen elevation promotes formation of 1,25(OH)2D from 25(OH)D, and that it may reciprocally inhibit synthesis of 24,25(OH)2D.

24,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D 3↗

Interaction between parathyroid hormone and endogenous estrogen in normal women.

It has been hypothesized that estrogens conserve bone substance by blocking the resorbing effect of parathyroid hormone (PTH). We evaluated this hypothesis by examining the relation of circulating PTH to endogenous estrogen fluctuation during four quarters of a single menstrual cycle in 20 normal women. The hypothesis predicts that PTH should vary directly with estrogen, since PTH should increase following estrogen elevation to satisfy physiologic demands for calcium. Contrary to the predicted direct variation, PTH remained constant throughout the menstrual cycle despite sharply fluctuating estrogen levels. Furthermore, PTH was negatively associated with estrone during the early follicular (r = -.65, P less than 0.005) and late follicular (r = -.84, P less than 0.0001) phases. We attempted to determine whether this unexpected relationship between estrone and PTH signified a direct physiologic link, by excluding factors which could have spuriously engendered the inverse correlation. Stepwise multiple regression and partial correlation showed that estrone contributed significantly to circulating PTH independent of the effects of dietary calcium, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, serum calcium, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, phosphate, estradiol, progesterone, and body weight. Therefore, it is possible that the inverse correlation between estrone and PTH signified a direct physiologic link, as an artifactual cause for the relationship could not be identified. These data imply that estrone interacts with PTH, but not by blocking PTH-mediated bone resorption. We conclude that estrone is associated with reduced circulating PTH through an as yet undetermined mechanism.

Adult↗

Procarbazine hydrochlorate carcinogenesis in Osborne-Mendel rats.

3 mg/day procarbazine hydrochlorate, in a total dose of 300 mg, provoked tumours or raised their number in a variety of rat organs and tissues. 70.8% males and 92.5% females bore tumors against 16.6 and 33% of the controls. It is suggested that the lack of a specific target organ is due to the metabolic conversion of procarbazine to alkylating agents in the liver. The chemical structure, distribution of these agents within the organism and the different organ-specific enzyme activation and inhibition systems are probably responsible for the variable organotropism.

Animals↗

Induction of lung tumors and lymphomas in BALB/c mice by metronidazole.

Metronidazole, which is widely used in the treatment of "Trichomonas vaginalis", "Entamoeba histolytica" and "Giardia lamblia" infections, was administered to BALB/c mice by stomach tube in an aqueous solution at a dose rate of 2 mg/day for 100 days (total 200 mg) to test its carcinogenicity. The treatment induced a significant increase in lung tumors in male mice (p less than 0.001) and provoked the appearance of lymphomas in females (p less than 0.001). Although there is insufficient evidence to pass judgement on the potential carcinogenicity of metronidazole in man, the results of this and other investigations reported in the literature have demonstrated that metronidazole develops carcinogenic activity in rats and mice.

Animals↗