Although Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) intravesical instillation is widely accepted as a very effective modality in treating bladder carcinoma in situ, and in preventing superficial bladder cancer recurrence, its mechanism of action is not yet fully understood. The antitumor effects of BCG are mostly related to local immunological events but a systemic activation of the immune system cannot be excluded. The objective of the present study was to estimate the systemic production of oxidants during intravesical BCG treatment. Systemic production of oxidants was estimated by assessing the red blood cells (RBC) oxidative stress in twelve patients undergoing BCG immunotherapy for bladder carcinoma in situ. RBC oxidative stress induced by peroxynitrite was determined by luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence. During the treatment period, the RBC oxidative stress revealed a biphasic curve of changes: after an initial 5-fold increase, it dropped to pretreatment levels following the 4th instillation. Intravesical BCG administration induced systemic production of oxygen free radicals that may reflect a systemic activation of the immune system.

Administration, Intravesical↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Prognostic value of E-cadherin, beta-catenin, P120ctn in patients with transitional cell bladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: Loss of E-cadherin-catenin mediated adhesion is known to play a major role in tumour progression in many human carcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: By means of immunohistochemistry, we have investigated the expression of E-cadherin, beta-catenin and p120ctn in 102 transitional cell bladder carcinomas (TCCs) and statistically analysed these expressions with known clinicopathological parameters and patient survival. RESULTS: Abnormal expression of E-cadherin, beta-catenin and p120ctn was associated with high grade and high stage of TCCs (p < 0.001). Abnormal beta-catenin expression demonstrated a statistically significant correlation with poor patient survival (p = 0.03) while abnormal E-cadherin expression was associated with poor survival in patients with muscle invasive TCCs (p = 0.025). However, in multivariate statistical analysis a suggestive association with poor survival was observed only for E-cadherin (p = 0.06). Simultaneous abnormal expression of all the molecules demonstrated an association of suggestive significance with poor patient survival (p = 0.07). CONCLUSION: E-cadherin expression may be a useful prognostic marker in patients with invasive TCCs.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Immunohistochemical expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 and nm-23 H1 antioncogene in prostate cancer: divergent correlation with clinicopathological parameters.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality among men. Several oncogenes and growth factors have been studied in an attempt to explain the molecular basis of carcinogenesis and progress of this carcinoma. In this study we correlated the immunohistochemical expression of antioncogene nm-23 H1 and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) with the clinical stage, PSA values, Gleason score and survival in prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty nine patients with prostate cancer were evaluated. PSA measurement, Gleason score determination and clinical staging were recorded for all the patients by the time of initial diagnosis and prior to any treatment. Follow-up ranged from 12 to 40 months. Tissue sections from representative areas of the tumors were immunohistochemically stained for nm-23 H1 and TGF-beta 1. The expression of these markers was correlated with stage, PSA values, Gleason score and survival. RESULTS: There was a negative correlation between nm-23 H1 staining and tumor stage and grade. High grade (Gleason score 8-10) and stage D tumors showed weaker staining than low stage and grade tumors. There was a positive correlation between TGF-beta 1 staining, tumor stage and serum PSA levels. Additionally, TGF-beta 1 proved to be a negative predicting factor for patient survival. In tumors expressing both markers, TGF-beta 1 was the one to determine the aggressiveness of the carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: nm-23 H1 appears to be a tumor suppressor gene in prostate cancer, while TGF-beta 1 may act as a stimulating agent provoking aggressive behavior and metastasis. Their immunohistochemical staining may constitute complementary information in the evaluation of prostate cancer patients.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Radiological signs of tumours of the adrenal glands (author's transl)].

The authors discuss the radiological signs in 18 patients with an adrenal tumour. 7 of them had a Cushing's syndrome, 10 others a phaechromocytoma and the last had primary hyperaldosteronism. The diagnosis was made from the history, the clinical picture, hormone estimations and pharmacodynamic tests, whilts in the majority of cases the tumour was localised by radiodiagnosis. In all cases, there was hypertension, permanent in tumours of the adrenal cortex, paroxysmal or permanent in the cases of pheochromocytomas. We emphasise the importance of retro-pneumoperitoneum, as the radiological investigation of choice, in the localisation of adrenal tumours, especially pheochromocytomas, and in Cushing's syndrome. In cases of pheochromocytoma, one should follow carefully the blood pressure, during special radiological investigations, in view of the danger of a sudden rise or fall in blood pressure, the first is treated with phentolamine, the second with noradrenaline solution. Finally, a scan using I 131 19-iodocholesterol may be valuable in diagnosis and localisation of adrenal tumours; it has in particular given very encouraging results in the differential diagnosis of adrenal tumours with the clinical presentation of Cushing's disease.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied