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Biomedical subjects

C Kainz

Publications and source records attributed to C Kainz.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Immunohistochemical detection of CD44 splice variant expression in premalignant lesions of the cervix and benign cervical epithelium.

The expression of specific CD44 splice variants in malignant tumors has been shown to be associated with metastasis and poor prognosis. In previous studies we have detected aberrant expression of the transmembranous cell adhesion molecule CD44 in cervical cancer. Therefore, we now focus on its role in intraepithelial dysplastic lesions of the cervix. Forty-five cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CIN), grades I to III, were investigated immunohistochemically for three different splice variants of CD44 (v5, v6, and v7-8). A negative correlation of CD44v5 (Kendall correlation coefficient r = -0.25, P < 0.05) expression with the grade of CIN was found. In normal squamous epithelium of the cervix, the staining reaction of CD44v5 was confined to the basal and the parabasal cell layers. In dysplastic lesions a diffuse and weaker staining pattern of the entire epithelium was observed. Our data suggest a loss of CD44v5 epitope during dysplastic transformation. It seems that expression of CD44 splice variants is not a continuous process in the natural history of cervical cancer, and the pattern of CD44 splice variant expression is changed during carcinogenesis.

Cervix Uteri↗
PubMed1997

Fallopian tissue sampling with a cytobrush during hysteroscopy: a new approach for detecting tubal infection.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the transcervical approach for fallopian tissue sampling is a practicable and safe method to establish an etiologic diagnosis of salpingitis. DESIGN: Controlled clinical study. SETTING: Academic research environment. PATIENT(S): Twenty women with primary or secondary sterility undergoing hysteroscopy and laparoscopy. INTERVENTION(S): During hysteroscopy, fallopian tissue samples were obtained from the proximal parts of both tubes with a cytobrush inserted through the working channel of the hysteroscope. Diagnostic laparoscopy with assessment of tubal patency was performed in the same session. The specimens were split and used for chlamydial testing by both cell culture and polymerase chain reaction. Serum samples were evaluated for the presence of antichlamydial antibodies. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Practicability and safety of the method. RESULT(S): The sampling procedure was performed in all patients without complications. Adequate samples were obtained from both tubes in all 20 patients. The fallopian specimens showed evidence of chlamydial infection in one patient. CONCLUSION(S): Those data indicate that transcervical fallopian tissue sampling with a cytobrush is a reliable and safe technique.

Cervix Uteri↗
PubMed1997

Serum M3/M21 in cervical cancer patients.

Cytokeratins are polypeptides which constitute a subclass of intermediate filaments in epithelial cells. The serum tumour marker M3/M21 is based on monoclonal antibodies against the epitopes M3 and M21 of cytokeratin 18. In the present study, we measured M3/M21 serum levels in 50 patients with FIGO stage IB-IIB cervical cancer and in 50 control subjects using a two-site radiometric immunoassay directed against soluble fragments of cytokeratin 18. Median serum levels of M3/M21 in patients with cervical cancer and in normal controls were 70.6 U/ml (range 0-397.7) and 6.5 U/ml (range 0-205.2), respectively (Mann-Whitney U-test, P = 0.0001). Median serum levels of M3/M21 prior to therapy and 4 weeks after therapy were 104.2 U/ml (range 24.6-397.7) and 39.3 U/ml (range 0-234.7), respectively (Mann-Whitney U-test, P = 0.004). We found a significant correlation between elevated M3/M21 serum levels and metastatic disease in pelvic lymph nodes (Mann-Whitney U-test, P = 0.002). 24 patients relapsed after complete remission. In these patients, elevated M3/M21 serum levels before the detection of relapse by computed tomography was observed in 13 cases. Considering these preliminary results, further studies with an increased number of patients are justified to clarify the prognostic value and the monitoring abilities of M3/M21 in cervical cancer patients.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1996

Menstrual phase and breast cancer surgery: influence on clinical outcome or pitfall of statistical analysis?

The influence of menstrual status at the time of surgery on the prognosis of women suffering from breast cancer is still discussed controversially. In our patient collective, including 149 patients, we obtained statistically significant results for six different time intervals, indicating that patients who underwent surgery between 11 and 22 days after the last menstrual period (LMP) have a poorer outcome. Focusing on the effect of statistical data evaluation strategy we designed a simulation study to evaluate the amount of type I error (error of a false positive test result) in a multiple testing situation involving a cyclical covariate. Accordingly, we corrected the minimum P-values for the occurring type I error rates. After that correction all six previously significant P-values failed to achieve statistical significance. The impact of different statistical data evaluation strategies in a multiple testing situation is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Prognostic value of immunohistochemically detected CD44 expression in patients with carcinoma of the vulva.

BACKGROUND: Overexpression of alternatively spliced CD44 isoforms has been reported to correlate with poor prognosis in several human malignancies. To the authors' knowledge, there are no studies concerning the prognostic value of CD44 isoform overexpression in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva. METHODS: Thirty cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Stage I to III were examined immunohistochemically for overexpression of CD44 isoforms. We used 3 different variant exon sequence-specific murine monoclonal antibodies to CD44 isoforms containing variant exons v5, v6, and v7 to -8, respectively. The correlation of CD44 overexpression with clinical stage, histologic grade, and disease free and overall survival was investigated. RESULTS: CD44 isoforms CD44v5, CD44v6, and CD44v7-8 were detected in 83% (25/30), 63% (19/30), and 27% (8/30) of the tumor samples, respectively. Patients with tumors overexpressing CD44v6 showed a significantly shorter relapse free (log rank test, P = 0.002) and overall survival (log rank test, P = 0.003) compared with patients with tumors lacking CD44v6 overexpression. Expression of CD44v5 and CD44v7 to 8 had no impact on patients' survival. Clinical stage and histologic grade did not correlate with CD44 overexpression. CONCLUSIONS: Immunohistochemically detected overexpression of CD44 isoforms containing variant exon v6 is correlated with a poor relapse free and overall survival in patients with carcinoma of the vulva.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Immunohistochemical detection of adhesion molecule CD44 splice variants in lymph node metastases of cervical cancer.

Expression of specific cell adhesion molecule CD44 isoforms (splice variants) has been shown to be associated with poor prognosis in human cervical cancer. We used 3 different variant exon sequence-specific murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to epitopes encoded by exons v5, v6 and v7-v8 of human variant CD44 to study the expression of CD44 splice variants in 35 primary squamous-cell carcinomas of the cervix and pelvic lymph node metastases by means of immunohistochemistry. Primary tumors showed expression of CD44 splice variants CD44v5, CD44v6 and CD44v7-8 in 93%, 73% and 33% of cases, respectively. Lymph node metastases expressed CD44v5, CD44v6 and CD44v7-8 in 83%, 53% and 21% of cases, respectively. Tumors with expression of CD44v6 in pelvic lymph node metastases showed metastatic spread to 2 or more pelvic lymph nodes significantly more often compared to patients without expression of splice variant CD44v6. Patients suffering from tumors with lymph node metastases expressing splice variant CD44v6 had a poorer recurrence-free survival compared to patients without CD44v6 expression in lymph node metastases, but this trend was not statistically significant. Expression of CD44 splice variants containing epitopes encoded by exon v6 in primary tumors and pelvic lymph node metastases of cervical cancer patients is consistent with a prominent role of CD44 in the process of metastasis formation.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Prognostic value of immunohistochemically detected HER-2/neu oncoprotein in endometrial cancer.

HER-2/neu (c-erbB-2) oncoprotein is a transmembrane glycoprotein and may function as a growth factor receptor being involved in the regulation of cell growth and cell transformation. We performed an analysis of 100 patients with endometrial cancer stage FIGO I to IV using an immunoperoxidase technique on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples in order to determine HER-2/neu oncoprotein expression. HER-2/neu oncoprotein was expressed in the tumors of 21 patients (21%). Clinical stage, histologic stage, histologic grade and death of invasion did not correlate with HER-2/neu oncoprotein expression. We found HER-2/neu oncoprotein in all clinical stages and therefore it does not seem to be a late event in the natural history of endometrial cancer. HER-2/neu oncoprotein expression was associated with poor overall survival (log-rank P-value 0.04).

Adult↗
PubMed1996

p53 protein overexpression in early stage endometrial cancer.

Overexpression of p53 protein has been reported to correlate with a poor prognosis in endometrial cancer. Most endometrial adenocarcinomas are clinical stage I at the time of diagnosis and the majority of women to die of this neoplasm had stage I disease at initial presentation. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of p53 overexpression in early stage endometrial carcinoma. Ninety-two patients with surgically treated endometrial adenocarcinoma FIGO stage I were examined for overexpression of immunohistochemically detected mutant p53 protein. Follow-up time ranged from 0.4 to 137.8 months (mean, 34.8). Thirteen women died of their tumor. A nuclear staining reaction for p53 was observed in eight cases. Women with p53 protein overexpression showed a significant poorer overall survival in univariate analysis (relative risk, 4.78; 95% confidence interval, 1.56-14.61; P = 0.006, Wald test) and also in multiple analysis adjusted for grading (relative risk, 4.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.39-13.90; P = 0.01, Wald test). Histological grading and histologic stage did not correlate with p53 protein overexpression (P = 0.26, P = 1.0, respectively, exact chi 2 test). Immunohistochemically detected p53 protein overexpression in early stage endometrial adenocarcinoma could aid in predicting prognosis and subsequently have some impact on adjuvant therapy.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1996

Influence of microvessel density and vascular permeability factor/vascular endothelial growth factor expression on prognosis in vulvar cancer.

Microvessel density (MVD) and expression of vascular permeability factor/vascular endothelial growth factor (VPF/VEGF), acting as a highly specific inducer of angiogenesis, were evaluated in tissue specimens of 25 patients with squamous cell cancer of the vulva. MVD was quantified by immunostaining for factor VIII-related antigen at one field of 0.25 mm2. VPF/VEGF expression was evaluated immunohistochemically using a monoclonal anti-VEGF antibody. FIGO stages I, II, and III were diagnosed in 12, 7, and 6 patients, respectively. MVD >20/field was found in 10 of 25 tumors and moderate or strong expression of VPF/VEGF in 10 of 25 tumors. High MVD was significantly more frequent in tumors with moderate or strong VPF/VEGF expression compared to tumors with no or weak VPF/VEGF expression (P = 0.01). Overall survival rates of patients with tumors of high MVD (P = 0.01) and strong VPF/VEGF expression (P < 0.01) were significantly poorer compared to those patients with low MVD or poor VPF/VEGF expression. Strong VPF/VEGF expression and high MVD are considered important parameters of tumor angiogenesis and therefore are related to poor survival probability in vulvar cancer patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Quantification of uPA receptor expression in human breast cancer cell lines by cRT-PCR.

The conversion of plasminogen to active plasmin is thought to be a crucial step in the process of extracellular matrix degradation associated with metastatic spread. Activation of plasminogen is initiated by urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA). The binding of uPA to the uPA cell surface receptor (uPA-R) accelerates plasmin generation from plasminogen and localizes uPA activity to the cell surface. We investigated the mRNA-expression of uPA-R in 19 different human breast cancer cell lines. In a competitive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (cRT-PCR) we simultaneously co-amplified two different RNA templates bearing the same primer recognition sequences, the cell line RNA and a known amount of an in vitro synthesized uPA-R-RNA internal standard. We analyzed the two PCR products differing 50 bp in size by agarose gel electrophoresis and calculated the initial uPA-R-RNA template concentration from the relative intensities of the bands quantified by video densitometry. We grouped the investigated cell lines according to their in vitro invasiveness according to literature. Cell lines with a high potential of invasiveness showed a higher expression of uPA-R compared to those with a low potential of invasiveness (Student's t-test, p 0.04). In addition to that we compared the uPA-R mRNA levels with uPA-R, uPA, and PAI-1 protein levels in culture supernatants and cell lysates. The obtained results in breast cancer cell lines with different invasiveness and in benign epithelial cell lines revealed the complex cooperation of the urokinase type proteolytic pathway. uPA, uPA-R, and PAI-1 are to be considered as a diagnostic tool rather than assaying a particular molecule alone. Our findings support the hypothesis that the urokinase proteolytic pathway plays a central role in the acquisition of an invasive phenotype and favors its potential use as a prognostic marker in patients with breast cancer.

Binding, Competitive↗
PubMed1996

Prognostic value of immunohistochemically detected CD44 isoforms CD44v5, CD44v6 and CD44v7-8 in human breast cancer.

We investigated the expression of CD44 isoforms containing variant exons v5, v6 and v7-8 in 115 human breast cancer specimens by means of immunohistochemistry. CD44 isoforms CD44v5, CD44v6 and CD44v7-8 were detected in 56% (n = 64), 24% (n = 28) and 15% (n = 17), respectively. In 36 specimens of axillary lymph node metastasis, expression of CD44v5, CD44v6 and CD44v7-8 was found in 94% (n = 34), 92% (n = 33) and 89% (n = 32), respectively. Five year survival rates with or without CD44v5 and CD44v6 expression were 71% versus 86% (log-rank test, P = 0.02) and 62% versus 81% (log-rank test, P = 0.001), respectively. For disease-free survival, expression of CD44v5, CD44v6 and CD44v7-8 showed a prognostic impact (log-rank test, P = 0.004, P = 0.0001 and P = 0.0001, respectively). However, multivariate analysis revealed that all investigated CD44 isoforms failed to be independent predictors of the patient's outcome.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Lysosomal protease cathepsin D is a prognostic marker in endometrial cancer.

The present study investigates the prognostic value of immunohistochemically detected cathepsin D expression in endometrial adenocarcinoma. Patients with surgically treated endometrial adenocarcinoma FIGO stages I-III and consecutive irradiation therapy were included in the study. When we performed immunohistochemistry to detect cathepsin D in 115 tissue specimens 35 cases showed a positive reaction. In the univariate analysis cathepsin D expression showed significant prognostic value for overall survival (P-value = 0.007). In the multivariate analysis with established prognostic parameters (stage, grade) we found an independent prognostic value for cathepsin D (P-value = 0.002, relative risk = 3.8, 95% confidence interval 1.4 - 10.0). Immunohistochemical detection of cathepsin D could aid in predicting prognosis and planning therapy for patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Quantitative immunohistochemistry of factor VIII-related antigen in breast carcinoma: a comparison of computer-assisted image analysis with established counting methods.

Microvessel density in the area of the most intense neovascularization in invasive breast carcinoma is reported to be an independent prognostic factor. The established method of enumeration of microvessel density is to count the vessels using an ocular raster (counted microvessel density [CMVD]). The vessels were detected by staining endothelial cells using Factor VIII-related antigen. The aim of the study was to compare the CMVD results with the percentage of factor VIII-related antigen-stained area using computer-assisted image analysis. A true color red-green-blue (RGB) image analyzer based on a morphologically reduced instruction set computer processor was used to evaluate the area of stained endothelial cells. Sixty invasive breast carcinomas were included in the analysis. There was no significant correlation between the CMVD and the percentage of factor VIII-related antigen-stained area (Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.24, confidence interval = 0.02-0.46). Although high CMVD was significantly correlated with poorer recurrence free survival (P = .024), percentage of factor VIII-related antigen-stained area showed no prognostic value. Counted microvessel density and percentage of factor VIII-related antigen-stained area showed a highly significant correlation with vessel invasion (P = .0001 and P = .02, respectively). There was no correlation between CMVD and percentage of factor VIII-related antigen-stained area with other prognostic factors. In contrast to the CMVD within malignant tissue, the percentage of factor VIII-related antigen-stained area is not suitable as an indicator of prognosis in breast cancer patients.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1996

Diagnostic accuracy of 2 mm microlaparoscopy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of a 2 mm microlaparoscope compared to the conventional 10 mm laparoscope. DESIGN: A prospective study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-two patients underwent 2 mm and 10 mm laparoscopy in the same session. All procedures were videotaped and the quality of visualization for both methods was assessed by an independent investigator using a 3-step grading scale. RESULTS: Diagnostic information was found to be similar for both methods. CONCLUSION: In most cases undergoing laparoscopy for diagnostic purposes 2 mm microlaparoscopy yields sufficient information to abandon the conventional 10 mm technique.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis of the gestational trophoblastic disease.

OBJECTIVE: The gestational trophoblastic disease summarizes all types of hydatidiform moles, placental site trophoblastic tumor and choriocarcinoma. It is of clinical relevance to distinguish between complete hydatidiform mole and partial hydatidiform mole to predict prognosis of recurrency of molar pregnancy and the risk of the development of malign and metastatic gestational trophoblastic disease. Differential diagnosis of choriocarcinoma versus placental site trophoblastic tumor, carcinoma or sarcoma with low differentiation can cause problems in borderline-cases. The present study investigates the value of immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis of gestational trophoblastic disease. METHOD: Nine cases of patients with complete hydatidiform mole, 20 cases of partial hydatidiform mole and seven cases of choriocarcinoma were analyzed for the immunohistochemical reaction with antibodies against human choriogonadotropin (hCG), human placental lactogen (hPL). placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), cytokeratine and vimentin. RESULTS: Complete hydatidiform mole shows strong expression of hCG and weak expression of PLAP. Weak hCG and strong PLAP expression is found in partial hydatidiform mole. Choriocarcinoma presents strong expression of hCG and weak expression of hPL and PLAP. All tissues show positive reaction with anticytokeratine and negative reaction with anti-vimentin. CONCLUSION: Our study proves immunohistochemistry as useful tool for differential diagnosis in borderline cases of gestational trophoblastic disease.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗