The objective of this study was to determine the spatial expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their physiologic inhibitors, the tissue inhibitor of MMP (TIMP)-3 and TIMP-4, in ovarian carcinoma compared to normal ovaries. Immunohistochemistry was carried out in this study. Tissue sections prepared from normal ovarian tissues from throughout the menstrual cycle (N = 20) and ovarian carcinomas (N = 45) characterized as stage I (N = 5), stage III/IV (N = 40) were immunostained using polyclonal antibodies to the latent and the active form of MMP-26, TIMP-3, and a monoclonal antibody to TIMP-4. Immunoreactive MMP-26, TIMP-3, and TIMP-4 were detected in all the ovarian cell types in normal and tumor tissues. In normal ovarian tissues, theca externa and luteal cells immunostained with high intensity for MMP-26 and TIMPs while theca/granulosa cell staining intensity increased as lutenization progressed. There was low immunostaining of the ovarian stromal and surface epithelial cells for MMP-26, with moderate staining for TIMPs. In the carcinoma specimens, cancer cells and vascular endothelial cells displayed the highest staining intensity compared to adjacent nontumor areas. The immunostaining intensity of MMP-26 and TIMP-3 increased with stage of tumor with the invading tumor cells displaying the strongest immunostaining. MMP-26, TIMP-3, and TIMP-4 are expressed in normal ovarian as well as ovarian tumors with elevated expression in the invasive tumor cells suggesting a potential role for MMP-26 in normal ovary and ovarian cancer biologic function.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Increased incidence of second malignancies associated with small bowel adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Some data suggest that there is an increased incidence of second malignancies associated with small bowel adenocarcinomas, but this has not been reviewed in the context of a tumour registry. OBJECTIVE: To review tumour registries based on population statistics to determine whether there is an increased incidence of second malignancies associated with small bowel adenocarcinomas. METHODS: The authors reviewed the tumour registries of two Canadian provinces (British Columbia and Manitoba) for small bowel adenocarcinoma to determine whether an increase in associated malignancies existed compared with those expected in the respective populations. RESULTS: A greater than eightfold increase in second malignancies was associated with small bowel carcinoma. The majority (73%) occurred before the diagnosis of the small bowel malignancy. Twenty-nine per cent were associated with cancers of the colon, rectum or both. CONCLUSIONS: There is an increased association of malignancy and the diagnosis of small bowel cancer. Generally, small bowel cancer is the second malignancy to be diagnosed, and the diagnosis is most often made in the elderly. Does this represent a syndrome related to an unstable gene (or genes) or a lack of repair, which makes individuals susceptible to this malignancy as they age?

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Living with hepatitis C as a nurse.

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Alberta↗