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Biomedical subjects

E Bucciarelli

Publications and source records attributed to E Bucciarelli.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Estrogen and progesterone receptors in breast cancer: comparison between enzyme immunoassay and computer-assisted image analysis of immunocytochemical assay.

Evaluation of estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptor content is now an important procedure in the management of breast cancer patients. Production of monoclonal antibodies to ER and PR has permitted development of an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and immunocytochemical assay (ICA). This study compared the results of ICA and EIA to evaluate ER and PR in 197 breast cancers using the same monoclonal antibodies. The ICA results were obtained by automated computer-assisted image analysis using CAS 200. The cut-off values adopted were 15 fmol/mg protein for EIA and 10% of the positive neoplastic area of the nuclei for ICA. For statistical analysis, Spearman's correlation coefficient and chi 2 were used. There was good correlation between ICA and EIA for both ER (r = 0.714; p < 0.0001) and PR (r = 0.815; P < 0.0001). Of 197 tumors, 136 (69.04%) were ER-ICA+, and 138 (70.05%) were ER-EIA+; 111 (56.35%) were PR-ICA+, and 115 (58.38%) were PR-EIA+. Results were concordant, positive or negative with both methods, in 175 cases for ER and in 173 cases for PR. ER and PR results were only discordant in 22 and 24 cases, respectively. Concordance of results obtained by the two methods was 88.83% (P < 0.0001) for ER and 87.81% (P < 0.0001) for PR. Correlation of results obtained by EIA and ICA to determine ER and PR was good. The data obtained suggest that ICA with automated image analysis is an effective means for evaluating ER and PR content in human breast cancer, especially when, as happens ever more frequently nowadays, the tumor is too small to perform EIA or when retrospective studies are performed.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Combined overexpression of urokinase, urokinase receptor, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 is associated with breast cancer progression: an immunohistochemical comparison of normal, benign, and malignant breast tissues.

BACKGROUND: A strong positive correlation exists between the breast cancer tissue content of either urokinase-plasminogen activator (uPA) or plasminogen activator, inhibitor type I (PAI-1), quantified in the tissue extracts by immunoassays, and the survival of patients with breast cancer. Furthermore, several studies assign to the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) a pivotal role in triggering the proteolytic activity of the urokinase pathway involved in tumor stroma degradation, tumor spread and metastasis. However, the pattern of distribution of uPAR in normal and cancerous human tissue and the pattern of coexpression of activators and inhibitors that occurs in breast cancer tissues is not completely known. METHODS: The immunohistochemical localization of uPAR, uPA, tPA) and PAI-1 was evaluated by using the avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique and affinity-purified monoclonal antibodies from American Diagnostica Inc. Studies were performed in formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue prepared from 23 surgically excised non-neoplastic breast tissues and 18 ductal breast carcinomas. RESULTS: While the expression of uPAR protein represents a constant feature of invasive ductal breast cancer, it was also observed in most of the breast tissue samples, including the normal breast tissues. The staining for uPAR was mainly localized on normal or tumoral epithelial cells, even if the co-expression of uPAR in stromal cells was frequently observed in adjacent slides. A semiquantitative analysis of immunohistochemical results showed that uPAR and PAI-1 were overexpressed in invasive breast cancer in comparison with normal and benign breast tissues. In addition, uPA was higher in both invasive breast carcinomas and benign breast lesions with respect to normal breast tissues. CONCLUSIONS: We showed that overexpression of uPAR, uPA, and its main inhibitor, PAI-1, is a constant feature of invasive ductal breast carcinomas. However, the expression of the above fibrinolytic reactants is not specific for breast cancer since positive staining for these molecules was frequently observed in benign breast lesions as well as in normal breast tissues. The combined increased expression of uPA and its cellular receptor, uPAR on the surface of tumor epithelial cells may account for the activation of the proteolytic system which occurs in breast cancer.

Breast↗
PubMed1994

Intralobular growth of myoepithelial cell carcinoma of the breast.

Two cases of intralobular carcinoma of the breast showing myoepithelial cell differentiation are reported. One was an in situ lesion localized within a fibroadenoma; the second was predominantly in situ, but areas of invasion were present. The neoplastic cells had round to ovoid nuclei and were polygonal to spindle in shape displaying glycogen rich clear cytoplasm. Alpha-smooth muscle actin was present in the cytoplasm of the neoplastic cells in both cases. In one case the same cells displayed cytoplasmic microfilaments at electron microscopic level. Intralobular growth of neoplastic myoepithelial cells has never been described in the literature, and this line of differentiation has to be added to the endocrine and apocrine features occasionally observed in in situ lobular carcinomas of the breast.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[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↗
PubMed1990

Relevance of class, molecular weight and isoelectric point in predicting human light chain amyloidogenicity.

The ability to predict the amyloidogenicity of certain light chains may facilitate an earlier diagnosis of AL amyloidosis and, possibly, lead to more effective treatment. Using current methods, available in clinical chemistry laboratories, we assessed the class, the relative molecular mass (Mr) and the isoelectric point of urinary monoclonal light chains from 35 patients with AL amyloidosis (A+) and 51 without amyloidosis (A-). The light chain class (LCC) was lambda in 77% and 45% of A+ and A- patients, respectively. Light chain fragments (LCF) with low Mr (12-18 x 10(3) were detected in the urine of 30/35 A+ patients and in 15/51 A- ones. The mean (SD) isoelectric point (pI) of A+ light chains was 4.8 (1.1) while in A- patients it was 6.2 (1.6). Univariate analysis showed significant differences between the two groups for the three parameters. Discriminant analysis gave a function which allowed a correct allocation of 81% of the cases between the two groups.

Amyloidosis↗
PubMed1989

Study of three patients with monoclonal gammopathies and 'lupus-like' anticoagulants.

In three patients with monoclonal gammopathies: a case of multiple myeloma, a case of monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance (MGUS) and a case of monoclonal gammopathy associated with lymphocytic lymphoma, we found the presence of a circulating lupus-like anticoagulant. Coagulative studies showed that the paraproteins: an IgG3k, an IgG1k and an IgMlambda, were responsible for the anticoagulant activity by interacting with the thromboplastin phospholipids. Using isoelectrofocusing we demonstrated that the three monoclonal immunoglobulins had a strong basic charge which may have contributed to determining their interaction with the acidic thromboplastin phospholipids. The binding of various phospholipids to the monoclonal proteins was assessed by the fluorescence quenching method which showed heterogeneous specificity. In order to establish whether the electrical charge is also relevant in cases with polyclonal lupus anticoagulant, the polyclonal immunoglobulins were fractionated according to their charge. The strongest inhibitor activity was found in the most basic immunoglobulins. Monoclonal lupus-like anticoagulants represent useful tools for investigating the heterogeneous world of polyclonal lupus-like anticoagulants.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

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↗
PubMed1980

Erythrophagocytosis by undifferentiated lung carcinoma cells.

A case is reported of undifferentiated metastatic lung carcinoma in which both a supraclavicular lymph node and bone marrow were infiltrated by anaplastic tumor cells which had engulfed erythrocytes and nucleated elements. The possibility of a histiocytic origin for the phagocytizing neoplastic cells was excluded by ultrastructural, cytochemical, and immunoperoxidase studies. This investigation shows that epithelial tumor cells may, at times develop phagocytizing activity, a phenomenon observed in certain experimentally induced tumors. The mechanism responsible for this phenomenon is not clear.

Bone Marrow↗
PubMed1979

Membranous glomerulonephritis in congenital syphilis.

The glomerulonephritis of congenital syphilis is thought to be immune-complex mediated. We describe a case of C. S. in whom the only manifestation was a glomerulonephritis. Immunopathogenic studies allowed the identification of treponemal antigen in glomeruli. The elution of immunoglobulins from renal tissue showed that glomerular deposits contained antitreponemal antibodies. Cryoglobulins with antitreponemal activity were also isolated from the patient's serum.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗