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Biomedical subjects

G Tallini

Publications and source records attributed to G Tallini.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Spontaneous regression of lymphoproliferative disorders in patients treated with methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatic diseases.

PURPOSE: To determine the clinicopathologic features of lymphoproliferative disorders (LPD) that occur in the setting of methotrexate (MTX) therapy for rheumatic diseases (RD) and to define the relationship between the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in tumor cells and the response of LPD to MTX withdrawal. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In addition to nine new cases, we analyzed 28 cases previously reported in the literature of LPD in patients receiving MTX for RD. In addition to MTX, immunosuppressive therapy included corticosteroids in 19 patients, azathioprine in three, and cyclosporine in one. Extranodal disease was identified in 16 patients, but none had CNS involvement. Pathologic findings included five cases of Hodgkin's disease and seven low-grade lymphomas. The remaining patients had intermediate or aggressive lymphomas. In situ hybridization studies (ISHS) for EBV-RNA transcripts were positive in 12 of 27 patients (44%). RESULTS: Among 37 patients, 16 were initially observed after MTX withdrawal without additional antitumor therapy. Six achieved a spontaneous complete remission (CR), three had a partial response (PR), one had a minimal response, and six had no response to MTX withdrawal. Of 10 responding patients, EBV was detected by ISHS (n = 6) or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (n = 2); one patient had a CR despite the absence of EBV by PCR and one had a CR but did not have viral assays performed. Only one of six patients with negative EBV by ISHS or PCR responded to MTX withdrawal. CONCLUSION: MTX withdrawal and observation for a short period should be considered in the initial management of patients who develop LPD while on MTX therapy. Responses were consistently observed, but not limited to patients in whom EBV was detected by ISHS or PCR. Further studies are required to confirm these findings and to evaluate the role for EBV in LPD that occur in patients receiving MTX.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Burkitt's lymphoma-leukemia in patients treated for Hodgkin's disease.

We reviewed all reported cases of Burkitt's lymphoma and/or Burkitt's leukemia (BLL) occurring following therapy for Hodgkin's disease. In addition to the case described in this report, a total of 19 patients have been previously reported. The male/female ratio was 3.75. Treatment for Hodgkin's disease included chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy in 15 patients, chemotherapy in 3 patients, and radiation therapy alone in 1 patient. Median interval between Hodgkin's disease and the diagnosis of BLL was 97 months. Patient characteristics are similar to those with de novo BLL. Bone marrow, abdomen, central nervous system, as well as extranodal organs were commonly involved. Typical cytogenetic translocations seen in patients with primary BLL were found in 6 patients, but 5 of these patients had additional cytogenetic abnormalities. Only 2 patients achieved complete remission after chemotherapy. The mechanism for the development of BLL after treatment for Hodgkin's disease is unknown. Although the majority of cases have been seen in patients treated with combined-modality therapy, the role of previous therapy in causing this complication cannot be assessed in this study.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Correlation between clinicopathological features and karyotype in lipomatous tumors. A report of 178 cases from the Chromosomes and Morphology (CHAMP) Collaborative Study Group.

Soft tissue tumors commonly show cytogenetic abnormalities, some of which are tumor specific. Lipomatous tumors represent the largest category of soft tissue neoplasms, and numerous karyotypic aberrations have been identified. However, clear-cut correlation between morphology and karyotype has not been undertaken on a systematic basis in a double-blind setting. The morphological features and histological diagnosis of 178 lipomatous neoplasms were reviewed independently without knowledge of the clinical data. The consensus diagnoses were then correlated with the clinical findings and compared with the tumors' karyotypes, using G-banded preparations from short-term cultures. The data were collated by a multicenter collaborative group of pathologists, geneticists, and surgeons. Clonal chromosomal abnormalities were identified in 149 cases studied (84%) and, to a large extent, the karyotype correlated with the morphological diagnosis. Specifically, 26 (96%) of 27 myxoid liposarcomas and its poorly differentiated variants showed a t(12;16); 29 (78%) of 37 atypical lipomatous tumors (including 5 dedifferentiated cases) showed ring chromosomes; 74 (80%) of 93 subcutaneous and intramuscular lipomas had karyotypic aberrations affecting mainly 12q, 6p, and 13q; 7 of 8 spindle cell and pleomorphic lipomas had aberrations of 16q; 3 lipoblastomas showed 8q rearrangements; and 2 hibernomas showed 11q abnormalities. We conclude that cytogenetic abnormalities are common in lipomatous tumors, correlate reliably with morphological sub-type in many cases, and can be of diagnostic value in histologically borderline or difficult cases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Down-regulation of beta 1C integrin, an inhibitor of cell proliferation, in prostate carcinoma.

The beta 1C integrin, a member of the cell adhesion receptor superfamily, is an alternatively spliced variant of the beta 1A subunit and, in contrast to its wild-type counterpart, inhibits cell proliferation in vitro. The expression of beta 1C integrin in tumor cell growth was investigated. In benign and neoplastic human prostate tissues, immunohistochemical analysis performed using affinity-purified antibodies specific for beta 1C demonstrated a predominant epithelial expression of beta 1C in benign prostate glands with marked staining of the apical, basal, and lateral surfaces. In the adjacent prostate adenocarcinoma glands, the beta 1C variant was dramatically down-regulated in 27 of 34 (79%) analyzed cases, whereas the expression and distribution of its wild-type counterpart, beta 1A, remained unchanged. Tumors exhibiting different Gleason's patterns showed that beta 1C was down-regulated in comparison with the benign tissue regardless of the histological grade. Immunoblotting analysis, using affinity-purified antibodies specific for beta 1C, was performed, in a quantitative manner, to compare beta 1C expression in benign and tumor prostate tissue. The results showed that beta 1C was expressed in benign prostate tissue whereas it was undetectable in prostate adenocarcinoma. Taken together, these data show that beta 1C integrin down-regulation in prostate tissues correlates with a neoplastic phenotype consistent with its in vitro growth-inhibitory properties. These findings indicate a novel pathophysiological role for this integrin variant in tumorigenesis.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1996

H+-K+ ATPase inhibitors cause relaxation of guinea pig and human airway smooth muscle in vitro.

The effect of H+-K+ ATPase inhibitors on airway smooth muscle tone was investigated in vitro. Four H+-K+ ATPase inhibitors, SCH 28080 (2-methyl-8-(phenylmethoxy)-imidazo[1,2-a] pyridine-3-acetonitrile), SK&F 96067 (3-butyryl-4-(2-methylphenylamino)-8-methoxy-quinoline), omaprezole (5-methoxy-2-(((4-methoxy-3,5-dimethyl-2-pyridinyl)-methyl)-sulfinyl)-1H -benzimidazole) and NC-1300-B (2-(2-dimethylaminobenzylsulfiny)-5-methoxybenzimidazole), induced concentration-dependent relaxation of guinea pig trachea with spontaneous tone, with IC50 values of 5.9, 7.1, 155 and 79 microM, respectively, SCH 28080 and omeprazole also relaxed airways precontracted with carbachol or histamine in the presence of indomethacin. Relaxation was similar in intact and epithelium-denuded tracheal preparations, suggesting that the airway epithelium neither mediates or modulates relaxation induced by H+-K+ ATPase inhibitors. SCH 28080-induced relaxation was not influenced by tetrodotoxin, suggesting that it is not neurogenically mediated. Bafilomycin A1 and concanamycin A had no effect on guinea pig tracheal spontaneous tone, suggesting that relaxation induced by H+-K+ ATPase inhibitors is not due to an interaction with a vacuolar H+ ATPase. SCH 28080 also induced concentration-dependent relaxation of human bronchi precontracted with histamine. These results demonstrate that several structurally and/or mechanistically distinct H+-K+ ATPase inhibitors cause relaxation of airway smooth muscle in vitro, and suggest that a H+-K+ ATPase or similar pathway may play a role in the maintenance of airway smooth muscle tone.

Aminoquinolines↗
PubMed1996

Lymphomatoid granulomatosis of the skin and lung. An angiocentric T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To test the recent hypothesis that lymphomatoid granulomatosis (LYG) is a clonal B-cell proliferative process related to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). BACKGROUND AND DESIGN: Historically, LYG has been classified as an angiocentric T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder. To further characterize LYG in the skin, we analyzed for EBV RNA in lymphocytes using in situ hybridization, coupled with colabeling for B-cell and T-cell markers. Clonality of lymphocytes was assessed by polymerase chain reaction using primers for immunoglobulin heavy chain genes and T-cell receptor beta and gamma genes. SETTING: Academic referral center. PATIENTS: In a 5-year retrospective review, we identified 4 patients with classic clinical and pathologic features of LYG in skin and lung, and tissue available from both sites. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The presence or absence of EBV RNA and clonal gene rearrangements in cutaneous and pulmonary lesions of LYG. RESULTS: Biopsy specimens of skin and lung in all patients revealed angiocentric infiltrates predominantly composed of T lymphocytes. Epstein-Barr virus RNA was identified in the skin of 1 patient and the lung of 3 patients, and was restricted to B cells. Polymerase chain reaction revealed clonal immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangements and no clonal rearrangement of T-cell receptor genes in skin and lung tissue of all patients. CONCLUSIONS: At least some examples of LYG in the skin and lung are characterized by a clonal proliferation of B lymphocytes, some of which contain EBV RNA. The B cells are typically scarce and may be obscured by striking angiocentric T-cell infiltrates.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

RET/PTC oncogene activation is an early event in thyroid carcinogenesis.

RET/PTC oncogene activation occurs in about 20% of human thyroid papillary carcinomas. However, it is not known yet whether it is an early or late event in the process of thyroid carcinogenesis. Here we demonstrate, by using a combined immunohistochemical and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction based approach, that RET/PTC activation is present in 11 out of 26 occult thyroid papillary carcinomas analysed. Therefore, we conclude that it represents an early event in the process of thyroid cell transformation.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA alterations in thyroid and renal oncocytic tumors.

The search for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) defects in oncocytic neoplasms has been the subject of several recent studies. We have performed qualitative and quantitative analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial DNAs in a series of 19 renal and 12 thyroid oncocytic tumors to identify specific alterations that might predict the clinical and biological behavior of these tumors. Allelic losses were seen in 2 of 19 renal tumors and 5 of 12 thyroid tumors. Among all loci (3p, 3q, 9q, 10q, 11p, 17p, and 17q) that showed losses, losses at 10q (one renal tumor and three thyroid tumors) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than expected. Analysis of the COX I region previously reported to be altered in oncocytomas and the delta-loop region of mtDNA showed no detectable abnormalities in the restriction pattern in 10 renal and five thyroid tumors. PCR analysis of the commonly deleted 4,977-bp region failed to detect an increased frequency of mtDNA deletions in tumors compared to the controls. In addition, segmental amplification of the complete mtDNA from a renal oncocytoma using nine sets of primers revealed no gross alteration in mtDNA. Oncocytic tumors showed a mean 5-fold increase in mitochondrial DNA, which was significant (P < 0.001) when compared to corresponding controls. The relative increase in the cellular content of mtDNA may be associated with alterations in the normal coordinated interaction between the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. Allelic deletions at 10q may be significant in the biology of oncocytic tumors, and their impact on the clinical behavior of these tumors warrants further investigation.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Myogenic regulatory protein expression in adult soft tissue sarcomas. A sensitive and specific marker of skeletal muscle differentiation.

Myogenic regulatory protein (MyoD1) is a DNA-binding nuclear protein that initiates myogenesis in mesenchymal stem cells. Its expression has proved a very sensitive marker of myogenic differentiation in malignant tumors of childhood. In this study, the reliability of MyoD1 expression as marker of skeletal muscle differentiation has been tested in 38 cases of adult-type sarcomas. Frozen sections were stained with the monoclonal antibody 5.8A (MAb 5.8A) developed against recombinant wild-type murine MyoD1. Routinely processed formalin-fixed sections from the same cases were reviewed and immunostained with a panel of antibodies commonly used to detect muscle differentiation: myoglobin, fast-myosin, desmin, muscle-specific actin, alpha-smooth muscle actin. Four cases positively stained with MAb 5.8A: three were high-grade spindle cell sarcomas, the fourth case was an alveolar soft-part sarcoma. Only tumors in which skeletal muscle histogenesis was inferred on the basis of histology and/or immunohistochemistry with conventional muscle markers stained positively for MAb 5.8A. All the other tumors tested, including leiomyosarcomas (11), liposarcomas, (10, including four dedifferentiated liposarcomas), fibrosarcomas (three), malignant fibrous histiocytomas (two), synovial sarcomas (two), and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (two), were negative for MAb 5.8A. The high level of sensitivity and specificity of MyoD1 expression indicates the value of this marker in the diagnosis of soft tissue sarcomas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Metastatic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans with fibrosarcomatous change in the absence of local recurrence. A case report of simultaneous occurrence with a malignant giant cell tumor of soft parts.

An unusual case of a metastasizing dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans with fibrosarcomatous change (DFSP-FS) is reported. The tumor metastasized to unusual sites, including soft tissues of the cheek, forearm, and retroperitoneum 5 years after surgical resection without local recurrence. In addition, the patient had a second, histologically distinct fibrohistiocytic tumor: a malignant giant cell tumor of soft parts. The occurrence of these two tumor types in the same patient highlights the relationship of DFSP to the family of fibrohistiocytic tumors. The late onset of metastases in the absence of local relapse, although a rare event, reflects the potential difficulty in predicting its biologic behavior. DFSP-FS may be a more aggressive tumor than ordinary DFSP.

Cheek↗
PubMed1993

Autoantibodies to a 128-kd synaptic protein in three women with the stiff-man syndrome and breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The stiff-man syndrome is a rare disease of the central nervous system characterized by progressive rigidity of the body musculature. Autoantibodies directed against glutamic acid decarboxylase are present in about 60 percent of patients with the syndrome. In this group, there is a striking association of the stiff-man syndrome with organ-specific autoimmune diseases, primarily insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. METHODS: We studied three women with the stiff-man syndrome and breast cancer, seeking autoantibodies directed against nervous system antigens in serum and cerebrospinal fluid by immunocytochemical techniques, Western blotting, and immunoprecipitation. RESULTS: Autoantibodies directed against a 128-kd brain protein were found in two of the women with the stiff-man syndrome and breast cancer. These results led to a search for breast cancer in the third patient with the stiff-man syndrome, who also had autoantibodies. A small invasive ductal carcinoma was detected by ultrasonography and removed. Serum samples from all three patients were negative for autoantibodies directed against glutamic acid decarboxylase. Autoantibodies against the 128-kd antigen were not detected in control patients with the stiff-man syndrome without breast cancer or in patients with cancer who did not have the syndrome. Within the nervous system, the 128-kd autoantigen was localized in neurons and concentrated at synapses. CONCLUSIONS: In a subgroup of patients with the stiff-man syndrome, the condition is likely to have an autoimmune paraneoplastic origin. The detection of autoantibodies against the 128-kd antigen in patients with this syndrome should be considered an indication to search for an occult breast cancer.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Epithelioid angiosarcoma arising in uterine leiomyomas.

Primary angiosarcomas of the uterus are exceedingly rare. The authors report a unique case of this entity arising in connection with uterine leiomyomas. The malignant tumor cells showed focally epithelioid features and were immunoreactive for keratin. Electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry confirmed their endothelial nature.

Female↗
PubMed1993

Divergent myosarcomatous differentiation in retroperitoneal liposarcoma.

We describe four patients with retroperitoneal liposarcomas undergoing myosarcomatous differentiation. The patients (two men and two women) were 47, 48, 68, and 72 years of age when first seen. The primary tumors were large retroperitoneal, well-differentiated liposarcomas, one featuring areas of dedifferentiation (without muscle elements). A myosarcomatous component became evident at the first recurrence in three cases and at the second recurrence in one. This component was always within dedifferentiated areas and in three of the cases coincided with the emergence of the latter. The muscle component had exclusively leiomyosarcomatous phenotype (alpha-smooth-muscle actin reactivity) in one case, exclusively rhabdomyosarcomatous phenotype (myoglobin reactivity) in two cases, and combined leiomyosarcomatous and rhabdomyosarcomatous phenotype (alpha-smooth-muscle actin and myoglobin) in one case. Ultrastructural studies of one of the tumors with a rhabdomyosarcomatous component revealed the presence of sarcomeres. Two patients died of extensive retroperitoneal disease, one patient died following the attempted removal of a recurrence, and one patient is alive and free of disease. These cases demonstrate that the dedifferentiated component of liposarcoma may exhibit a myosarcomatous component, a feature analogous to that previously described in dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Diagnosis of gastrointestinal T-cell lymphomas in routinely processed tissues.

Diagnosis of primary gastrointestinal T-cell lymphomas is often problematic because lymphoma may not be suspected clinically or on resection, and tissue may not be frozen for immunophenotyping. Furthermore, ulceration and inflammation and the polymorphous character of the lesions makes evaluation difficult. Only approximately 150 cases have been reported, fewer than 20 from North America. We have tried to establish a reliable approach to the diagnosis of gastrointestinal lymphomas of T-cell phenotype in routinely processed tissue. Sections from five primary gastrointestinal T-cell lymphomas were stained with a panel of 13 antibodies reactive in routinely fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. These included antibodies to pan-T- and pan-B-cell antigens (CD3, CD20), B- and T-cell-associated antigens (CD43, CD45R0; CDw75, CD74), antigens expressed by activated T-cells (HLA-DR, CD30), leukocyte antigens (CD45, CD15), and macrophage markers (MAC-387, HAM-56). All stained positively with T-cell markers MT-1 and Leu-22, four with UCHL-1, and three with anti-CD3 polyclonal antibody. B-cell markers identified by L-26 and LN-1 were negative in all five, whereas LN-2 was expressed in two. Two expressed HLA-DR; all were Ber-H2 negative. Two had an abnormal phenotype: one was Leu-M1 positive, and one LCA negative. Ten B-cell gastrointestinal lymphoma controls were negative for MT-1, Leu-22, and CD3, and nine were negative for UCHL-1. Nine were positive for the B-cell marker L-26, eight for LN-2, and seven for LN-1. All tumors were negative for monocyte-macrophage markers. This antibody panel provides a reliable means for identifying gastrointestinal T-cell lymphomas in paraffin sections. Use of a panel is advisable because of variation in expression and preservation of antigens, and to detect abnormal phenotypes. Application of this approach may facilitate the diagnosis of gastrointestinal T-cell lymphomas both prospectively and in archival material, and thereby encourage studies of the behavior and treatment of these neoplasms.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Eliminating mitochondrial DNA competition for nuclear DNA primers.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences were synthesized with nuclear DNA (nucDNA) sequence-tagged site (STS) primers by mismatch priming in three independent studies of the human nuclear genome. Mismatch primer binding sites on the mtDNA were identified with from 6- to 10-bp identity at the 3' ends of the primers. In two of three cases, single-stranded mtDNA copies were gel-isolated with intended nucDNA PCR products. During routine screening of the STSs, the radiolabeled gel-isolated products hybridized to polymorphic mtDNA restriction fragments. Intense signals after overnight exposure of radiolabeled PCR probes on Southern blots suggest contaminating mtDNA PCR products. The theoretical annealing temperatures of the mismatches were well below the annealing temperatures of the PCR primers, demonstrating annealing reactions driven by the molar surplus of the primers, that is, mass action. The probability that two primers (either one of a pair or both), designed to amplify nucDNA, will bind to and amplify mtDNA may be as high as 1 in 64, assuming that an identical match with only the 3' hexanucleotide is sufficient for amplification. To circumvent this problem we have developed OLIGFIND, a program that has identified the 104 of 4096 possible hexamers that are not present in human mtDNA. Our results suggest that time could be saved by designing STS primers with one of these 104 hexamers at the 3' end. OLIGFIND can also evaluate primer 3' ends for potential PCR products from mtDNA.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Oncocytic neoplasms of the thyroid gland.

Among well differentiated thyroid tumors, oncocytic neoplasms feature a distinctive set of clinical, morphologic and biologic characteristics, some of which have been a matter of controversy. The world literature on this subject has been reviewed to show that: 1) Morphology accurately predicts the behavior of Hürthle cell tumors assuming that the specimen has been adequately sampled; 2) Capsular and/or vascular invasion is the sine qua non condition for a diagnosis of malignancy; 3) "Indeterminate" or "possibly malignant" categories are useless because in the absence of invasion these neoplasms almost invariably behave in a benign fashion; 4) Among cases histologically classified as malignant, a clinically aggressive behavior is to be expected in a high percentage of cases; 5) Size alone cannot be used as a criterion of malignancy; 6) Less than total thyroidectomy provides an adequate treatment for histologically benign tumors; aggressive surgical procedures (i.e. total thyroidectomy) do not diminish the incidence of metastasis; 7) Analysis of DNA content may be helpful in defining subsets of patients with Hürthle cell carcinomas having a particularly poor prognosis; 8) Mitochondrial and/or nuclear DNA abnormalities probably play an important role in the cellular alterations which characterize the phenotype of oncocytes.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1991

Prenatal diagnosis of a fetus with terminal deletion of chromosome 1 (q41)

Many authors have suggested that individuals affected by a terminal 1q deletion display a phenotypically definable and recognizable syndrome. In all of the 27 cases reported to date, the breakpoints were at band q42 or distally to it. To our knowledge, we report the first case of a terminal 1q41 deletion. Diagnosis was made prenatally by amniocentesis, following ultrasonographic diagnosis of omphalocele, cerebral ventriculomegaly, and increased nuchal fold thickness in a 19-week female fetus. Multiple facial and extremity features were consistent with the proposed distal 1q deletion syndrome; omphalocele, however, has not been reported previously. The absence of liver herniation into the omphalocele sac in this case supports the previously reported association of this finding with chromosomal anomalies.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗