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William M Lydiatt

Publications and source records attributed to William M Lydiatt.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

C-erb-B2 (HER2/neu) expression in synovial sarcoma of the head and neck.

BACKGROUND: Synovial sarcoma is a malignant mesenchymal tumor composed of varying proportions of spindle and epithelial cell components. Because of the histologic and immunohistochemical similarity of synovial sarcoma to epithelial carcinomas, we hypothesized that the human epithelial growth factor receptor 2 (C-erb-B2, also termed HER2/neu) may contribute to the tumor phenotype and provide a new therapeutic target for this soft tissue tumor. METHODS: Three head and neck, one chest wall, and seven extremity synovial sarcomas were evaluated for C-erb-B2 (HER2/neu) expression by immunohistochemistry, Western immunoblotting, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). RESULTS: The head and neck cases demonstrated immunohistochemically strong positive staining, whereas tumors from other anatomic locations showed neither positive nor cytoplasmic restricted staining. Antigen-targeted antibody therapy (trastuzumab) was initiated in two patients. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that C-erb-B2 (HER2/neu) may play a role in the tumorigenesis of synovial sarcoma; and, therefore, antigrowth factor therapies may provide a previously unrecognized pharmaceutical approach to soft tissue tumors. The data also suggest that although synovial sarcoma of the head and neck and synovial sarcoma of the extremities have similar morphologic features, they may be clinically and mechanistically distinct entities.

Adult↗

Thyroid carcinoma.

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Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Aberrant expression and localization of decorin in human oral dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma.

The small leucine-rich proteoglycan decorin has been associated with negative regulation of cell growth. It has a prominent role in transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta and epidermal growth factor receptor activation pathways that contributes to its role in cellular proliferation, angiogenesis, and immunomodulation. Our studies are directed toward analysis of decorin gene expression, identified through DNA microarray studies, in oral premalignant and malignant tissues as well as representative cell lines of an oral cancer progression model. We have used long oligonucleotide microarray analysis, immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopy, reverse transcription-PCR, sequencing, and Western immunoblot techniques to characterize decorin expression in oral premalignant archival tissues and an oral cancer progression cellular model. We have further analyzed the deduced amino acid sequence derived from full-length cDNA that do not show any deletion or mutations of the decorin expressed in oral premalignant and malignant cell lines. In our studies, we show aberrant expression of decorin in dysplastic oral epithelial cells. Both promoters P1 and P2 drive the aberrant expression resulting in exon 1a as well as exon 1b carrying transcripts. Intracellular accumulation and nuclear localization of aberrantly expressed decorin were observed in dysplastic oral tissues and in the respective cell lines. Decorin expressed in oral cancer may have lost its ability to inhibit TGF-beta signaling and activate epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathways because of such aberrant nuclear localization, resulting in a major dysfunction of otherwise a natural extracellular antagonist of TGF-beta and a putative tumor suppressor protein. The aberrant nuclear localization of a leucine-rich repeat protein might result in additional protein-protein interactions and resulting changes in gene expression. Further studies to characterize such interacting proteins and localization-dependent effects of aberrant decorin expressed in oral cancer progression are warranted.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

Impact of palatal prosthodontic intervention on communication performance of patients' maxillectomy defects: a multilevel outcome study.

BACKGROUND: Obturators have been developed for surgical defects caused by cancer of the maxillary sinus and alveolar ridge. Outcome research is necessary to develop evidence-based practice guidelines. METHODS: Thirty-two consecutively treated maxillectomy patients seen in the Facial Prosthetics Clinic at UNMC from 1994 through 1996 had their defects obturated for 1 month when speech intelligibility, speaking rate, nasality, and communication effectiveness were measured. RESULTS: With the obturator removed, mean speech intelligibility was 61%, speaking rate was 138 words per minute, and nasality was rated as 5.8 on a 0-7 point scale. With the obturator inserted, mean speech intelligibility was 94%, speaking rate was 164 words per minute, and nasality was rated as 1.6. The mean self-perception of communication effectiveness was 75% of what it was before the diagnosis of cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Obturation is an effective intervention for defects of the maxillary sinus and alveolar ridge on speech performance. Variations in effectiveness were noted based on site of defect and patient satisfaction with the intervention.

Adult↗