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Biomedical subjects

Y Soini

Publications and source records attributed to Y Soini.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

p53 mutations in primary hepatic angiosarcomas not associated with vinyl chloride exposure.

Angiosarcomas of the liver are rare, malignant cancers composed of neoplastic blood vessels. Human hapatic angiosarcomas have been associated with liver cirrhosis or exposure to vinyl chloride, Thorotrast or arsenic. A recent analysis of six hepatic angiosarcomas associated with vinal chloride exposure found three mutations and all were A:T --> T:A transversions, which are otherwise uncommon in human cancers. To test the specificity of this mutation spectrum, we analyzed 21 hepatic angiosarcomas not associated with vinyl chloride exposure. Four cases were exposed to Thorotrast, none had a history of arsenic exposure and the rest were sporadic. Exons 5-8 of the p53 gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction, and the products were sequenced directly. Two G:C --> A:T transitions were found in two tumors: TGCstop in codon 136. Neither mutation was associated with Thorotrast exposure. These data indicate that p53 mutations are uncommon in sporadic hepatic angiosarcomas (2/21, 9%), and the mutational profile is consistent with endogenous mechanisms. Both features support the evidence linking vinyl chloride exposure to hepatic angiosarcomas containing an increased frequency of p53 mutations with a mutational spectrum (i.e. A:T --> T:A transversions) characteristic of chloroethylene oxide, a carcinogenic metabolite of vinyl chloride.

Adult↗

p53 protein expression is correlated with benzo[a]pyrene-DNA adducts in carcinoma cell lines.

p53 inhibits cell cycle progression and DNA damaging cytostatics induce p53 protein expression, indicating that p53 responds to DNA damage. We have measured benzo[a]pyrene (BP)-induced DNA damage in association with p53 expression. The most relevant DNA adducts for carcinogenesis, benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide-DNA adducts, were measured by synchronous fluorescence spectrophotometry and p53 immunohistochemistry using polyclonal antibody CM1, which detects both wild-type and mutated forms of p53. Activation of BP in A-549 lung carcinoma and MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma cell lines containing wild-type p53 was followed by an increase in p53 protein expression. alpha-Naphthoflavone, an inhibitor of cytochrome P450 (CYP)1A1, decreased both the formation of diolepoxide metabolites and the p53 response. The cell lines not able to activate BP, A-427 and SK-LU-1 (both human lung carcinomas), SK-MES-1 (human lung squamous carcinoma) and human fibroblasts, did not show any increase in p53 immunohistochemistry. The OVCAR-3 ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line, containing a mutation in exon 7 of p53, and the SK-LU-1 cell line expressed very high levels of p53 protein before BP treatment and no increase in p53 immunohistochemistry was seen. These findings indicate that p53 protein is part of the response of the cells to BP-induced DNA damage.

7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide↗

Human papillomavirus DNA and abnormal p53 expression in carcinoma of the urinary bladder.

In this study we analysed 47 bladder carcinomas for the presence of DNA-HPV subtypes 6, 11, 16, 18, 31 and 33 by nucleic acid in situ hybridization, and for the abnormal accumulation of p53 protein by immunohistochemistry. HPV DNA was found in 27/47 (57%) bladder carcinomas, with multiple subtypes in 20 cases. In squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), HPV DNA was only detected in the superficial layer of the neoplastic epithelium and was found mainly in the nuclear compartment. In contrast, in transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), HPV DNA was also found in deeper parts of the tumour. In about half the cases it was mainly found in the cytoplasmic compartment. In SCC, the HPV DNA labelling occurred in koilocytic cells, while no such association was found in TCC. Abnormal accumulation of p53 protein was found in 24/47 (51%) carcinomas. p53 positivity was found significantly more often in SCC than in TCC (p = 0.05). Concurrent HPV positivity and abnormal p53 protein accumulation was found in 18 cases, 14 showing the presence of HPV subtypes 16 and/or 18 DNA. The results demonstrate that HPV DNA occurs widely in urinary tract tumours. Unlike in some other carcinomas, there was no inverse relationship between HPV positivity and abnormal p53 protein accumulation in bladder carcinomas. Thus HPV infection may play a role in the pathogenesis of bladder carcinomas by some mechanism other than inactivation of the p53 protein.

Aged↗

p53 and c-erbB-2 expression in schistosomal urinary bladder carcinomas and schistosomal cystitis with premalignant lesions.

Immunoreactivity for p53 and c-erbB-2 proteins was studied in 31 schistosomal urinary bladder carcinomas and 21 cases of schistosomal cystitis with hyperplastic, metaplastic and/or dysplastic (premalignant) lesions. The results were compared with 30 carcinomas and 21 premalignant lesions of the urinary bladder without schistosomiasis. Abnormal nuclear p53 protein accumulation was found in 17/31 schistosomal and in 15/30 non-schistosomal carcinomas and in 8/21 schistosomal cystitis with premalignant lesions of which five showed hyperplasia. No case of non-schistosomal hyperplasia or squamous metaplasia examined showed p53-positivity. In non-schistosomal carcinomas p53 positivity was significantly associated with tumour grade (grade I-II vs grade III tumours: P = 0.021) and greater age (P = 0.004) while in schistosomal carcinomas no such associations were found. Cytoplasmic membrane-bound positivity for c-erbB-2 oncoprotein was found in comparable percentages in schistosomal and non-schistosomal bladder carcinomas (10%), and in both groups was co-expressed with p53. p53 gene alteration is an important event in the development of both schistosomal and non-schistosomal bladder carcinoma.

Adolescent↗

Expression of p53 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen in lichen sclerosus et atrophicus with different histological features.

In this study, immunohistochemistry was used to investigate p53 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression in 40 cases of lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (LSA). Nuclear immunoreactivity for both p53 and PCNA was found in the basal and parabasal keratinocytes in the majority (91%) of the lesions. Typically, there was a widely varying positivity for PCNA, suggesting a wide range of proliferative capacity in individual LSA lesions. Lesions with p53 positivity in 5% or more of the basal cells also presented a strong (> 14% of basal cells positive) PCNA positivity (p = 0.030) and exhibited a higher mitotic rate (p = 0.002), suggesting a causal relationship between enhanced p53 expression and elevated cell proliferation. Lesions with a low number of PCNA-positive cells (< 15% of basal and parabasal cells positive) exhibited a wider subepithelial edematous zone and a thinner epithelium than in the lesions with a higher number of PCNA-positive cells. The results show that later stages of LSA, typified by subepithelial edema and epithelial atrophy, are associated with decreased proliferative activity of the basal and parabasal cells.

Female↗

Aberrant accumulation of p53 associates with Ki67 and mitotic count in benign skin lesions.

Sixty-two skin samples from patients with a variety of benign disorders (20 cases of psoriasis, 14 cases of chronic dermatitis, 11 seborrhoeic keratoses, 11 cases of lichen planus), and seven normal skin samples, were stained immunohistochemically with a polyclonal antibody (CM-1) to p53, and a monoclonal antibody to Ki67, using the avidin-biotin complex method. p53-positive keratinocytes could be found in most of these lesions. The percentage of p53-positive cells was, however, far lower than usually seen in p53-positive malignant tumours. No p53 reactivity was observed in the normal skin samples. Variable Ki67 reactivity was observed in all skin samples. Overall, the number of Ki67-positive cells was higher in skin samples in which the proportion of p53-positive cells was high (> 0.5% of total epidermal cell population) (P = 0.004). This also applied separately to psoriatic and non-psoriatic lesions (P = 0.028 and P = 0.033, respectively). In cases with > 10% of Ki67-positive cells, there were significantly more mitoses (P < 0.001). This association applied to both psoriasis and the other lesions studied (P = 0.024 and P < 0.001, respectively). The results show that immunohistochemically detectable accumulation of p53 is a frequent finding in non-neoplastic skin lesions. As p53 positivity was associated with the proliferation marker Ki67, the accumulation of p53 is possibly a response to an increased proliferation rate of the keratinocytes in these skin diseases, or alternatively it may be associated with apoptosis.

Betamethasone↗

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen but not p53 or human papillomavirus DNA correlates with advanced clinical stage in renal cell carcinoma.

In this study we investigated 56 renal cell carcinomas immunohistochemically for the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and tumour suppressor protein p53. We also analyzed for the presence of human papilloma virus (HPV) DNA subtypes 6, 11, 16, 18, 31 and 33 by in situ hybridization. In carcinomas which showed more than 10% of PCNA positive nuclei there were significantly more cases with invasion (P = 0.032) or metastatic disease (P = 0.047). Nine out of 22 grade III-IV tumours (40.9%) but only six out of 30 grade I-II tumours (20%) showed more than 10% of PCNA positive cells (P = 0.097). Patients with 10% or more PCNA positive cells in kidney tumours had more advanced disease at the time of diagnosis than those showing less PCNA positive cells (P = 0.05). Six p53 positive cases were found among 56 tumours (11%), but only one case had more than 10% positive cell nuclei. The presence of HPV DNA was found in 29 out of 56 cases (52%). Multiple subtypes were found in 19 cases (34%). The most commonly occurring subtypes were 18 and 33. There was no association between PCNA, p53 and the presence of HPV DNA subtypes. Because of the association of PCNA with invasion and metastatic disease, it would be worth while to study PCNA further as a possible marker for aggressiveness of renal carcinomas. Both this study and those concentrated on mutational analysis suggest that p53 is generally not important for the development of renal cell carcinoma. On the other hand, the presence of HPV DNA in these tumours implicates HPV viral infection in the aetiology of renal cancer.

Adult↗

p53 immunohistochemical positivity as a prognostic marker in intracranial tumours.

The frequency and scale of positive p53 immunohistochemistry in 107 intracranial tumours of different types was studied as a possible prognostic marker using a polyclonal antibody CM-1 which detects both the wild-type and mutated p53 proteins. Fifty of the tumours (46.7%) showed nuclear p53 positivity with different percentages of positive nuclei. The positivity was concentrated in glial tumours of which 52.8% were positive. Forty-two of seventy-four astrocytomas (56.8%), 4 of 12 oligodendrogliomas (33.3%), and 1 of 3 ependymomas (33.3%) showed p53-positive nuclei. Cytoplasmic positivity, found in 25 astrocytomas, was always associated with nuclear positivity. Some p53-positive nuclei were seen in 16.7% of the non-gliomatous tumours, but in all cases p53 positivity was seen in less than 1% of the nuclei. The patients with astrocytomas containing more than 5% p53-positive nuclei were younger (mean 27.3 years) (p = 0.016) and their tumours larger in diameter (mean 4.4 cm) (p = 0.05) than those with p53-negative astrocytomas (mean 41.0 years and mean 3.3 cm, respectively). In p53-positive (> or = 1% of nuclei) grade IV astrocytomas, survival time was significantly shorter (mean 7.2 months) than in p53-negative grade IV astrocytomas (mean 15.5 months (p = 0.024). The results indicate frequent p53 expression in intracranial tumours, especially in gliomas. The association of p53 positivity with young age, larger tumour size, and poor prognosis in high-grade astrocytomas suggests that p53 may be involved in the development of more aggressive types of intracranial tumours. According to these results, p53 immunohistochemical positivity may serve as a prognostic marker in high-grade astrocytomas.

Adult↗

p53 protein accumulation in lung carcinomas of patients exposed to asbestos and tobacco smoke.

Primary lung carcinomas often carry mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene. Most of these mutations alter the conformation of the p53 protein into a more stable phenotype that makes it immunohistochemically detectable. Asbestos is a carcinogen that can cause deletions in chromosomes and possibly also gene mutations. In this study we examined 70 primary lung carcinomas for p53 protein accumulation using a polyclonal antihuman p53 antibody, CM-1. Patients were interviewed about their occupational and smoking history and classified according to their anamnestical asbestos exposure. Presence of asbestos bodies (AB) was evaluated from histologic samples of peripheral nontumorous lung tissue using both 5-microns-thick sections stained with Perls' iron and 30-microns-thick unstained sections. Abnormal accumulation of p53 protein was found in 36 tumors (51%), more often in patients exposed to asbestos than in patients without exposure (67% versus 40%, p = 0.027). Significant association was also noticed between the accumulation of p53 and the asbestos content of lung tissue: 35% of the p53-positive patients had more than one AB/cm2 compared with 14% of p53-negative cases (p = 0.046). Patients with strongly p53-positive tumors were heavier smokers (57.2 +/- 38.2 pack-years) than patients with p53-negative or lightly positive tumors (38.9 +/- 19.9 pack-years) (p = 0.017). Our findings indicate that both asbestos exposure and heavy smoking can cause abnormal p53 protein accumulation suggestive of mutated p53.

Aged↗

Fodrin and actin in the normal, metaplastic, and dysplastic respiratory epithelium and in lung carcinoma.

Distribution of actin and fodrin, a nonerythroid analogue of spectrin, was studied in cytocentrifuge preparations and in tissue sections of normal and pathologic respiratory epithelium by using immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy. In ciliated epithelial cells and in goblet cells of normal bronchial epithelium, fodrin and actin were located in the apical parts and along the lateral walls of the cells. In basal cells, fodrin and actin were also seen diffusely in the cytoplasm. Immunoelectron microscopy showed fodrin in close association with the basal bodies and rootlets of the cilia and microvilli in the ciliated cells. In alveolar epithelium, fodrin and actin were located at the apical membrane in type I pneumocytes and along the apical and lateral membranes in type II pneumocytes. In type II pneumocytes, fodrin was also seen in close association with the secretory vacuoles. In metaplastic and dysplastic bronchial epithelium, a diffuse cytoplasmic and a circumferential, membrane-associated staining for fodrin and actin was seen. In all types of carcinomas, fodrin was seen along the lateral walls and diffusely in the cytoplasm. The staining was more intense than in the normal cells. In immunoblotting of the normal bronchial epithelium, and peripheral lung and lung carcinomas, a single 240 kD band was recognized with antibodies to fodrin. The results show distinct differences in the distribution of fodrin in the various cell types of the respiratory epithelium. In ciliated cells, the close relationship with cytoskeleton suggests a role of fodrin in the establishment of the elaborate structural architecture of the apical compartment. In type II pneumocytes, on the other hand, fodrin probably plays a role in secretion of the surfactant. In basal cells, the diffuse distribution of fodrin probably reflects the high proliferative capacity of this cell compartment. Interestingly, a similar distribution was also seen in premalignant and malignant cells.

Actins↗

Application of fine-needle aspiration to the demonstration of ERBB2 and MYC expression by in situ hybridization in breast carcinoma.

Thirteen consecutive fine-needle aspirates of breast carcinoma and five selected breast tumor cell lines were analyzed for ERBB2 and MYC mRNA expression by in situ hybridization. To compare the level of mRNA synthesis with those of gene amplification and oncoprotein synthesis, all tumors were also analyzed by Southern blot analysis, and for ERBB2 also by immunohistochemistry. Expression of ERBB2 mRNA was observed in eight tumors. MYC expression was observed in all tumors studied. Three tumor cell lines expressed both ERBB2 and MYC (SK-BR-3, HeLa, HT-29) and two only MYC (SK-LU-1, HL-60). Only one tumor showed amplification of ERBB2 and two of MYC. In all three cases there was a considerable increase in corresponding mRNA synthesis as detected by in situ hybridization. By immunohistochemistry, four cases showed either patchy areas or uniformly distributed, membrane-bound ERBB2 immunoreactivity. All except one case showed increased ERBB2 mRNA synthesis. There was a clear association between the quantity of ERBB2 mRNA and oncoprotein expression. The results show that in situ hybridization of fine-needle aspiration material is a sensitive method to detect increased expression of the ERBB2 and MYC oncogenes in breast carcinoma. Furthermore, this study indicates that in a majority of cases some other mechanism that gene amplification appears responsible for the increased gene expression. It is also possible that Southern blot analysis is not a sensitive enough method to detect gene amplifications in the heterogeneous breast tumors, which usually also contain stromal tissue. The fact that not all cases with elevated ERBB2 mRNA synthesis were immunohistochemically positive suggests that either immunohistochemistry (after fixation with 10% formalin) is a less sensitive method than in situ hybridization to detect abnormal gene expression or that there are cases in which the oncoprotein synthesis is for some reason depressed, even though there is an increase in gene transcription.

Adult↗

72 KD and 92 KD type IV collagenase, type IV collagen, and laminin mRNAs in breast cancer: a study by in situ hybridization.

It is widely accepted that basement membrane (BM) components are synthesized by epithelial cells and that production of BM-degrading proteases by cancer cells is necessary for invasive growth. In this study we used nucleic acid in situ hybridization (ISH) to investigate the presence of mRNAs for 72 KD and 92 KD Type IV collagenase, alpha 1 (IV) chain of Type IV collagen, and laminin B1 chain in 20 breast carcinomas of various histological types. The mRNA signals for 72 KD Type IV collagenase, Type IV collagen, and laminin were much more abundant in stromal fibroblasts and endothelial cells than in carcinoma cells. The signal for 92 KD Type IV collagenase mRNA was strong in carcinoma cells and considerably weaker in stromal fibroblasts and endothelial cells. Labeling for 72 KD and 92 KD Type IV collagenase mRNA was also found in benign fibroadenomas and for 92 KD Type IV collagenase in non-neoplastic ducts and acini. The results indicate that stromal cells have a more important role in the synthesis and degradation of BMs in breast carcinomas than previously thought and that production of these enzymes is not restricted to malignancy.

Adult↗

Evaluation of PAP and PSA gene expression in prostatic hyperplasia and prostatic carcinoma using northern-blot analyses, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical stainings with monoclonal and bispecific antibodies.

In this report we have investigated levels of prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) gene expression in prostatic carcinoma (Ca) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) specimens. Northern-blot analyses of total prostatic mRNA indicated that there was a tendency towards lower amounts of PAP mRNA and PSA mRNA in the Ca specimens than in the BPH specimens, although, because of the great variation in the expression levels of both mRNAs, these differences were not statistically significant. In situ hybridization analyses clearly showed that both PAP and PSA mRNAs were confined to the columnar epithelial cells and that stromal cells were devoid of these mRNAs. In addition, PAP and PSA mRNAs were more abundant in BPH tissue than in adjacent Ca tissue within the same specimen. The levels of PAP and PSA enzymes were analyzed immunohistochemically using a bispecific antibody having high affinity for both PAP and PSA, and the results were compared with those obtained using monoclonal anti-PAP and anti-PSA antibodies. All 3 antibodies stained only epithelial cells and BPH tissue consistently gave more intense staining than Ca tissue. Furthermore, the anti-PSA and the bispecific anti-PAP-PSA antibodies stained well or moderately differentiated Ca tissues more strongly than poorly differentiated Ca tissues. No PSA staining was detected in 3 and no PAP staining in 5 of the moderately or poorly differentiated carcinomas (grades II or III). Our results show that, in comparison with BPH tissue, prostatic Ca tissue is associated with significantly lower levels of mRNAs coding for the prostatic marker enzymes PAP and PSA, as well as with lower concentrations of these enzymes. Furthermore, dedifferentiation of prostate Ca is associated with a decrease in the level of intraprostatic PSA.

Acid Phosphatase↗

p53 and c-erbB-2 protein expression in adenocarcinomas and epithelial dysplasias of the gall bladder.

In this study we investigated immunohistochemically the expression of p53 and c-erbB-2 proteins in 30 gall bladder adenocarcinomas, one carcinoma in situ, eight gall bladder epithelial dysplasias, and four cases of chronic cholecystitis. p53 expression could be found in 14 (47 per cent) adenocarcinomas and in two out of eight epithelial dysplasias. There were significantly more p53-positive grade II-III tumours than grade I tumours (P = 0.032 according to Fisher's exact probability test). c-erbB-2 expression was found in three (10 per cent) adenocarcinomas, but all dysplasias were c-erbB-2-negative. All three c-erbB-2-positive cases were also p53-positive. The results indicate that p53 mutations and c-erbB-2 gene alterations play a role in the neoplastic transformation of gall bladder epithelial cells. Co-expression of p53 and c-erbB-2 suggests that alterations of these genes might act in concert in the neoplastic transformation. The occurrence of p53 expression in gall bladder dysplasias suggests that p53 mutations could be an early event in the evolution of some gall bladder carcinomas, as has been suggested for some other types of tumours, such as lung squamous cell carcinomas.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Synthesis and degradation of basement membranes in benign and malignant salivary gland tumours. A study by in situ hybridization.

In this study we investigated the mRNA expressions of 72 kD and 92 kD type IV collagenases, alpha 1(IV) chain of type IV collagen, and laminin B1 chain mRNAs in a set of malignant and benign salivary gland tumours and compared the results with non-neoplastic salivary gland tissue. While only a few cases expressed 72 kD type IV collagenase mRNA or alpha 1(IV) chain of type IV collagen mRNA in tumour cells, 92 kD type IV collagenase and laminin mRNA synthesis could be seen in the neoplastic cells of many tumours. Stromal fibroblasts or endothelial cells demonstrated mRNA synthesis for all these proteins to a variable degree except for Warthin's tumours, in which no synthetic activity for any of the proteins could be seen. Since signals for 92 kD type IV collagenase mRNA could be seen in non-neoplastic epithelial cells of the salivary gland, the synthesis of 92 kD type IV collagenase by tumour cells can be regarded as an intrinsic property of salivary gland epithelial cells. The pattern of mRNA synthesis for 72 kD and 92 kD type IV collagenases follows that observed in other tumours, in which the stromal cells also mainly synthesize 72 kD type IV collagenase while epithelial tumour cells more readily express 92 kD type IV collagenase mRNA. The synthesis of type IV collagenases by malignant tumours has been suggested to be of crucial importance for invasion and metastasis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenolymphoma↗

p53 immunohistochemistry in transitional cell carcinoma and dysplasia of the urinary bladder correlates with disease progression.

Immunohistochemically detectable p53 protein using a polyclonal antibody (CM-1) was studied in 42 carcinomas of which 11 were grade I, 22 grade II and nine grade III carcinomas. Additionally 14 urothelial dysplasias were studied. In 11 of these a diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma was established before and in one after the dysplasia diagnosis. Twenty-one out of 42 (50%) cases of transitional cell carcinoma were positive for the p53 protein. Eleven out of 14 (78%) dysplasias and 10/12 (83%) related carcinomas were p53 positive. One out of 11 grade I (9%), 12/22 grade II (55%) and 8/9 grade III (89%) tumours showed positivity for p53. There were significantly more p53 positive cases in grade II-III tumours than in grade I tumours (P = 0.004). There were significantly more p53 positive cases in stage T2-T4 tumours than in stage T1 tumours (P = 0.035). In only one case among the 11 dysplastic lesions following the treatment of a carcinoma the dysplastic lesion was p53 negative while the preceding carcinoma was p53 positive. All dysplasias and 28 carcinomas were also immunostained for laminin and type IV collagen to evaluate the continuity of basement membranes (BMs). Clearly disrupted BMs were observed only in grade III carcinomas. These cases showed the most p53 immunopositivity. The results show a strong association of p53 staining between dysplasias and transitional cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder indicating that these lesions might share similar p53 changes. The correlation to grade, clinical stage and to disrupted BM suggests that p53 mutations may be associated with the evolution of aggressive growth characteristics in transitional cell carcinomas or, alternatively, that p53 positive tumours of a more aggressive type from the start. Whether p53 staining can be used as an adjunct in the assessment and follow-up of epithelial changes of patients treated for a p53 positive bladder carcinoma deserves to be studied.

Carcinoma, Transitional Cell↗

Tenascin immunoreactivity in lung tumors.

The distribution of tenascin immunoreactivity was analyzed in nonneoplastic lung tissue, benign lung tumors, and different types of lung carcinomas. In nonneoplastic lung tissue, tenascin could be observed in the basement membranes of the bronchial epithelium and endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and bronchial cartilage. Strong tenascin immunoreactivity was seen in the stroma of all the carcinomas of various histologic types. The staining intensity was stronger in the stroma of squamous cell carcinomas than in the stroma of the other types of lung carcinomas. In 10 of 27 squamous cell carcinomas, a granular intracytoplasmic reactivity could also be observed in a subpopulation of tumor cells. Similar intracytoplasmic reactivity was observed in 2 of 27 adenocarcinomas and in both adenosquamous carcinomas. In other types of lung tumors, individual cells did not have intracytoplasmic tenascin, except for one case of leiomyoma, which showed a weak, linear, intracytoplasmic tenascin reactivity. In lung hamartomas, tenascin could be seen in the cartilaginous component of the tumor and in the areas of basement membranes of the bronchial epithelium. In the carcinoid tumors, the stroma displayed a faint positivity for tenascin. These results show that tenascin is widely expressed in the stroma of lung carcinomas. A proportion of lung carcinomas also expressed intracytoplasmic tenascin immunoreactivity, suggesting that tumor cells may be able to synthesize tenascin. In the lung, tenascin positivity is not, however, restricted to malignant neoplasms, as evidenced by the presence of tenascin in nonneoplastic lung parenchyma and in some benign lung tumors.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Aberrant p53 protein expression in cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia.

We investigated aberrant p53 expression in 81 cases of cervical intra-epithelial neoplasias (CIN) using a polyclonal antibody CM-1. The presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA was evaluated by in situ and dot blot hybridization. Significant (more than 1% of cells positive) p53 positivity was found in three cases (4%) of which only one contained HPV DNA. In an additional nine cases, occasional p53 staining was found in basal epithelial cells, frequently associated with epithelial hyperplasia and increased subepithelial inflammation. The results show that aberrant p53 expression is an infrequent finding in CIN lesions. It can be seen in lesions both with and without HPV infection. Most importantly, there was no p53 expression in most cases of HPV-negative CIN, suggesting that p53 inactivation is not an obligatory step in the development of cervical dysplasia. However, our findings do not exclude the possibility that p53 mutations can occur later in the course of cervical carcinogenesis.

DNA, Viral↗