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Solitary fibrous tumor presenting as a symptomatic intraspinal mass: case report.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Mesenchymal, nonmeningeal tumors of the central and peripheral nervous systems are rare. Specifically, the solitary fibrous tumor, which occurs in both benign and malignant forms, was first described in the pleura and more recently in a number of sites, including the mediastinum, abdomen, upper respiratory tract, nasopharynx, and orbit. It has not, however, previously been known to involve the spine or to induce cord compression. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: We describe the case of a 33-year-old man who presented with back pain, progressive myelopathy, and lower extremity dysesthesias. Imaging studies demonstrated an intradural extramedullary mass at T7-T8. INTERVENTION: At surgery, the lesion was found to be firm, fibrous, intimately apposed to the T8 sensory nerve root but emanating from neither root nor dura. Histologically, the tumor was composed of spindle cells in a storiform pattern with extensive collagen deposition in the intercellular matrix. Immunohistochemistry showed diffuse positive staining of tumor cells for CD34 antigen but negative staining for S100 and EMA, a profile that is consistent with a histopathological diagnosis of solitary fibrous tumor and that effectively rules out meningioma and nerve sheath tumor. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of an intraspinal solitary fibrous tumor, a rare entity that should be included in the differential diagnosis of intradural extramedullary spinal neoplasms.

Adult↗

Monoclonal antibody-detected vimentin distribution in pleomorphic adenomas of salivary glands.

To evaluate the participation of myoepithelial components in pleomorphic adenomas, an immunohistochemical study was carried out using monoclonal antibodies to vimentin. Of a total of 80 cases, 50 tumors gave positive staining, 5 tumors very slight, and 25 tumors negative staining for vimentin. Localization patterns for vimentin were divided into 3 classes: 1) vimentin staining in fibrous stromal tissue; 2) variable intensities of vimentin staining were found in the outer layers of tumor cells in tubulo-ductal structures (some of which were spindle cells connected to modified myoepithelial cells which also gave variable vimentin staining); and 3) modified myoepithelial cells and chondroidlike cells displayed strongly positive staining for vimentin. Typical histologic features of pleomorphic ademomas, i.e., tubulo-ductal or duct-like structures were characterized by positive vimentin staining in outer tumor cells and by a positive keratin reaction in the luminal tumor cells. In tumors devoid of stromal connective tissues and the near absence of well-developed, or modified myoepithelial cells, vimentin staining was absent.

Adenoma, Pleomorphic↗

A Caulobacter gene involved in polar morphogenesis.

At specific times in the cell cycle, the bacterium Caulobacter crescentus assembles two major polar organelles, the flagellum and the stalk. Previous studies have shown that flbT mutants overproduce flagellins and are unable to form chemotaxis swarm rings. In this paper, we report alterations in both the stalk and the flagellar structure that result from a mutation in the flagellar gene flbT. Mutant strains produce some stalks that have a flagellum, produce some stalks that have an extra lobe protruding from their sides, have filaments lacking the 29-kilodalton flagellin, and produce several unusual cell types, including filamentous cells as well as predivisional cells with two stalks and predivisional cells with no stalk at all. We propose that flagellated stalks arise as a consequence of a failure to eject the flagellum at the correct time in the cell cycle and that the extra stalk lobe is due to a second site for the initiation of stalk biogenesis. Thus, a step in the pathway that establishes the characteristic asymmetry of the C. crescentus cell appears to be disrupted in flbT mutants. We have also identified a new structural feature at the flagellated pole and the tip of the stalk: the 10-nm polar particle. The polar particles appear as a cluster of approximately 1 to 10 stain-excluding rings, visible in electron micrographs of negatively stained wild-type cells. This structure is absent at the flagellar pole but not in the stalks of flbT mutant predivisional cells.

Bacteria↗

C-myc oncogene expression in anal squamous neoplasia.

AIMS: To determine the pattern of c-myc oncogene expression in anal squamous neoplasia and to determine if this could be used as a marker of disease progression. METHODS: The presence and localisation of the c-myc gene product p62 in archival specimens of anal squamous epithelium, normal and neoplastic, was examined using immunohistochemical staining with the monoclonal antibody Myc1-6E10. Ten normal and epithelia, 10 anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) III, and 31 anal squamous cancers were examined. RESULTS: There was a noticeable difference between the staining characteristics of invasive tumours, normal anal epithelium, and AIN III. Intense, diffuse, mixed nuclear and cytoplasmic (n = 14) and exclusively nuclear (n = 8) staining in 22 of 31 (71%) of invasive anal tumours was observed. All positively staining tumours were well differentiated histologically, while the negatively staining nine of 31 (29%) were poorly differentiated (n = 7) and moderately well differentiated (n = 2). In six positively staining tumour sections adjacent areas of AIN III and non-dysplastic anal epithelium had staining characteristics similar to those of the invasive component. Staining in both normal anal epithelium (4/10) and AIN III specimens obtained from patients without a history of invasive disease (8/10) was less intense, focal in distribution, and exclusively nuclear. No difference in staining characteristics could be detected in these two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that c-myc oncogene expression is implicated in the pathogenesis of anal squamous neoplasia, and that immunohistochemical staining for c-myc protein may be helpful in identifying those AIN III lesions most likely to progress to invasive tumours.

Anal Canal↗

Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma of the neck: report of two cases complicated by pulmonary metastases.

BACKGROUND: Follicular dendritic cell (FDC) sarcoma is an uncommon neoplasm occurring primarily in lymph nodes but also in extranodal sites. A correct diagnosis can be difficult to make, especially in the latter sites. METHODS: Two patients with FDC sarcoma of the cervical soft tissues that metastasized to the lungs are reported. Both were initially misdiagnosed as having CASTLE (carcinoma showing a thymus-like element). Additional immunohistochemical stains were performed. RESULTS: The primary tumors showed jigsaw puzzle-like lobulation resembling thymic epithelial tumor and consisted of spindly cells arranged in fascicles, whorls, and a storiform pattern. The spindly cells had indistinct cell borders, vesicular nuclei, and distinct nucleoli. Perivascular spaces were present. Lymphocytes were sprinkled throughout the tumor in one case but were sparse in the other. The metastatic deposits in the lungs appeared 27 and 2 years, respectively, after the initial presentation and were histologically similar to the original tumors. The FDC nature of the primary and metastatic tumors was confirmed by positive staining with CD21/CD35 cocktail and CD23 and by negative staining for cytokeratin. In one case, in direct continuity with the main tumor, there was a lobulated lesion composed of small lymphocytes punctuated by large cells with vesicular nuclei, histologically reminiscent of thymoma. The large cells were shown by immunohistochemistry to represent FDCs forming complex interconnecting meshworks. It is unclear whether this contiguous mass represents a precursor lesion or an unusual-looking component of the neoplasm. CONCLUSIONS: FDC sarcoma can look deceptively like a thymic epithelial tumor histologically. A correct diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion and immunohistochemical evaluation. The tumor shows a propensity to metastasize to the lungs, which can be delayed until more than 20 years after initial presentation.

Adult↗

Anti-Fas antibody induces apoptosis in cultured human renal interstitial fibroblasts.

OBJECTIVE: To detect if Fas is expressed in human renal interstitial fibroblasts (hRIFs) and apoptosis of hRIFs can be induced by specific anti-Fas antibody. METHODS: hRIFs were cultured from isolated papillae of human kidney, and identified by morphologic examination, assay of antigenic components and culture in D-valine selective medium. Fas expression in normal hRIFs was detected by RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry staining. After hRIFs were incubated with interferon gamma (gamma-IFN 500 U/ml, 1000 U/ml, 1500 U/ml and 2000 U/ml, respectively) for 48 hours, Fas expression was determined by Northern blot, Western blot and flow cytometry. hRIFs pre-stimulated with gamma-IFN (500 U/ml, 48 hours) were incubated with anti-Fas antibody (IgM, 0.5 microgram/ml) for 12 hours. And apoptosis was identified by morphologic examination, DNA ladder assay and flow cytometry. RESULTS: The cultured hRIFs showed a shuttle-like shape and were positively stained by labeled anti-vimentin antibody but negatively stained by anti-epithelial membrane antibody. They could not grow in the D-valine selective medium and died partly in a week. Fas mRNA and protein were expressed in normal hRIFs and markedly upregulated by stimulation with gamma-IFN. Apoptosis in gamma-IFN pre-stimulated hRIFs was induced by anti-Fas antibody, showing cell nuclear shrinkage and condensation in morphologic feature, internucleosomal DNA fragmentation in DNA ladder assay and a pick of hypo-diploid nuclei by flow cytometry. CONCLUSION: Fas is normally expressed in hRIFs and can be markedly upregulated by gamma-IFN. Anti-Fas antibodies can induce apoptosis of hRIFs pre-stimulated with gamma-IFN.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Tissue factor is a useful prognostic factor of recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma in 5-year survivors.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Tissue factor (TF) is a transmembrane glycoprotein involved in initiating blood coagulation. TF has recently been reported to play an important role in tumor metastasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role and the prognostic value of TF in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in long-term survivors. METHODOLOGY: Among 275 patients who underwent curative hepatectomy for HCC, 62 patients who survived more than 5 years after surgery were retrospectively studied. TF expression was immunohistochemically examined. RESULTS: TF was positive in 39 of the 62 patients. In patients with TF expression, the serum albumin level was significantly lower and capsular infiltration, tumor thrombus in the portal vein, and intrahepatic metastasis were more frequently shown than those without TF expression. The recurrence-free rate was significantly higher in the patients whose tissue stained negative for TF than in those whose tissue stained positive for TF. Multivariate analysis showed TF expression to be a significant and independent risk factor for recurrence. Concerning the recurrence pattern, all 23 patients with intrahepatic metastasis were TF-positive, whereas 3 out of 5 patients with multicentric carcinogenesis were TF-positive. CONCLUSIONS: TF expression is closely associated with the tumor invasion and metastasis, and may serve as a useful prognostic factor of recurrence in HCC in 5-year survivors.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

Fibroblast markers in labial salivary gland biopsies in progressive systemic sclerosis.

Labial salivary gland (LSG) biopsies from 13 patients were studied. Three were normal glands, five showed fibrosis induced by progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) and five more had PSS-induced fibrosis combined with and focal sialadenitis compatible with Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Monoclonal antibodies to proline-4-hydroxylase (alpha PH or 5B5-A) and the carboxyterminal domain of human type I procollagen (alpha pC or M-38) were used as fibroblast markers. Immunostaining was done with avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC). Using various sample controls (including cultured fibroblasts and specimens enriched for lymphocytes, plasma cells, granulocytes, monocytes and dendritic cells) as well as analysis of various LSG resident cells, the specificity of the alpha PH and alpha pC markers for fibroblasts was established. Cross reactions were only seen with plasma cells and acinar cells containing the beta subunit of PH or disulfide isomerase involved in SS-SH interchange reactions in these secretory cells. All fibroblasts in fibroblast monolayer cultures at their logarithmic phase of growth stained with the fibroblast markers studied, but false negative staining was seen with resting, mature fibroblasts in dense connective tissue in LSG sections. Therefore, it can be concluded that proline 4-hydroxylase and the COOH-terminal domain of type-I procollagen both indicate fibroblast involvement in collagen (type l) synthesis and thus identify active but not resting fibroblasts. PH+ fibroblast-like cells and pC+ fibroblasts were both more frequent in PSS LSGs than in normal glands, suggesting active local fibroblast involvement in PSS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

[Pathological studies of multiple submucosal gastric gland lesions in thirty-eight cases].

We have examined 38 stomachs with the adenocarcinoma and multiple submucosal gastric gland (SG) lesions. Almost the SG lesions consisted of the foveolar epithelium, which stained negative with alcian blue whereas the ordinary glands stained positive with con-A (III), or with both types of epithelium, and they had no atypicality. Only 14 out of 2,188 SG lesions (0.63%) showed atypical proliferation. Three hundred and forty-nine out of 1,535 SG that were examined by lysozyme staining were strongly lysozyme positive. Almost all the propria mucosa in the areas of the minute SG showed erosive lesions with an atrophy of ordinary glands, glandular erosion, and a regenerative epithelium. Eleven stomachs (11/38 cases, 29.0%) had multiple adenocarcinomas.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Immunocytochemical assay for estrogen receptor: relationship to outcome of therapy in patients with advanced breast cancer.

We have used an immunoperoxidase technique utilizing a monoclonal antibody to the estradiol receptor to identify immunoreactive estradiol receptor in breast carcinomas and have examined the relationship between the immunoreactive estradiol receptor and response to therapy in patients with advanced breast cancer. Fifty-six patients were found to be assessable for response to endocrine therapy. Twenty-two showed an objective response to some form of endocrine manipulation, and all these had positively stained carcinomas. None of the 17 patients with negatively stained carcinomas responded to endocrine therapy. We conclude that the monoclonal antibody to estradiol receptor can help identify breast cancer patients who may respond to endocrine therapy.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Myoepitheliomas and myoepithelial adenomas of salivary gland origin. Immunohistochemical evaluation of filament proteins, S-100 alpha and beta, glial fibrillary acidic proteins, neuron-specific enolase, and lactoferrin.

Immunohistochemical identification of keratin proteins (TK, KL1 and PKK1), vimentin, myosin, S-100 protein (using polyclonal antiserum) and S-100 alpha and beta subunits, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), lactoferrin, and lysozyme was made in myoepitheliomas, myoepithelial adenomas, and clear cell adenomas of salivary gland origin. Myoepithelioma cells were divided into two types: plasmacytoid cells, which showed great heterogeneity in terms of keratins and S-100 alpha and beta proteins and a lack of GFAP, NSE, lactoferrin, and lysozyme in most the cells, and fibrous and dendritic tumor cells, which displayed variable staining for keratin and S-100 alpha and beta proteins. Myoepithelial adenomas were composed of small-, intermediate-, and large-sized spindle cells that showed irregular positive reactions for keratins and S-100 alpha and beta. Immunohistochemical deposition of S-100 protein was restricted strongly to the dendritic cells present in hyalinous and myxomatous areas. Clear cell adenomas revealed uniformly slight staining of keratins and S-100 proteins, and negative staining or rarely positivity for GFAP, NSE, lactoferrin, and lysozyme. When the immunohistochemical deposition of these proteins was compared between normal glands and myoepithelial tumors, heterogeneity of expression of keratins, S-100 proteins, GFAP, and NSE was notable in the tumors. Progenitor cells of several kinds of myoepithelioma were suggested to be intercalated reserve cells, which are thought to be the same cell that gives rise to pleomorphic adenoma of salivary glands.

Adenoma↗

Monoclonal antibody against human gallbladder carcinoma-associated antigen.

Monoclonal antibody HI-531 of immunoglobulin G2b subclass was produced against a human gallbladder carcinoma cell line. HI-531 was investigated for reactivity with a panel comprising ten types of different origin in fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis. The antibody reacted with the gallbladder carcinoma cell line G-415 used for immunization and with four unrelated tumors. HI-531 was further shown, with the use of the avidin-biotin complex-immunoperoxidase technique and surgically resected tissues, to be strongly reactive with carcinoma of the gallbladder, pancreas, bile duct, and gastrointestinal tract. The antibody was reacted with several types of normal epithelial cells but often more weakly expressed than on corresponding tumors. One of six fetal lung tissues was weakly stained. All other fetal organ tissues tested showed negative staining reactions. These observations suggest that HI-531 may be of value in identifying the tumor-associated antigen expressed in gallbladder carcinoma. HI-531 immunoprecipitated the Mr 43,000 molecule from extracts of Na125I- or [35S]methionine-labeled tumor cells, but not from those of [3H]glucosamine-labeled tumor cells. In addition, cytofluorometric analysis showed that cells treated with trypsin or protease greatly decreased a reactivity to the antibody. The findings suggest that the antibody recognizes a Mr 43,000 protein molecule. Sequential immunoprecipitation and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis studies and analyses by nonequilibrium pH gradient and polyacrylamide gel electrophoreses showed that the Mr 43,000 molecule defined by HI-531 was not a Mr 43,000 heavy chain of HLA-A,B,C antigens detected by monoclonal antibody W6/32.

Animals↗

Heterogeneous distribution of the precursor of type I and type III collagen and fibronectin in the rough endoplasmic reticulum of palatal mesenchymal cells of the mouse embryo cultured in ascorbate-depleted medium.

In order to examine the intracellular distribution of precursors of type I and type III collagen and fibronectin in the palatal mesenchymal (MEPM) cells of the mouse embryo cultured under ascorbate-deficient conditions, immuno-electron-microscopic studies were carried out by use of affinity purified antibodies for these proteins. MEPM cells were obtained from the palatal shelves of 14-day-old mouse fetuses and cultured for 3-7 days in medium, either with or without 50 ng/dish/day ascorbic acid. Results obtained were as follows: (1) Although the rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) of MEPM cells cultured for 5 days in ascorbate-supplemented medium was flattened, that in cells cultured in ascorbate-deficient medium had a distended or vesicular appearance. (2) Vesicular or distended rER showed heterogeneous staining for both type I and type III collagen, namely, some parts of rER showed positive staining for both types of collagen, while others showed negative staining. (3) Both type I and type III collagen showed codistribution in the same vesicular rER. (4) Vesicular rER showed negative or very faint labelling for fibronectin. These results may suggest regional differences in the function of rER.

Animals↗

Prognostic significance of the metastasis-inducing protein S100A4 (p9Ka) in human breast cancer.

The calcium-binding protein S100A4 is capable of inducing metastasis in rodent models for breast cancer. We now show that rabbit antibodies to recombinant rat S100A4 recognize specifically human S100A4 using Western blotting techniques and use them to assess the prognostic significance of S100A4 in primary tumors from a group of 349 patients treated between 1976 and 1982 for stage I and stage II breast cancer. The antibody stains normal breast tissue heterogeneously, but stains positively 41% of the carcinomas, leaving the remaining 59% as negatively stained. In addition to the carcinoma cells, some host stromal cells and lymphocytes are also stained, but these have been discounted in subsequent analyses. There is an association of staining of carcinomas for S100A4 with some tumor variables considered to be associated with poor prognosis for patients: tumor present in axillary lymph nodes (borderline P = 0.058), staining for c-erbB-3 (P = 0.002), cathepsin D (P = 0.024), and c-erbB-2 (P = 0.048). The association of staining for S100A4 with patient survival has been evaluated using life tables and analyzed using generalized Wilcoxon statistics. Eighty percent of the S100A4-negative patients but only 11% of the S100A4-positive patients are alive after 19 years of follow-up, and this association is highly significant (P < 0.0001); the former have a median survival of >228 months and the latter 47 months. The other tumor variables that show significant association with survival time are nodal status (P < 0.0001), tumor size (P = 0.0035), histological grade (P = 0.013), staining for c-erbB-2 (P = 0.0015), estrogen receptor (P = 0.028), and p53 (P = 0.032). Analysis of the association of patients with carcinomas staining for S100A4 and their survival in subgroups defined by these other tumor variables shows that in each subgroup, staining for S100A4 is associated with poorer survival. Patients whose tumors stain for S100A4 and possess involved lymph nodes (P < 0.0001), which are fixed to the chest wall (P = 0.015) or which stain for c-erbB-2 (P = 0.050), show a significant reduction in survival times over those with only S100A4-staining tumors. Patients with involved lymph nodes, or staining for c-erbB-2 in the S100A4-negative group fail to show any significant reduction in survival times. Multivariate regression analysis for 137 patients shows that staining for S100A4 is most highly correlated with patient deaths (P < 0.0001), but involved lymph nodes (P = 0.001), fixed tumors (P = 0.0002), and high histological grade (P = 0.022) are also significant independent prognostic variables. These results suggest that in this group of patients, the metastasis-inducing protein S100A4 is most tightly correlated with patient demise.

Adult↗

The potential of plasma thrombomodulin as a biomarker of portal vein tumor thrombus in hepatocellular carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To study the relationship between thrombomodulin (TM) plasma levels and the formation of portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Pre- and-postoperative plasma TM levels of 45 patients with HCC and six patients with benign liver-occupying lesion were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the expression of TM in human HCC tissues was determined by immunohistochemistry assay. RESULTS: The preoperative plasma TM level of patients with HCC (10.2+/-5.7 ng/ml) was significantly higher than that of those patients with benign liver-occupying lesion (6.1+/-2.2 ng/ml) and that of normal controls (5.7+/-1.0 ng/ml), respectively (P<0.05). The postoperative TM level of 40 patients with HCC whose tumors had been removed decreased significantly than the preoperative TM level (10.8+/-5.3 ng/ml versus 7.6+/-4.2 ng/ ml, P < 0.05), whereas there was no significant difference between the preoperative and postoperative TM level of six patients with benign liver-occupying lesion (6.1+/-2.2 ng/ml versus 5.9+/-1.8 ng/ml, P>0.05). The preoperative plasma TM level of patients with single HCC (11.5+/-5.9 ng/ml) or no PVTT (11.4+/-5.6 ng/ml) was significantly higher than that of those patients with multiple HCC (8.1+/-4.6 ng/ml) or PVTT (6.9+/-4.5 ng/ ml), respectively (P<0.05). The preoperative plasma TM level of the patients with HCC tissue that stained positive for TM was significantly higher than those with tissue that stained negative for TM (12.2+/-6.5 ng/ ml versus 8.7+/-4.6 ng/ml, P<0.05). The postoperative plasma TM level showed no difference between the patients with HCC tissue stained positive and negative for TM (8.3+/-4.1 ng/ml versus 7.6+/-4.4 ng/ml, P>0.05). There was also no significant difference between the plasma TM level and other clinicopathological futures. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma TM increases in patients with HCC and can be a biomarker of the formation of PVTT.

Adult↗

Expression of beta-catenin in prostatic adenocarcinomas: a comparison with colorectal adenocarcinomas.

We studied 101 prostatic adenocarcinomas (72 acinar 29 ductal) and 16 cases with high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HPIN) immunohistochemically for the expression of beta-catenin and compared the staining patterns with those of nonneoplastic prostatic epithelium and 24 colorectal adenocarcinomas. While nuclear staining for beta-catenin was evident in 20 (83%) colorectal adenocarcinomas, predominantly, membranous staining was observed in 89 prostatic adenocarcinomas (88%); the remaining 12 cases showed no immunoreactivity. In prostatic tumors expressing beta-catenin, staining intensity was comparable, increased, and decreased in 81, 4, and 4 cases, respectively compared with adjacent nonneoplastic prostatic epithelium. No prostatic adenocarcinomas demonstrated nuclear staining. The beta-catenin staining characteristics in HPIN were comparable to those in nonneoplastic prostatic epithelium. Negative staining for cytokeratins (CKs) 7 and 20, high-molecular-weight (HMW) CK, and villin and positive staining for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were seen in 22 prostatic adenocarcinomas examined, in contrast with colorectal adenocarcinomas, which stained positively for CK20 and villin and negatively for CK7, HMWCK, and PSA. These data suggest that the beta-catenin signaling pathway acts differently in prostatic than in colorectal tumorigenesis. The immunophenotypes documented herein also might aid in the distinction between prostatic and colorectal origins when metastasis is encountered.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Comparison of the immunohistochemical expression of EGFR, c-erbB2 and p53 protein between primary and recurrent breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Although various biological parameters have been evaluated as predictors of the response to chemohormonal therapy for breast cancer, few studies have compared the biological parameters of the primary and recurrent breast cancers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The immunohistochemical expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), c-erbB2 and p53 protein were analyzed on both primary and matching recurrent lesions from 42 patients with breast cancer. RESULTS: EGFR and c-erbB2 expression were concordant between the primary and matching recurrent lesion in 27 (90%) of 30 cases in which EGFR was evaluated and in all (100%) 12 cases in which c-erbB2 was evaluated. Twelve (67%) of 18 cases in which p53 protein was evaluated showed concordance of p53 protein expression between the primary and recurrent lesions, while 6 other cases did not. The intensity of the immunoreactivity of p53 protein was 10-50% staining in 5 of these 6 cases, while only one case showed greater than 50% staining of p53 protein in the primary lesion and negative staining in the matching recurrent lesion. CONCLUSION: EGFR and c-erbB2 immunoreactivity were concordant between the primary and matching recurrent lesions in the majority of the breast cancer cases. In addition, some cases were not concordant regarding the intensity of immunoreactivity for p53 protein, whereas few cases showed both a strong positivity and negative finding for p53 protein between the primary and matching recurrent lesions.

Adult↗

Diagnostic Value of Calretinin in Mast Cell Lesions of the Skin.

The diagnosis of mast cell lesions of the skin can occasionally be challenging. Calretinin, a 29 kD neuron-specific calcium-binding protein found mostly in the CNS and retina, has been shown to be a positive marker for mesotheliomas, and is also expressed in mast cells. We studied the diagnostic value of calretinin and compared our results to other established ancillary studies used to identify mast cells, such as Toluidine blue and the Leder stain. Sixty-three cases were studied, including 45 mast cell lesions (22 urticaria pigmentosum, 17 mastocytomas, and six telangiectasia macularis eruptiva perstans [TMEP]), seven nevi, three melanomas, four granular cell minors of the skin, three cutaneous lymphomas, and one granulocytic sarcoma. Patients ranged in age from less than 1 to 85 years with a median age of 29 years. The group consisted of 36 females and 27 males. Calretinin was expressed in all 45 mast cell lesions. Negative staining for calretinin was seen in all skin lesions that potentially could be considered in the differential diagnosis of mast cell lesions such as nevi, melanomas, lymphomas, and the granulocytic sarcoma. However, calretinin expression was noted in four/four granular cell tumors. Leder and Toluidine blue stains were positive in all 45 mast cell lesions, and all nonmast cell lesions were negative with these stains. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that calretinin is a sensitive and specific marker of mast cells and can be an aid in distinguishing mast cell lesions from other skin lesions considered in the differential diagnosis. Calretinin may be more sensitive than the currently used special stains utilized to diagnose mast cell lesions having few diagnostic mast cells such as TMEP. However, this immunoperoxidase stain does not add significant diagnostic information in most cases, when compared with the currently used less expensive special stains and, therefore, is not cost-effective. Int J Surg Pathol 8(2):119-122, 2000

Journal Article↗