Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Carcinoma”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Invasive squamous cell carcinoma arising from verrucous carcinoma. Recognition of verrucous carcinoma of skin as an in situ carcinoma.

In 1948, Ackerman first coined the term "verrucous carcinoma" to describe a variant of well-differentiated squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity. Similar lesions of the skin, other mucosa or mucocutaneous regions were subsequently reported. To date, verrucous carcinoma has been considered to be a variant of well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, which sometimes shows invasive changes but rarely metastasizes. In this study, findings for 3 patients with verrucous carcinomas in which foci of invasive squamous cell carcinoma existed are presented. Furthermore, the clinical features of 9 patients with verrucous carcinoma of the skin observed in our hospital between 1990 and 2004 are summarized. Lesions were located on the face, trunk or extremities. Foci of invasive squamous cell carcinoma were found in 30% of verrucous carcinomas, almost equal to the reported rate of verrucous carcinoma in oral or penile regions. Verrucous carcinoma of the skin should be recognized as a unique subtype of in situ carcinomas, which show exophytic nodular growth and are potentially malignant.

Adult↗

Homologous carcinomas of the breasts, skin, and salivary glands. A histologic and immunohistochemical comparison of ductal mammary carcinoma, ductal sweat gland carcinoma, and salivary duct carcinoma.

Morphologic mimicry among human malignant neoplasms is a well-known phenomenon in surgical pathology; both undifferentiated and "committed" neoplasms may exhibit this trait. One particularly common group of histologic simulants includes ductal carcinomas of the breasts, the cutaneous appendages, and the salivary glands. One hundred three tumors in this structural cluster were analyzed microscopically and immunohistologically to codify points of potential pathologic similarity and difference. All the lesions were typified by irregularly permeative clusters and cords of atypical polygonal cells with variable luminal differentiation. A proportion of primary neoplasms in each site demonstrated in situ ductal components; in the absence of the latter elements, however, it was not possible to make topography-related morphologic distinctions among them. Immunostains for gross cystic disease fluid protein-15 (GCDFP-15), carcinoembryonic antigen, S100 protein, c-erbB-2 oncoprotein, estrogen receptor protein, and progesterone receptor protein also showed largely overlapping phenotypes in each of the three tumor categories, with selected exceptions. These differences were elucidated through paired chi 2 analysis and included a statistically significant infrequency of GCDFP-15 in eccrine sweat gland carcinomas, a paucity of carcinoembryonic antigen in breast cancers, and an absence of estrogen receptor protein in salivary duct carcinomas. Such findings may be useful in predefined differential diagnostic settings involving the distinction between primary and metastatic ductal cancers of the breasts, skin, and salivary glands. Nevertheless, because of the striking homologies between such tumors at structural and protein-synthetic levels of comparison, it is mandatory that all available clinicopathologic information be used in this context.

Adenocarcinoma↗

BRAF mutations in thyroid tumors are restricted to papillary carcinomas and anaplastic or poorly differentiated carcinomas arising from papillary carcinomas.

Activating point mutations of the BRAF gene have been recently reported in papillary thyroid carcinomas. In this study, we analyzed 320 thyroid tumors and six anaplastic carcinoma cell lines and detected BRAF mutations in 45 (38%) papillary carcinomas, two (13%) poorly-differentiated carcinomas, three (10%) anaplastic carcinomas, and five (83%) thyroid anaplastic carcinoma cell lines but not in follicular, Hürthle cell, and medullary carcinomas, follicular and Hürthle cell adenomas, or benign hyperplastic nodules. All mutations involved a T-->A transversion at nucleotide 1796. In papillary carcinomas, BRAF mutations were associated with older age, classic papillary carcinoma or tall cell variant histology, extrathyroidal extension, and more frequent presentation at stages III and IV. All BRAF-positive poorly differentiated and anaplastic carcinomas contained areas of preexisting papillary carcinoma, and mutation was present in both the well-differentiated and dedifferentiated components. These data indicate that BRAF mutations are restricted to papillary carcinomas and poorly differentiated and anaplastic carcinomas arising from papillary carcinomas. They are associated with distinct phenotypical and biological properties of papillary carcinomas and may participate in progression to poorly differentiated and anaplastic carcinomas.

Adult↗

Cytokeratin 20 immunoreactivity distinguishes Merkel cell (primary cutaneous neuroendocrine) carcinomas and salivary gland small cell carcinomas from small cell carcinomas of various sites.

Cytokeratin 20 (CK20) is a low-molecular-weight cytokeratin (CK) that shows restricted expression in the gastrointestinal epithelium, urothelium, and Merkel cell. Recent studies have suggested that since Merkel cell (primary cutaneous neuroendocrine) carcinomas are consistently CK20-positive, this feature may help to distinguish it from pulmonary small cell carcinomas. However, only limited numbers of these tumors have been studied, and the pattern of CK20 expression in other small cell carcinomas has not been established. Therefore, we studied CK20 expression in small cell carcinomas from a wide variety of sites. Immunohistochemical study was performed on paraffin sections using CK20 antibody, coupled with antigen retrieval by pressure cooking in citrate buffer. The cases included 34 Merkel cell carcinomas and 89 small cell carcinomas from various sites (pulmonary, 37; gastrointestinal tract, nine; pharynx and tongue, two; sinonasal tract, three; salivary gland, five; larynx, nine; breast, two; thymus, three; uterine cervix and corpus, 12, prostate, three; urinary bladder, two; kidney, one; pancreas, one). In addition, all cases were immunostained with pan-CK (MNF-116) and low-molecular-weight CK (CAM5.2) antibodies to ascertain their epithelial nature. With the exception of one case, all Merkel cell carcinomas were CK20-positive; and 30 of the 33 cases showed a punctate pattern. Almost 100% of tumor cells were positive, except for two cases that showed staining of 10% and 30% of tumor cells, respectively. Among the other small cell carcinomas, only five cases were CK20-positive, including one of 37 pulmonary (40% cells positive in punctate pattern), one of 11 cervical (10% cells positive), and three of five salivary gland (100% cells positive). We conclude that CK20-positivity in a small cell carcinoma of uncertain origin strongly predicts a diagnosis of Merkel cell carcinoma, especially if the majority of tumor cells are positive. A negative CK20 reaction can practically rule out Merkel cell carcinoma, provided that an effective antigen retrieval technique is used and appropriate staining is obtained with other cytokeratin antibodies. The frequent CK20 positivity observed in salivary gland small cell carcinomas in this series suggests that at least some of them may be more closely related biologically to Merkel cell carcinoma than to pulmonary-type small cell carcinoma. This may explain why they are far less clinically aggressive than other small cell carcinomas.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Ultrasonographic findings of invasive lobular carcinoma differentiation of invasive lobular carcinoma from invasive ductal carcinoma by ultrasonography.

BACKGROUND: Although controversy exists, invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) differs in its high frequency of microscopically positive margins after conservative therapy compared to invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). If ILC could be recognized by imaging modalities, it would provide important information for surgeons. We tried to confirm whether it is possible to distinguish ILC from other invasive carcinomas by ultrasonography (US). METHODS: A total of 81 histologically confirmed cases of IDC, including 26 cases of papillotubular carcinoma, 28 cases of solid-tubular carcinoma and 27 cases of scirrhous carcinoma, as well as 24 cases of ILC were selected and retrospectively studied with regard to the features of mass lesions on US examination. RESULTS: The sensitivities of US for papillotubular carcinoma, solid-tubular carcinoma, scirrhous carcinoma and ILC were 88.5%, 100%, 92.6% and 91.7% respectively. We could divide invasive breast cancer into two groups by US findings. One group had a low frequency of malignant findings and consisted of papillotubular and solid-tubular carcinomas, and the other group had a high frequency of malignant findings and consisted of scirrhous carcinomas and ILC. However, there were no statistical differences between papillotubular carcinoma and solid-tubular carcinoma or between scirrhous carcinoma and ILC with regard to the US findings. CONCLUSIONS: Scirrhous carcinoma, the most common type of IDC, and ILC are difficult to distinguish by US. Therefore it is difficult to separate ILC from IDC by US.

Adult↗

Immunostaining for thyroid transcription factor 1 and cytokeratin 20 aids the distinction of small cell carcinoma from Merkel cell carcinoma, but not pulmonary from extrapulmonary small cell carcinomas.

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) and cytokeratin 20 (CK20) in pulmonary small cell carcinomas, extrapulmonary small cell carcinomas, and Merkel cell carcinomas, and thereby determine whether these markers are helpful in distinguishing these 3 groups of small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immunostaining for TTF-1 and CK20 was performed in 102 cases of small cell carcinoma (pulmonary, 52; extrapulmonary, 50) and 23 cases of Merkel cell carcinoma. The results for the 3 groups were compared. RESULTS: Thyroid transcription factor 1 was expressed in 82.7% of pulmonary small cell carcinomas, 42.0% of extrapulmonary small cell carcinomas (range, 33.3--53.3% for the various sites), and 0% of Merkel cell carcinomas. Cytokeratin 20 staining was consistently negative in pulmonary small cell carcinomas, and positive in 4.0% of extrapulmonary small cell carcinomas and 100% of Merkel cell carcinomas. CONCLUSIONS: Immunostaining for TTF-1, especially when combined with immunostaining for CK20, can aid in the distinction between Merkel cell carcinoma and small cell carcinoma (both pulmonary and extrapulmonary). However, in individual cases, these markers cannot be used to distinguish between pulmonary and extrapulmonary small cell carcinomas due to the extensive overlap in immunophenotypes.

Carcinoma, Merkel Cell↗

[De novo cancer and adenoma-carcinoma sequence of the colorectum--clinicopathological differences between de novo carcinoma and carcinoma with the sequence].

The adenoma-carcinoma sequence ("The great majority of colorectal carcinomas arises from adenomas") proposed by Morson et al (1972) has been generally accepted world wide. Considering the sequence from the viewpoint of human carcinogenesis in general, however, a few contradictions and mysterious phenomena are found in the development and growth process of the colorectal carcinomas. It is evident that the histogenesis of the adenoma-carcinoma sequence including such contradictions is logically false. Consequently, we should fundamentally reconsider the histogenesis of colorectal carcinoma. The premise for the induction of the histogenesis of colorectal carcinoma is that carcinomas are much more objectively differentiated from adenomas with severe atypia, and that hyperplastic glands with slight atypia are differentiated from adenomas with slight atypia. In order to objectify the histological interpretation of atypical grades, conversion of complicated histological designs into real numbers is required. Two discriminant functions with two variables (N/C ratio and density of tubuli in a unit area) for differentiating carcinoma from adenoma have been determined using computed image processing. Based on the discriminant functions for differentiating objectively between carcinoma, adenoma, and hyperplasia, the histogenesis of colorectal carcinomas has been deduced as follows: 70-80% of colorectal carcinomas arise from the colorectal mucosa (de novo carcinoma) and 20-30% arise from adenoma. Observing the various clinicopathological phenomena in colorectal adenomas and carcinomas from the viewpoint of histogenesis, the contradictions do not enter the logically constructed model. Furthermore, the biological behavior of de novo carcinoma is clinicopathologically different from that of carcinoma with the sequence.

Adenoma↗

[Electron microscopic study of atypical squamous metaplasia of bronchial epithelium, bronchial carcinoma in situ and microinvasive carcinoma during development of pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma].

Cytomorphological differences among severely atypical squamous metaplasia of bronchial epithelium, bronchial carcinoma in situ and microinvasive carcinoma were examined cytologically and electron microscopically. Cytomorphological features were studied by a light microscopy and an electron microscopy in bronchial brushing and histopathological preparations obtained from a patient with bronchial carcinoma in situ and two patients with microinvasive carcinoma. Cytologically, carcinoma in situ cells showed about same size and represented round to oval nuclei whose chromatin revealed finely granular and uniform pattern. Microinvasive carcinoma cells varied markedly in size. Nuclear pleomorphism was also marked in cells whose chromatin revealed sometimes coarsely granular and irregular pattern. The ultrastructural features of microinvasive carcinoma were more irregular in nuclear outline, abundant in the number of perichromatin granules and predominant in formation of fibrillar center than those of carcinoma in situ. Cytomorphological features were studied by a light microscopy and a transmission electron microscopy in bronchial brushing and biopsy preparations obtained from bronchial carcinoma in situ and atypical squamous metaplasia induced in dogs by means of bronchial submucosal injections of 20-methylcholanthrene. Both the carcinoma in situ and the severely atypical squamous metaplasia cells showed the same cytologic findings in that cells were about same size, nuclei were round to oval in shape and chromatin was finely granular, while the nucleoli of carcinoma in situ cells were relatively prominent. However, ultrastructural features indicated that there were differences, although some similarities exist, between in situ and severely atypical squamous metaplasia in nuclear form, number of perichromatin granules and enlargement of the nucleoli. From these findings, it was suggested that there were cytomorphological differences between carcinoma in situ and microinvasive carcinoma from cytological and ultrastructural aspects. We conclude that differentiation between carcinoma in situ cells and those of severely atypical squamous metaplasia is sometimes difficult when based only on cytologic features but there were cytomorphological differences at the ultrastructural level.

Aged↗

[The clinical significance of serum tissue polypeptide antigen as a tumor marker for urogenital carcinomas--a comparison with other tumor markers in patients with renal cell carcinoma and prostatic carcinoma].

Serum tissue polypeptide antigen (s-TPA) levels were determined in 124 patients having urogenital carcinomas, 74 with benign urological diseases and 55 normal subjects. We analyzed these results and determined the clinical significance of s-TPA as a tumor marker for urogenital carcinomas. S-TPA levels in the 55 normal subjects was 80 +/- 17 U/L (mean +/- S.D.). Since more than 95% of them showed an s-TPA level of below 110 U/L, this level was used as the cut-off value. The s-TPA level was 125 +/- 75 U/L for the 42 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy, 138 +/- 60 U/L for the 15 patients with acute urinary tract infections (UTI) and 80 +/- 20 U/L in the 17 patients having other benign urological diseases. An elevated s-TPA level was clearly demonstrated in the case of acute UTI, which displayed a false positive result. The s-TPA level was 207 +/- 246 U/L for the 21 patients with bladder carcinoma, 197 +/- 52 U/L for the 5 patients with renal pelvic or ureteral carcinoma, 187 +/- 156 U/L for the 22 patients with renal cell carcinoma, 167 +/- 183 U/L for the 46 patients with prostatic carcinoma, and 95 +/- 28 U/L for the 8 patients with testicular carcinoma. In the 8 patients having bladder carcinoma, the elevation of s-TPA level seemed to be caused by the concomitant presence of acute UTI. The positive rate of s-TPA in various urogenital carcinomas was 100% for renal pelvic or ureteral carcinoma, 68% for renal cell carcinoma, 59% for bladder carcinoma, 52% for prostatic carcinoma and 13% for testicular carcinoma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acid Phosphatase↗

Effects of irradiation on biological behavior of carcinoma cells under carcinoma-stromal cell interaction and air-liquid interface: a possible model for testing radiosensitivity of carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract using a collagen gel culture system.

Carcinoma-stromal cell interaction and air-liquid interface (ALI) constitute a specific microenvironment that modulates the biological behavior of carcinoma cells of the upper aerodigestive tract. Although radiotherapy is a useful tool for treating carcinomas of this organ, effects of irradiation on carcinoma cells under carcinoma-stromal cell interaction and ALI are unclear. To address this issue, we examined the effects of irradiation on the proliferation and apoptosis of squamous cell carcinoma cell lines (KB and HEp-2), using three-dimensional collagen gel culture with both carcinoma-stromal cell interaction and ALI. During the second week after irradiation with or without the two factors mentioned above, bromodeoxyuridin (BrdU) uptake and apoptosis of KB, and HEp-2 cell types decreased and increased, respectively. After this stage, the carcinoma cells with these two factors actively re-proliferated together with increased BrdU uptake and decreased apoptosis, whereas the magnitude of these parameters was considerably lower in culture without these factors. We applied our method to carcinoma tissues obtained from several clinical cases. At the same stage, the irradiated carcinoma cells replicated the phenomena observed in cell lines. The data indicate that carcinoma-stromal cell interaction and ALI together promote the re-proliferation of irradiated carcinoma cells and their decreased apoptosis, suggesting that our method is a possible model for testing radiosensitivity of carcinomas in a more physiological condition.

Adipose Tissue↗

Association of low-grade endometrioid carcinoma of the uterus and ovary with undifferentiated carcinoma: a new type of dedifferentiated carcinoma?

Low-grade endometrioid carcinomas, either of the endometrium or the ovaries, usually have an excellent prognosis. The association of this type of tumor with undifferentiated carcinoma is rare. In this study, we present the clinicopathologic features of 25 such cases. The age of the patients ranged from 30 to 82 years (median, 51 years). At presentation, the patients had either vaginal bleeding or pelvic pain. The endometrioid carcinoma involved the endometrium in 14 cases, the endometrium and 1 or both ovaries in 9 cases, and the ovaries in 2 cases. Undifferentiated carcinoma associated with low-grade endometrioid carcinoma was found at presentation in 19 grade 1 or 2 endometrioid carcinomas: 15 in the endometrium and 5 in the ovary. In one of these cases, undifferentiated carcinoma was found in the endometrium and the ovary. Undifferentiated carcinoma was found after resection of low-grade endometrioid carcinoma in six cases, involving the retroperitoneum, pelvis, vagina, or liver. The undifferentiated carcinoma was composed exclusively of diffuse sheets and solid nests of epithelial cells in l0 cases. Epithelial cells with isolated foci of keratinization were seen in nine cases and rhabdoid cells in a myxoid background in six cases. Twenty-four patients were treated with total abdominal hysterectomy and with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Twenty-two patients received additional therapy as follows: chemotherapy (), radiotherapy (), and tamoxifen (). Follow-up showed that 15 patients died of disease in 1 to 60 months (median, 6 months), and 5 patients are alive with progressive disease with a follow-up between 6 and 8 months; 1 patient is alive with no evidence of disease at 104 months. In four cases, the diagnosis was made recently, with short follow-ups of 3 and 4 months. Foci of undifferentiated carcinoma may be confused with solid endometrioid adenocarcinoma erroneously leading to the diagnosis of a grade 3 or a significantly less aggressive grade 2 endometrioid carcinoma. The recognition of undifferentiated carcinoma in an otherwise low-grade endometrioid adenocarcinoma is extremely important because it indicates aggressive behavior. In asynchronous cases, being aware of this association can explain the absence of a second primary.

Adult↗

Expression of glycodelin protein and mRNA in human ductal breast cancer carcinoma in situ, invasive ductal carcinomas, their lymph node and distant metastases, and ductal carcinomas with recurrence.

Glycodelin, previously known as PP14, has been localized in endometrial, ovarian and cervical carcinoma cells. Recently, glycodelin was demonstrated to be expressed in cancerous human breast tissue. In this study, paraffin-embedded slides of carcinoma in situ, invasive carcinomas without metastases, invasive carcinomas with corresponding lymph node metastases, invasive carcinomas with corresponding recurrence and invasive carcinomas with corresponding distant metastases were investigated for glycodelin protein and mRNA expression. Protein expression was found in all cases of carcinoma in situ, in invasive carcinoma without lymph node metastases in 90% of cases, in breast cancer with lymph node metastases in 50% of cases, in breast cancer with recurrence in 38% of cases and in breast cancer with distant metastases in 40% of cases. Results were confirmed by in situ hybridization showing reduced glycodelin expression as lymph node metastasis progressed, compared to carcinoma in situ. Glycodelin mRNA expression is not further reduced in carcinomas with distant metastasis and recurrence compared to carcinoma in situ. Results demonstrate that invasive breast carcinomas without metastases are more likely to express glycodelin. In contrast, cases of breast cancer with metastatic infiltration and recurrence show weak expression of glycodelin. On the basis of these results, we speculate that glycodelin could be used as a prognostic marker for breast cancer.

Adult↗

Small cell carcinoma (non-oat cell type) of the esophagus concomitant with invasive squamous cell carcinoma and carcinoma in situ. A case report.

A case of double primary invasive carcinoma of the esophagus, consisting of well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma and non-oat cell small cell carcinoma without squamous differentiation, is presented. This is the first reported case of a double or multiple primary invasive carcinoma of the esophagus in which one component is small cell carcinoma (oat cell or non-oat cell). Furthermore, the mucosal epithelium around the non-oat cell small cell carcinoma revealed multiple dysplasia and carcinoma in situ. These lesions were definitely separated from the invasive carcinoma and from each other. The results suggest that pure non-oat cell small cell carcinoma of the esophagus without squamous differentiation is derived from the esophageal squamous epithelium, and is a variant of squamous cell carcinoma.

Aged↗

Intraductal carcinoma associated with invasive carcinoma of the breast. A comparison of the two lesions with implications for intraductal carcinoma classification systems.

Intraductal carcinoma (DCIS) is a useful marker for predicting which women will develop a recurrent breast malignancy. The authors examined 150 consecutive, mammographically detected, T1 invasive carcinomas associated with DCIS to study the DCIS and compare it to its associated invasive carcinoma. Intraductal carcinoma nuclear grades were assigned to each duct on a scale of 1 to 3. The percentage of DCIS ducts that were involved by each grade was quantitated into quartiles for cases with more than one DCIS nuclear grade. The predominant architectural pattern corresponding to each DCIS nuclear grade was recorded. Ninety-two percent of the 150 invasive carcinomas were of ductal type, 4% were tubular, and the remainder were various other subtypes. Nine percent of the DCIS cases were nuclear grade 1. The remaining 91% of cases were almost evenly distributed between mixed DCIS nuclear grades 1 and 2 (19%), pure DCIS nuclear grade 2 (24%), mixed DCIS nuclear grade 2 to 3 (25%), and pure DCIS nuclear grade 3 (22%). Two percent of cases were a mixture of DCIS nuclear grades 1 and 3 or 1, 2, and 3. All pure DCIS nuclear grade 1 or mixed 1 and 2 were associated with well or moderately differentiated invasive carcinomas, whereas the majority (61%) of the pure DCIS nuclear grade 3 cases were associated with poorly differentiated invasive carcinomas. There was no relation between the DCIS architectural pattern and the invasive carcinoma grade. In general, the DCIS nuclear grade correlates with the grade of the invasive carcinoma. Unlike DCIS architecture, nuclear grade heterogeneity within DCIS associated with invasive carcinoma is minimal. DCIS classification systems based on nuclear grade have merit because there is little variation in nuclear grade within a given patient's lesion.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Spindle and cuboidal renal cell carcinoma, a tumour having frequent association with nephrolithiasis: report of 11 cases including a case with hybrid conventional renal cell carcinoma/ spindle and cuboidal renal cell carcinoma components.

AIMS: We present the largest series of an unclassified subtype of renal cell carcinoma, which seems to be a distinct morphological entity and which is sometimes designated as spindle and cuboidal renal cell carcinoma. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eleven cases of spindle and cuboidal renal cell carcinoma were found among 7000 primary renal cell tumours in Pilsen's routine and consultation files. The patients were five men and six women. They ranged in age from 22 to 65 years (mean 56.8). Microscopically, the tumours were composed of two main populations of cells. First, the preponderant type of cells was formed by flattened, spindle cells with sparse cytoplasm. The second cell type was a small cuboidal cell with clear to light eosinophilic cytoplasm. Spindle-shaped cells were arranged in a fascicular pattern often reminiscent of low-grade smooth muscle tumours. Solid areas of spindle cells were also present. Small cuboidal cells formed sparse tubular structures lined by a row of single cells. In addition to all previous published cases of spindle and cuboidal renal cell carcinoma we observed an association of nephrolithiasis in our cases. It was seen in 3/11 of our patients. A previously unreported feature is the occurrence of a conventional renal cell carcinoma component in one of our cases. Seven of our patients are currently well without signs of recurrence or metastasis, one had metastasis in a regional lymph node at the time of nephrectomy, one died of an unrelated condition, and two were lost to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: We present 11 cases of spindle and cuboidal renal cell carcinoma, which is believed to be a distinctive morphological entity. Our cases were histologically, immunohistochemically and ultrastructurally similar to the previously reported cases of spindle and cuboidal renal cell carcinoma. In contrast to all previously reported cases of spindle and cuboidal renal cell carcinoma, we observed an association with nephrolithiasis in three of our cases; moreover, one of our tumours had a conventional renal cell carcinoma component and another revealed a metastatic focus in a regional lymph node. None of our patients died of the disease. This study confirms that spindle and cuboidal renal cell carcinoma has a low malignant potential.

Adult↗

Expression of tumor suppressor and tumor-related proteins in differentiated carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma with tubular component and pure undifferentiated carcinoma of the stomach.

BACKGROUND: The recent development of tissue microarray (TMA) technology allows high-throughput protein expression profiling of cancer tissues by immunohistochemistry. We attempted to clarify the derivation of undifferentiated-type gastric carcinoma with tubular component by using TMA. METHODS: We constructed a TMA system composed of six paraffin blocks in which 274 samples of formalin-fixed gastric carcinoma tissue from 274 patients were embedded. Using this system, we performed immunohistochemical stains for five tumor suppressor and tumor-related proteins, i.e. p53, p16, hMLH1, c-erbB-2 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The 274 gastric carcinomas were histopathologically divided into the following three groups according to the degree of differentiation: differentiated-type (D-type), undifferentiated-type with tubular component (UT-type) and pure undifferentiated-type (UP-type). Immunohistochemical results were then compared with histological types. RESULTS: The percentages of abnormal expression of each protein in D-type, UT-type and UP-type carcinomas were as follows: 27% (38/143), 17% (17/98) and 15% (5/33) for p53; 27% (39/143), 19% (19/98) and 18% (6/33) for p16; 38% (54/143), 44% (43/98) and 24% (8/33) for hMLH1; 15% (22/143), 5% (5/98) and 0% (0/33) for c-erbB-2; and 22% (31/143), 35% (34/98) and 70% (23/33) for CEA. UP-type carcinomas exhibited the lowest frequencies of abnormal expression for p53, p16, hMLH1 and c-erbB-2, but the highest frequencies for CEA. UT-type carcinomas generally showed intermediate frequencies between those of D-type and UP-type carcinomas. Differences between D-type and UP-type for c-erbB-2 (P < 0.05) and CEA (P < 0.001) were significant, as were differences between D-type and UT-type for c-erbB-2 (P < 0.05) and CEA (P < 0.05), and differences between UT-type and UP-type for hMLH1 (P < 0.05) and CEA (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings reveal that gastric carcinomas have distinct expression profiles for tumor suppressor and tumor-related proteins depending on histological types, and support the hypothesis that UT-type carcinomas are derived not only from D-type but also from UP-type carcinomas. We also found significant differences between abnormal protein expression and other clinicopathological parameters such as gender, age and status of tumor and nodes.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

[Early cancer--the concept, and its relationship with carcinoma in situ, superficial carcinoma and micro-carcinoma].

The concept, "early cancer", is a carcinoma at the stage which can be cured by treatment. This idea was first proposed in the field of stomach cancer in 1962. After that, the concept was gradually accepted for cancers of other organs. Carcinoma in situ (or non-invasive carcinoma) is the name for a carcinoma whose invasion is not yet beyond the basement membrane. Superficial carcinoma is a carcinoma whose invasion is limited to mucosa or submucosa with or without lymph node metastasis. The name micro-carcinoma is generally used for a cancer visible only through a microscope or an incidental cancer or a latent cancer. All carcinomas in situ and most superficial carcinomas and micro-carcinomas are included in the term "early cancer".

Carcinoma in Situ↗

Basal cell carcinoma of the skin with areas of squamous cell carcinoma: a basosquamous cell carcinoma?

The diagnosis of basosquamous cell carcinoma is controversial. A review of cases of basal cell carcinoma showed 23 cases that had conspicuous areas of squamous cell carcinoma. This was distinguished from squamous differentiation and keratotic basal cell carcinoma by a comparative study of 40 cases of compact lobular and 40 cases of keratotic basal cell carcinoma. Areas of intermediate tumour differentiation between basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma were found. Basal cell carcinomas with areas of squamous cell carcinoma may be called basosquamous carcinoma.

Adult↗