Influence of differences in tumor vascularity upon the effects of hyperthermia

Summary Utilizing two types of human renal carcinoma heterotransplanted in nude mice, we investigated the variations in hyperthermic effects (42.5°C for 30 min) caused by differences in tumor type with special reference to variations in tumor vascularity. In the hypovascular JRC1 strain, sporadic vascular dilation was observed throughout the tumors after heating. Destruction of tumor cells was observed mainly in the region of dilation. In the hypervascular JRC11 strain, homogenous vascular dilation was observed immediately after heating, mainly at the periphery of tumors. There was a decrease in the viability of cells in the center of the tumor. Therefore, the hypervascular tumors showed greater destruction mainly at the center where blood circulation was reduced. The range of necrosis was also greatly affected by the extent of vascular dilation caused by heating in hypovascular tumors.     

The relationship between histopathological findings in oral squamous cell carcinoma and FDG uptake on PET

Objectives It is known that, in fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (FDG PET) for the diagnosis of oral cancer, FDG uptake may vary even among different cases of the same squamous cell carcinoma. However, the details of this phenomenon have not yet been elucidated. In this study, we analyzed the relationship between histopathological findings in oral squamous cell cancer and PET findings on FDG uptake. Methods We examined 45 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma who had undergone FDG PET before treatment. FDG uptake was assessed by a standardized uptake value (SUV) calculated according to the PET-measured tissue concentration of FDG, the administered dose of radionuclide, and the body weight of the patient. The relationship between the mean SUV and each of the following parameters was examined: histological grade of malignancy, degree of cell differentiation, size and/or local extent of the primary lesion, and cell density of the tumor. Results The mean SUV of FDG uptake did not depend on the histological grade of malignancy or on the degree of cell differentiation, but tended to be greater the larger the primary lesion. SUV also depended on cell density, increasing with the percentage of tumor parenchyma. Conclusions It is concluded that cancer cell density greatly influences the SUV of FDG, in that a tumor with fewer cellular elements in cancer tissue tends to become a false negative.     

Autologous implantation of chondrocytes on a solid collagen scaffold: clinical and histological outcomes after two years of follow-up

Abstract From our overall experience in 56 patients, we here report the treatment with matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI) of 35 patients suffering from knee cartilage defects measuring about 4 cm², and followed for a minimum of 6 months. A total of 36 knees were treated (1 patient on both knees) and clinically observed for 22 months (in some cases for over 39 months), in accordance with a standardised protocol. Subjective parameters (pain, well-being, functional state, symptoms during specific activity) and objective outcomes (IKDC score and Lysholm and Tegner scores) were recorded. One or 2 years after implantation, some biopsies of the regenerated cartilage were histologically evaluated. The subjective parameters (VAS pain score, 2.80±1.49, p<0.0001; change vs. basal score, 2.72) promptly normalized after 1 month, as did the objective ones (IKDC score after 6 months, 1.53±0.59, p<0.0001; change vs. basal score, 1.78). Similar results were observed after the treatment of a femoropatellar kissing lesion. The three cartilage biopsies that were analysed from different patients showed a tissue positivity to immunohistochemical markers of hyaline cartilage. The conclusions of this preliminary analysis are that the clinical outcome and histological evaluation suggest that MACI is able to relieve pain and restore the functionality of the knee, and that the treatment appears capable of regenerating hyaline cartilage.     

Stereotactic brain biopsy in AIDS

Summary In the hope of finding a treatable condition, the need for rapid diagnosis in HIV-seropositive patients with brain lesions is apparent. In order to evaluate the efficacy of stereotactic brain biopsy in AIDS patients, we retrospectively studied 25 HIV-infected patients undergoing stereotactic biopsy. Brain lesions were identified with gadolinium-enhanced MRI and/or contrastCT. Brain biopsy was performed using the system of Riechert. From 8 up to 15 small tissue samples from one or two targets were obtained in every patient. The biopsy material was examined cytologically, histologically (including electron microscopy), immunohistochemically and, in part, by animal test and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A definite diagnosis was achieved in 92%. Diagnosis included primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) (10), toxoplasmosis (10), progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (2) and one case of co-existing toxoplasmosis and cytomegalovirus infection. Two biopsies were non-diagnostic. All PCNSLs showed polymorphic B-cell populations of high malignancy; accurate classification according to the Kiel classification was not possible. In 3 lymphomas Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA) 2-mRNA could be detected by PCR and confirmed immunohistochemically by EBNA 2 expression. In 6 cases autopsy confirmed the biopsy diagnosis. Conventional histology was not sufficiently decisive for toxoplasmosis and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, so that immunohistochemistry and animal tests became very important for a final diagnosis. With the help of different morphological and molecular biological techniques stereotactic brain biopsy appears to be an effective method in the diagnosis of HIV-associated brain lesions. In view of the marked radio- and chemosensitivity of PCNSLs it is mandatory to establish an early and accurate histological diagnosis for adequate treatment.     

Incidental prostatic carcinoma: Morphometry correlated with histological grade

Summary The histological grades of prostatic carcinoma, as defined by Gleason, were correlated with three methods of morphometry in 254 step-sectioned prostates obtained at autopsy. The variables studied were 1) the number of tumours in each prostate; 2) bilaterality and 3) tumour volume. Each characteristic yielded a statistically significant correlation with histological grade. The strongest correlations were obtained using tumour volume. These autopsy studied help to explain the inconsistent results obtained from morphometric analyses of surgical material, and lend support to the Gleason system as a means of predicting tumour behavior.Supported in part by research contracts PH 64-10, NCI-72-3213, N01-CP-53521; Grant R01-CA-33644; and the Grant-in-Aid for Cancer Research (33) from the Ministry of Health and Welfare     

Keratin immunohistochemistry in renal cell carcinoma subtypes and renal oncocytomas: a systematic analysis of 233 tumors

Keratin immunohistochemistry represents a widely applied differential diagnostic tool in surgical pathology. To investigate the value of keratin subtyping for the diagnosis among histological subtypes of renal cell carcinoma and oncocytomas, we performed a detailed immunohistochemical study, applying 22 different monoclonal keratin antibodies on a large series of 233 renal tumors [125 conventional, 22 chromophobe, and 20 papillary (12 type-1, 8 type-2 tumors) cancers and 66 oncocytomas] using a tissue microarray technique. Immunoreactivity for keratin 7, 8, 18, and 19 was present in all tumor entities, albeit in varying quantities. With antibodies directed against keratins 8 and 18, oncocytomas showed a distinct perinuclear and punctate dot-like pattern, which was not observed in renal cancer specimens. The only tumors showing immunoreactivity for keratin 20 were two type-2 papillary cancers. All other monospecific keratin antibodies yielded consistently negative results. Overall, in contrast to some recent publications, keratin subtyping generally appeared to be of additional value only for the differentiation of renal epithelial tumors. Hence, with respect to differential diagnostic value, Hales colloidal iron stain and vimentin immunostaining are still the most useful tools in renal tumor pathology.     

血清HBV DNA复制与慢性乙型肝炎肝脏损伤程度的研究

目的：探讨慢性乙型肝炎急性发作时,ＨＢＶ复制水平与肝脏组织损伤程度之间的关系。方法：Ｃ地４４例自发性发作的慢性乙型肝炎患者进行肝组织活检,并采用荧光定量多聚酶链反应测定血清ＨＢＶＤＮＡ含量。结果：血清ＨＢＶＤＮＡ含量与肝脏炎症程度（Ｇ１－Ｇ４）及纤维化程度（Ｓ１－Ｓ４）之间比较,无明显相关性（Ｐ〉０．０５）;与血清丙氨酸转氨酶（ＡＬＴ）、门冬氨酸转氨酶（ＡＳＴ）及总胆红素（Ｔ－ＢＩＬＩ）之间也无相     

关节－干骺端软骨细胞移植修复兔桡骨缺损

目的研究组织工程软骨移植于成年兔桡骨缺损后的生长、分化与转归特点,以及引导性骨再生和骨缺损的修复机制。方法取自一日龄新生兔关节－干骺端复合物的软骨细胞在几丁质纤维网中增殖21d后装入硅胶管内,套接在成年兔桡骨干1cm的缺损处（实验组12只）;对照组10只在缺损处套接空硅胶管,2只仅填入裸几丁质纤维。术后4周两组各处死3只动物取材,其余在术后16周取材。结果实验组术后4周3只动物的工程软骨组织在骨缺损内形成软骨样组织,术后16周9只动物中有2只动物的缺损愈合。对照组术后4周已开始骨愈合,术后16周9只动物的骨缺损全部愈合。结论新生兔关节－干骺端复合物的软骨细胞在成年兔桡骨缺损区（套管内）未肥大钙化,未再现软骨内化骨过程。缺损内的工程软骨可能因占据空间、阻碍成骨成分进入而中断了骨缺损修复过程。引导性骨再生的机制可能是人工膜管加强了骨膜的天然引导作用而促进了骨愈合。     

脑膜瘤瘤周水肿与手术预后的关系

目的探讨脑膜瘤瘤周水肿程度与手术预后的关系.方法对92例脑膜瘤术前瘤周水肿程度与术中肿瘤分离难易程度、术后病理组织学分类及复发率进行统计学对比分析.结果血管瘤型脑膜瘤、恶性及低度恶性脑膜瘤瘤周中、重度水肿发生率明显高于其它类型脑膜瘤（P＜0.01）;脑膜瘤周围水肿越严重,术中脑膜瘤的分离难度越大（P＜0.01）,同时复发率也较高（P＜0.05）.结论脑膜瘤周围水肿程度与手术预后密切相关,可作为判断预后的一个重要指标.     

The utility of postoperative radiotherapy in intermediate-risk oral squamous cell carcinoma

The effectiveness of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) in improving outcomes remains debatable for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients with pathological intermediate-risk factors (IRFs) after surgery. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 432 intermediate-risk OSCC patients defined by histological reporting of close margin (<5 mm), early nodal disease (pN1), depth of invasion/tumour thickness ≥5 mm, perineural invasion, and/or lymphovascular invasion. Outcomes measured were disease-free survival (DFS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and overall survival (OS). PORT was associated with an improvement in 5-year DFS on univariable analysis (80% vs 71%; P = 0.044), but this did not remain significant on multivariable analysis. PORT was not associated with differences in DSS or OS. The surgical salvage rate was similar in the PORT and surgery-only groups (41% vs 47%; P = 0.972). Perineural invasion was found to be an independent predictor of inferior DSS (hazard ratio (HR) 2.19), DFS (HR 1.89), and OS (HR 1.97). Significantly worse outcomes were observed for patients with ≥4 concurrent IRFs. The application of PORT was associated with lower rates of recurrence, but the benefit was less apparent on mortality. Patients with perineural invasion and multiple concurrent IRFs were found to be at greatest risk, representing a subset of intermediate-risk OSCC patients who may benefit from PORT.