Histological spectrum of ependymomas and correlation of p53 and Ki-67 expression with ependymoma grade and subtype

BACKGROUND: Clinical and histological criteria for ependymoma prognosis are well recognized. Recently few studies have been done based on Immunohistochemistry for prognostication of these tumours. In this study we have correlated the histological spectrum with immmunoexpression of p53 and Ki67 in these tumors. AIMS: To know the incidence of ependymomas; study their morphological spectrum and to evaluate expression of P53 and Ki 67 in different morphological subtypes. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective study was preformed on 70 ependymomas received in a period between 1994 and 2001. Entire tissue received was processed for routine paraffin embedded H&E stained sections. Immunocytochemistry was performed using antibodies to GFAP, EMA, Pancytokeratin and synaptophysin, to differentiate papillary ependymoma from choroid plexus papilloma; clear cell ependymoma from oligodendroglioma and central neurocytoma; ependymoblastoma from other embryonal tumours. p53 and Ki-67 immunohistochemistry was performed to correlate their expression with various tumour grades and subtypes. RESULTS: There were 3 cases (4.2%) of Grade I ependymoma (2 cases of myxopapillary ependymoma and 1 case of subependymoma); 57 cases (81.5%) of ependymoma grade II (43 of these were of classical variety, 11 of clear cell ependymoma, 2 of papillary and 1 case of cellular ependymoma). There were 9 cases (12.8%) of anaplastic ependymoma (one of these was a clear cell ependymoma and 1 case (1.5%) of ependymoblastoma CONCLUSION: p53 and Ki67 indices can be used in routine diagnostic laboratories to supplement the tumor grade on histology and more studies with follow up should be performed to analyse the prognosis of different subtypes. The expression of Ki 67 and p53 was significantly higher in anaplastic ependymomas. 4 out of 11 cases of clear cell ependymomas showed higher Ki 67 indices as compared to classical grade II ependymomas, thus further highlighting the importance of differentiating the various subtypes.     

Prognostic value of Ki-67 (MIB-1) and p53 in ependymomas

To determine whether Ki-67 (MIB-1) and p53 have prognostic value in ependymomas, clinicopathologic study was undertaken in 29 patients with this tumor. The clinical course correlated well with the histological grade according to the World Health Organization (WHO) grading system, and it was the worst in patients with anaplastic ependymoma. The percent expression of MIB-1 and p53 correlated with the histological grade of malignancy. With regard to the subtypes of benign ependymoma, the clinical course was the worst in clear-cell ependymoma, which had a significantly higher expression of MIB-1 and p53 than the other subtypes. Tanycytic ependymoma showed the most benign clinical course and the lowest expression of MIB-1 and p53. Although the WHO grading generally tended to correlate with the clinical course of ependymomas, these two subtypes-clear-cell ependymoma and tanycytic ependymoma-exhibited biological properties different from those of other grade II ependymomas.     

Somatostatin receptors in primary human breast cancer: quantitative analysis of mRNA for subtypes 1–5 and correlation with receptor protein expression and tumor pathology

Summary Somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) have been identified in most hormone-producing tumors as well as in breast cancer. In the present study, we determined SSTR1–5 expression in primary ductal NOS breast tumors through semi-quantitative RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry. The results from the analysis of 98 samples were correlated with several key histological markers and receptor expression. All five SSTR subtypes are variably expressed at the mRNA level in breast tumors with 91% of samples showing SSTR1, 98% SSTR2, 96% SSTR3, 76% SSTR4, and 54% SSTR5. SSTR1–5 are localized to both tumor cells and the surrounding peritumoral regions as detected by immunocytochemistry. Levels of SSTR mRNA, when corrected for β-actin levels, were highest for SSTR3 followed by SSTR1, SSTR2, SSTR5, and SSTR4. Furthermore, there was good correlation between mRNA and protein expression with 84% for SSTR1, 79% for SSTR2, 89% for SSTR3, 68% for SSTR4, 68% for SSTR5, and 78% for all five receptors. SSTR1, 2 and 4 were correlated with ER levels whereas SSTR2 showed an additional correlation with PR levels. These correlations were independent of patient age and histological grade. Moreover, using immunocytochemistry, blood vessels exhibited receptor-specific localization for SSTR2 and SSTR5. Our results indicate significant correlations between mRNA and protein expression along with receptor-specific correlations with histological markers as well as ER and PR levels. Differential distribution of SSTR subtypes in tumors and receptor-specific expression in vascular structures may be considered as a novel diagnosis for breast tumors with receptor subtype agonists.     

生长抑素受体亚型在人鼻咽癌细胞株CNE2中表达

背景与目的：生长抑素受体（somatostatin receptor SSTR）在许多肿瘤组织均有表达，为生长抑素类似物如奥曲肽用于这些肿瘤的治疗提供了生物学基础，但对生长抑素受体在鼻咽癌中表达情况的研究甚少。本研究旨在了解生长抑素受体基因在鼻咽癌细胞中的表达情况，为生长抑素类似物用于鼻咽癌治疗的进一步研究提供试验基础。方法：采用RT—PCR法和SP免疫组化法联合检测体外培养的人鼻咽癌细胞株CNE2的SSTRs表达，并对PCR mRNA产物测序以鉴定结果。结果：RT—PCR提示人鼻咽癌细胞株CNE2分别表达生长抑素受体亚型SSTR1、SSTR2、SSTR4；免疫组化结果：人鼻咽癌细胞株CNE2表达SSTR1、SSTR2A为强阳性（〉60％），表达SSTR4为弱阳性、SSTR2介于两者之间、SSTR3和SSTR5则无表达。结论：我们的研究证实人鼻咽癌细胞株CNE2有多种生长抑素受体亚型基因表达，且以表达SSTR1、SSTR2较多。     

人类X-盒结合蛋白1在肝癌中的表达及其临床病理意义

目的研究人类X-盒结合蛋白1（XBP1）在mRNA水平上的表达及其在肝癌发生、发展中的可能作用。方法采用反转录聚合酶链反应（RT—PCR）方法检测了XBPl mRNA在42例肝癌、15例癌旁肝组织和15例正常肝组织中的表达情况,与内参照GAPDHmRNA比较计算相对表达量,分析XBP1表达与肝癌临床病理特征的关系。结果XBP1 mRNA在肝癌组织中的相对表达量（0．4396±0．0241）高于癌旁肝组织以及正常肝组织（分别为0．4152±0．0252和0．4095±0．0149）,差异有统计学意义（F=10．94,P=0．001）。肝癌组织中XBPlmRNA的表达与患者年龄、性别、肿瘤部位、组织学类型、分级及有无转移无明显相关性（均P〉0．05）。结论肝癌组织中XBPlmRNA表达明显升高,但其表达与肝癌临床病理特征无关,提示XBP1可能参与肝癌发生,是肝癌发生的早期事件。     

血管内皮生长因子受体2和血管内皮生长因子受体3的表达与肾乳头状癌生物学行为密切相关

目的 探讨血管内皮生长因子受体(VEGFR)在肾乳头状癌中的表达及与生物学行为的关系.方法 采用组织芯片及免疫组化SP法检测82例肾乳头状癌组织中VEGFR和增殖细胞核抗原(PCNA)的表达水平.结果 肾乳头状癌中VEGFR-1、VEGFR-2和VEGFR-3阳性率分别为82.9%(68/82)、63.4%(52/82)和34.1%(28/82),PCNA的阳性率为67.1%(55/82).VEGFR-1的表达与肾乳头状癌的临床病理因素无关.VEGFR-2的表达与肿瘤大小(P=O.016)、组织学分级(P=0.034)和远处转移(P=0.002)有关,而与患者性别、年龄、肿瘤部位、临床分期以及淋巴结转移状态无关.VEGFR-3的表达与肿瘤组织学分级(P=0.028)、淋巴结转移(P=0.010)和远处转移(P=0.018)有关,而与患者性别、年龄、肿瘤部位、肿瘤大小和临床分期无关.PCNA的表达仅与组织学分级有关(P=0.011),而与其他临床病理因素无关.VEGFR-2和VEGFR-3在死亡患者中的阳性表达率显著高于生存患者(P＜0.05).Cox比例风险模型多因素分析显示,远处转移是影响患者预后的独立因素(OR=0.380,P=0.021).结论 VEGFR-2和VEGFR-3均可作为判断肾乳头状癌预后的指标.VEGFR-3过表达是肾乳头状癌淋巴转移的预后指标,而VEGFR-2可以预测肾乳头状癌血行转移.     

膀胱移行细胞癌组织中cyclinD1和CDK4的表达及其与临床病理的关系

目的　研究膀胱移行细胞癌组织中cyclinD1和CDK 4的表达及其与临床病理变化的关系。方法　采用免疫组化方法对 8例正常膀胱和 69例膀胱移行细胞癌组织中cyclinD1和CDK 4的表达进行观察。 结果　膀胱移行细胞癌组织中cyclinD1的表达高于正常膀胱组织 (P <0 .0 5 )。cyclinD1表达阳性者的肿瘤细胞分化较差 ,术后易复发 ,生存时间较短 ;而CDK 4的阳性表达仅与患者术后复发有关 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,与病理分级和生存时间无关 (P >0 .0 5 )。结论　cyclinD1的表达可作为判断膀胱细胞癌病理分级 ,术后复发和临床预后的指标 ,而CDK 4只能作为术后复发的参考指标。     

The results of radiotherapy for ependymomas: the mayo clinic experience

Purpose: This analysis was performed to examine the outcome of patients with histologically confirmed ependymomas of the brain or spinal cord who received postoperative radiotherapy.

Methods and Materials: Eighty patients with histologically confirmed ependymomas were evaluated retrospectively. All were treated with various combinations of surgery, radiotherapy (RT), and chemotherapy. Follow-up ranged from 5 to 30 years (median 10.4 years).

Results: The 5- and 10-year survival rates for the entire study group were 79% and 73%, respectively. Patients with low-grade (1 and 2 of 4) tumors had a 5-year survival rate of 87% as compared to 27% for those with high-grade (3 and 4 of 4) tumors (p < 0.0001). Patients with tumors of the spine had a 5-year survival rate of 97% as compared to 68% for those with infratentorial tumors, and 62% for those with supratentorial tumors (p = 0.03). Patients with myxopapillary ependymomas of the spine had a 5-year survival rate of 100% as compared with 76% for patients with other histological subtypes of ependymoma (p = 0.02). Multivariate analysis revealed that the survival rate was independently associated with tumor grade (p = 0.0007) and histological subtype (p = 0.02). Twenty-eight patients (35%) experienced local failure and 10 patients (13%) developed leptomeningeal seeding. The 5-year leptomeningeal failure rate was 10% in patients with low-grade tumors as compared to 41% for patients with high grade tumors (p = 0.01).

Conclusion: Patients with low-grade tumors, especially those with myxopapillary subtypes, have high 5-year survival rates when treated with post-operative radiotherapy. High grade ependymomas are associated with a much poorer outcome. New forms of therapy are required to improve the outcome of patients with high-grade ependymomas.     

Expression of the ELAV-like protein HuR is associated with higher tumor grade and increased cyclooxygenase-2 expression in human breast carcinoma.

PURPOSE: The human ELAV (embryonic lethal abnormal vision)-like protein HuR stabilizes a certain group of cellular mRNAs that contain AU-rich elements in their 3'-untranslated region. Cell culture studies have shown that the mRNA of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 can be stabilized by HuR. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: To investigate a possible contribution of dysregulation of mRNA stability to the progression of cancer and to overexpression of COX-2, we studied expression of HuR in 208 primary breast carcinomas by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: There were two different staining patterns of HuR in tumor tissue of breast carcinomas: nuclear expression was seen in 61% of cases; and an additional cytoplasmic expression was seen in 30% of cases. Expression of HuR was significantly associated with increased COX-2 expression; this association was particularly significant for cytoplasmic HuR expression (P < 0.0005). We further observed a significant association of cytoplasmic (P = 0.002) or nuclear HuR (P = 0.027) expression with increased tumor grade. Only 13% of the grade 1 carcinomas showed cytoplasmic expression of HuR, compared with 46% of the grade 3 carcinomas. There was no significant correlation between HuR expression and other clinicopathological parameters such as histological type, tumor size, or nodal status as well as patient survival. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that overexpression of HuR in tumor tissue may be part of a regulatory pathway that controls the mRNA stability of several important targets in tumor biology, such as COX-2. Based on our results, additional studies are necessary to investigate whether HuR might be a potential target for molecular tumor therapy.     

Tumor grade-related <Emphasis Type="Italic">NDRG2</Emphasis> gene expression in primary and recurrent intracranial meningiomas

Approximately 30% of all primary CNS tumors are meningiomas. Depending on histological type, meningiomas can recur as follows: benign—with five-year recurrence of 5%, atypical—recurrence approximately 40%, and anaplastic with recurrence of 50–80%. In an attempt to understand the molecular mechanism of meningioma recurrence we investigated the N-Myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (NDRG2), which has recently been described as important in suppressing cellular carcinogenesis in different types of cancer. The objective of the study was to investigate NDRG2 gene expression at the mRNA level in primary and recurrent meningiomas as a potential marker of tumor aggressiveness, malignancy, and recurrence. Primary and recurrent meningiomas of WHO grades I, II, and III from 35 patients operated on between 2005 and 2008 year at the Department of Neurosurgery of Kaunas Medical University Hospital (Lithuania) were studied. Using the qRT-PCR method we measured NDRG2 gene expression at the mRNA level in primary (n = 24) and recurrent (n = 11) meningiomas. Statistically significant differences in NDRG2 gene expression level were observed between primary and recurrent meningioma groups (P < 0.05) and between benign (WHO grade I) and atypical (WHO grade II) meningiomas (P < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed (P > 0.05) among histological subtypes of benign (WHO grade I) meningiomas: fibrous, meningothelial, and transitional. In accordance with our results, reduction of NDRG2 gene expression at the mRNA level could help to explain malignant progression and predisposition to recurrence in meningiomas.     

CD105 、MMP-2 和MMP-9 在骨巨细胞瘤中的表达及意义

 目的 探讨骨巨细胞瘤中CD105、MMP-2和MMP-9的表达及与肿瘤复发的关系。方法 应用免疫组化SP法检测CD105、MMP-2和MMP-9在38例骨巨细胞瘤中的表达，分析它们与肿瘤临床病理参数及术后复发的关系。结果 （1）CD105标记的肿瘤内MVD均值为9．70±2．34，浸润型肿瘤的MVD值明显高于静止型（P〈0．05），复发组MVD值显著高于未复发组（P〈0．01），而与组织学分级无关（P〉0．05）。（2）MMP-2的阳性表达率为47．37％，其表达与复发有关（P〈（1．05），而与组织学分级、X线分型无关（P〉0．05）。（3）MMP-9的阳性表达率为6（1．53％，与组织学分级无关（P〉（1．05），与X线分型和复发有关（P〈0．01）。（4）MMP-2、MMP-9阳性组的MVD值分别高于相应的阴性组（P〈0．01）。结论 CD105标记的MVD值和MMP-2、MMP-9过表达可作为预测骨巨细胞瘤复发的客观依据。MMP2、MMP-9过表达与肿瘤内新生血管的形成有关。     

The Association between Molecular Subtypes of Breast Cancer with Histological Grade and Lymph Node Metastases in Indonesian Woman

Objective: Breast carcinoma is a heterogeneous disease which is rich in diversity. Molecular subtypes of breastcancer, histological grade and lymph node metastases are strong prognostic and predictive factors. In Indonesia,only a limited number of studies have investigated the correlation between molecular subtypes with histologicalgrade and lymph node metastases. Methods: We analyzed 247 invasive breast carcinoma cases from the AnatomicPathology Installation of Dr. Sardjito General Hospital Yogyakarta between 2012-2015. The slides were stained forestrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), HER2, Ki-67 and CK5/6 for classification into breast cancersubtypes (BCS). Histological grade using the Nottingham system and lymph node status were obtained from anatomicpathology records. The association between histological grade and lymph node status with BCS was examined withChi-square tests. Results: The immunohistochemical features of 247 cases of women with invasive breast carcinomawere examined. There were 102 (41.3%) patients with Luminal A, 34 (13.8%) patients with Luminal B, 48 (19.4%)patients with HER2-positive, and 63 (25.5%) patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). There were 148(59.9%) patients with negative lymph node status and 99 (40.1%) with positive status. Among 63 TNBC cases, 37(58.7%) patients were positive for CK5/6 staining (basal-like). Statistically, there were significant differences betweenhistological grade and subtypes (p=0.013). However, no significant differences were found for lymph node metastases(p=0.540). Conclusion: Among subtypes, Luminal A has the highest frequency, followed by TNBC, HER2-positiveand Luminal B. Histological grade was associated with molecular subtypes of breast carcinoma in Yogyakarta. GradeI was associated with Luminal A, while Grade III was associated with Luminal B, HER2 and TNBC subtypes.     

Epidermal growth factor receptor and caveolin-1 coexpression identifies adult supratentorial ependymomas with rapid unfavorable outcomes

Supratentorial ependymomas account for a minority of intracranial ependymomas, which still have uncertain prognostic markers. Among them, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression correlates with a poor prognosis. In glioblastoma cells, EGFR function has been reported to be regulated by its migration from cell membrane infoldings called caveolae and by its colocalization with the caveolae-associated protein caveolin-1 (cav-1). Therefore, we decided to investigate cav-1 expression and coexpression with EGFR in a series of adult intracranial ependymomas. We analyzed 22 adult supratentorial ependymomas and compared tumor grades as determined by the WHO classification and patient survival rates with the expression of EGFR, cav-1, and p53 and the values of the proliferation marker Ki-67, all tested by immunohistochemistry; in addition, we investigated the mutational profile of cav-1. The results demonstrate that the tumor grade is directly correlated with EGFR, Ki-67, and cav-1 expression only, whereas (by univariate analysis) the expression of all the studied markers, as well as the tumor histological grade, significantly correlated with the patient's overall survival (OS). By multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model, among all variables considered, cav-1 was the only independent prognostic marker related to OS (relative risk = 13.92; P = .013). Among grade II ependymomas, only cav-1 correlated with poor OS (P = .011), distinguishing 2 distinct subgroups of tumors with different outcomes despite sharing identical grading. All the patients studied carried wild-type cav-1 sequences, demonstrating that cav-1 overexpression is not driven by activating mutations, as previously reported in other tumor types. Interestingly, after stratifying all cases into 4 distinct groups according to cav-1 and EGFR expression (cav-1+/EGFR+, cav-1-/EGFR-, cav-1+/EGFR-, and cav-1-/EGFR+), the coexpression of cav-1 and EGFR identified a subset of patients with definitively poor prognoses. Further studies are needed to support this evidence on a larger scale and to clarify how cav-1 and EGFR interaction can influence tumor aggressiveness.     

Comparative studies on the expression of somatostatin receptor subtypes, outcome of octreotide scintigraphy and response to octreotide treatment in patients with carcinoid tumours.

We have compared the expression of somatostatin receptor (sstr) subtypes with the outcome of somatostatin receptor scintigraphy and the effect of somatostatin receptor activation in patients with disseminated carcinoid tumours. Tumour tissues from nine patients with midgut carcinoids (ileal) and three patients with foregut carcinoids (gastric, thymic) were analysed using Northern blotting. Expression of somatostatin receptors was demonstrated in all tumours (12 out of 12), with all five receptor subtypes present in 9 out of 12 tumours. Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy using [111In]DTPA-D-Phe1-octreotide visualized tumours in all patients (12 out of 12). The 111In activity concentrations in tumour tissue (T) and blood (B) were determined in three tumours 1-7 days after injection of the radionuclide. The T/B 111In activity concentration ratios ranged between 32 and 651. Clinically, treatment with the long-acting somatostatin analogue octreotide resulted in marked symptom relief accompanied by a significant reduction in tumour markers, for example urinary-5-HIAA levels (28-71% reduction). Incubation of midgut carcinoid tumours in primary culture with octreotide (10 microM) resulted in a reduction in spontaneously secreted serotonin (45-71% reduction) and 5-HIAA (41-94% reduction). The results demonstrate that carcinoid tumours possess multiple somatostatin receptor subtypes and that somatostatin analogues such as octreotide, which preferentially bind to somatostatin receptor subtype 2 and 5, can be used in the diagnosis and medical treatment of these tumours. In the future, novel somatostatin analogues with subtype specific receptor profiles may prove to be of value for individualizing the treatment of disseminated carcinoid tumour disease.     

Immunohistochemical Markers for Prognosis of Ependymal Neoplasms

Intracranial ependymomas are the third most common primary brain tumor in children. Although clinical and histological criteria for ependymoma prognosis are recognized, studies have reported contradictory results. Prognostic significance based on immunohistochemistry of ependymomas has been reported in a few studies. One-hundred and twelve patients with intracranial ependymomas were examined retrospectively for immuno-expression of various tumor-associated antigens and apoptosis. The results demonstrated significant preponderance of expression of the tenascin, vascular endothelial growth factor protein (VEGF), epidermal growth factor (EGFR) and p53 protein in high-grade tumors. Also high-grade ependymomas revealed more prominent labeling indices (LI) for proliferative marker Ki-S1 and apoptotic index (AI), and lower LI for cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p27/Kip1 and p14ARF. For low-grade ependymomas the progression-free survival time (PFS) was found to be significantly shorter for Ki-S1 LI>5%, and for tenascin, VEGF and EGFR positivity. For high-grade ependymomas PFS was found to be significantly reduced for p27 LI<20%, p14ARF LI<10%, for p53 positivity, and for AI<1%. The CART modeling process exhibited five final groups of ependymoma patients (1) low-grade and tenascin-negative; (2) low-grade and tenascin-positive; (3) high-grade and p53-negative with p14 LI>0%; (4) high-grade with combination of either p53 positivity and p14 LI>10% or p53 negativity and p14 LI<10%; (5) high-grade and p53-positive with p14 LI<10%. In summary, some immunohistochemical variables were found to be the strong predictors of ependymoma recurrence and they seem to be useful for assessing individual tumor prognosis in routinely processed biopsy specimens together with tumor grade. For histologically benign ependymomas immunohistochemical study should be focused on Ki-S1, tenascin, EGFR and VEGF evaluation, whereas p53 expression and number of p27, p14 and ISEL-positive nuclei will be of value in determining PFS from high-grade ependymomas.     

Clinico-Pathologic Subtypes of Breast Cancer Primary Tumors Are Related to Prognosis after Recurrence

Background: Pathological factors, based mainly on immunohistochemistry (IHC) and histological differentiation, are mostly used to differentiate breast cancer (BC) subtypes. Our present aim was to describe the characteristics and survival of a relapsing BC patient cohort based on clinico-pathologic subtypes determined for the primary tumors. Methods: We used a clinico- pathological definition of BC subtypes based on histological grade (HG), estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR),and epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) expression assessed by IHC. We determined variables associated with loco-regional recurrence (LRR), second primaries (SP), systemic recurrence (SR) and post-recurrence survival (PRS). Results: Out of 1,702 patients, 240 (14%) had an event defined as recurrence. Those with recurrent disease were significantly younger than those without,and were initially diagnosed at more advanced stages, with larger tumors, greater lymph nodal involvement and higher HG. With a median follow up of 61 months (1-250), 4.6% of patients without recurrence and 56.6% of patients with an event defined as recurrence had died. The median PRS for the LRR group was 77 months; 75 months for those who developed a SP and 22 months for patients with an SR (p <0.0001). In SR cases, the median PRS was shorter for ER- tumors than for ER+ tumors (15 vs. 26 months, respectively; p = 0.0019, HR 0.44; CI: 0.25-0.44). Conclusions: Subtype, defined through classic histopathologic parameters determined for primary tumors, was found to eb related to type of recurrence and also to prognosis after relapse.