Immunohistochemical detection of nm23-H1/NDP kinase in childhood thyroid carcinoma

Childhood thyroid cancer is known to be aggressive. High incidence of lymph node and distant metastasis are characteristic features of these cases. In adult, reduced expression of nm23-H1/nucleoside diphosphate (NDP) kinase has been correlated with cancer invasion and metastasis in some tumor types. Therefore, we examined the expression of nm23-H1 gene product in childhood thyroid carcinomas in Japan. 27 primary thyroid carcinomas and 8 metastatic lymph nodes were analyzed by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibody H1-229. 21 out of 23 cases (91%) of papillary carcinomas were positively immunostained, whereas none of the 4 follicular carcinomas showed any immunoreactivity. No correlation was found between the nm23-H1/NDP kinase antigen expression and nodal involvement or distant metastasis in primary tumors. However, only 50% (4 out of 8) of metastatic lymph nodes from papillary carcinoma were positively stained, demonstrating a significant decrease comparing to those of primary sites. These data indicate that the expression of nm23-H1/NDP kinase cannot predict tumor metastatic potential in childhood thyroid cancer.     

nm23-H1基因在喉癌中杂合性丢失和微卫星序列不稳定性分析及表达的研究

目的　探讨nm2 3 H1基因在喉鳞状细胞癌中杂合性丢失 (LOH)及表达情况。方法　选择nm2 3 H1基因内部及附近 5个微卫星多态标记 ,对 72例喉癌标本进行杂合性丢失和微卫星序列不稳定性检测 ,同时以RT PCR方法分析 38例配对喉鳞状细胞癌标本中nm2 3 H1基因表达情况。结果　LOH涉及至少 1个位点的频率高达 76 .39% ,5个位点均有LOH ,以D17S16 6 5处频率最高 ,达 38.10 %。 3个位点出现MI ,最高为 12 .70 %。nm2 3 H1基因杂合性丢失及微卫星不稳定与淋巴结转移、临床分期和肿瘤分化无显著相关性 (P >0 .0 5 ) ,但D17S16 6 5位点高LOH频率与低分化相关 (P <0 .0 5 )。癌、癌旁及转移淋巴结中nm2 3 H1表达不同 ,但差异无统计学意义 ,表达水平与淋巴结转移无关 (P >0 .0 5 )。结论　nm2 3 H1基因可能在喉鳞癌发生中起作用 ,杂合性丢失可能是影响基因功能的主要机制。     

Genetic abnormalities and expression of p53 in human colon carcinomas

Genetic alteration and expression of p53 was examined on matched pairs of tumor and nonneoplastic tissues of colon carcinomas and compared with clinicopathological findings. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of p53 locus was found in 83% (44/53) of carcinomas and the incidence of LOH increased as tumor stage progressed. Among LOH cases, 63% (5/8) showed p53 mutations, most of which occured at CpG site. Although the level of p53 mRNA in tumor tissues was lower than its nonneoplastic counterpart in 55% (6/11) of the cases, no obvious relation was detected between mRNA expression and gene alteration. Accumulation of p53 protein determined by immunohistochemistry was found in 47% (25/53) of cases regardless of allelic status nor mRNA level. p53 immunoreactivity showed a tendency to increase with tumor stage. These results indicate the diversity of p53 alterations in the development and progression of colon carcinoma.     

p53和nm23杂合性缺失及表达异常在晚期胃肠癌转移中的作用

目的：研究原发胃肠肿瘤及其淋巴结转移癌和肝转移癌中p53和nm23基因的杂合性缺失(loss of heterozygosity,LOH)及其表达情况,探讨基因杂合性缺失和蛋白表达异常在肿瘤细胞转移中的作用,验证转移进展模型的可信性。方法：用多聚酶链反应-单链构象多态性(PCR-SSCP)银染法和免疫组织化学方法分析21例原发癌、16例淋巴结转移癌和21例肝转移癌中p53和nm23基因的杂合性缺失及其表达状况。结果：原发灶、淋巴结转移组织和肝脏转移组织中,p53位点的LOH发生率分别为37.5%、50.0%和68.8%(P＞0.05)．nm23的LOH发生率分别为26.7%、36.4%和40.0%(P＞0.05)；突变型p53蛋白表达率依次为85.7%、87.5%和90.5%(P＞0.05),nm23蛋白表达率分别为76.2%、50.0%和42.9%(肝转移与原发灶相比,P＜0.05)。结论：肿瘤发展过程中,遗传学异常逐步积累,最终转移发生,本研究结果符合转移进展模型理论；p53和nm23的异常改变促进胃肠癌的发展和转移,是肿瘤发展后期的重要分子事件。     

大肠癌中nm23-H1的表达与淋巴结转移的关系

 目的　探讨大肠癌中nm23-H1的表达与淋巴转移的关系。方法　应用免疫组化方法研究96例大肠癌中nm23-H1蛋白的表达。结果　nm23-H1蛋白低表达与淋巴结或远处转移显著相关(P<0.05);nm23-H1蛋白低表达预测大肠癌转移的灵敏性为88.4%,特异性为79.3%。结论　检测nm23-H1蛋白可以预测大肠癌淋巴结或远处转移,从而可能成为临床治疗的判断依据。     

Expression of cripto, a Novel Gene of the Epidermal Growth Factor Family, in Human Gastrointestinal Carcinomas

The expression of mRNA for cripto gene, a novel transforming gene of the epidermal growth factor family, was examined in 20 alimentary tract carcinoma cell lines, 60 surgically resected tumor tissues and their adjacent normal mucosas. Although the cripto mRNA was not detected in esophageal carcinomas or in normal mucosas, it was detected in gastric and colorectal carcinomas. In gastric carcinomas, 2.2 kb cripto mRNA was detected in one cell line, all the gastric carcinoma tissues and their adjacent normal mucosas. Of 23 gastric tumor tissues 8 (34.8%) exhibited a higher mRNA level than normal gastric mucosas. cripto mRNA was detected in 2 out of 6 colorectal carcinoma cell lines. Interestingly, 18 (81.8%) out of 22 colorectal carcinoma specimens expressed a higher level of cripto mRNA than that in normal mucosas. The level of the expression was higher than that in gastric carcinoma tissues. The expression was also correlated to tumor stage of colorectal carcinomas.     

Expression of cripto, a novel gene of the epidermal growth factor family, in human gastrointestinal carcinomas

The expression of mRNA for cripto gene, a novel transforming gene of the epidermal growth factor family, was examined in 20 alimentary tract carcinoma cell lines, 60 surgically resected tumor tissues and their adjacent normal mucosas. Although the cripto mRNA was not detected in esophageal carcinomas or in normal mucosas, it was detected in gastric and colorectal carcinomas. In gastric carcinomas, 2.2 kb cripto mRNA was detected in one cell line, all the gastric carcinoma tissues and their adjacent normal mucosas. Of 23 gastric tumor tissues 8 (34.8%) exhibited a higher mRNA level than normal gastric mucosas. cripto mRNA was detected in 2 out of 6 colorectal carcinoma cell lines. Interestingly, 18 (81.8%) out of 22 colorectal carcinoma specimens expressed a higher level of cripto mRNA than that in normal mucosas. The level of the expression was higher than that in gastric carcinoma tissues. The expression was also correlated to tumor stage of colorectal carcinomas.     

nm23与p21在胃癌中表达的意义

免疫组化研究ｎｍ２３与ｐ２１在８８例胃癌的表达变化与胃癌生物学行为及淋巴结转移的关系。结果发现ｎｍ２３低表达与胃癌侵袭程度显著相关（Ｐｅａｒｓｏｎ列联系数Ｐ＝０．２８，Ｐ＜０．０５）。ｎｍ２３低表达者淋巴结转移率（９２．７％）比正常表达者高（４８．５％，Ｐ＜０．０５）。同时发现ｐ２１阳性染色率为６５．９％，ｐ２１阳性染色与肿瘤组织分型及癌细胞增殖活性呈正相关（Ｐｅａｒｓｏｎ列联系数分别为Ｐ＝０．３８和０．３５，Ｐ＜０．０５），ｐ２１阳性肿瘤的淋巴结转移率（８７．９％）明显高于ｐ２１阴性的肿瘤（５３．３％，Ｐ＜０．０５）。ｎｍ２３低表达和ｐ２１过表达在胃癌淋巴结转移中的表现为独立的联合作用。提示ｎｍ２３低表达和ｐ２１过表达在胃癌淋巴结转移和肿瘤增殖中起重要的作用，ｎｍ２３与肿瘤浸润有关，而ｐ２１与肿瘤组织分型和增殖有关。     

胃癌中PTEN异常表达与围基因微卫星的杂合性缺失

目的　观察胃癌中PTEN基因异常表达与围基因微卫星的杂合性缺失 (LOH) ,探讨其在胃癌演进中的作用。方法　利用PCR SSCP检测进展期胃癌中PTEN围基因微卫星位点 (D10S5 4 1、D10S5 83、D10S16 87)的LOH ;采用RT PCR和免疫组化检测正常胃黏膜和胃癌中PTEN基因mRNA和蛋白表达 ;比较PTEN表达与淋巴结转移的关系 ;分析PTENmRNA表达与微卫星位点LOH及PTEN蛋白表达的关系。结果　进展期胃癌中D10S5 4 1、D10S5 83及D10S16 87微卫星位点LOH总的发生频率为2 8.6 % ;正常胃黏膜、早期胃癌和进展期胃癌的PTENmRNA阳性率分别为 80 .4 %、4 5 .5 %和 32 .1% ,其蛋白阳性率分别为 78.6 %、36 .4 %和 2 8.6 % ;早期和进展期胃癌中 ,PTENmRNA和蛋白阳性率低于正常胃黏膜 (P <0 .0 5 ) ;进展期胃癌中 ,PTENmRNA表达与其围基因微卫星LOH呈正相关 (Pearson相关系数 =0 .2 6 6 ) ;PTENmRNA与蛋白表达具有显著的一致性 (P <0 .0 5 ) ;PTENmRNA和蛋白表达与进展期胃癌淋巴结转移有关 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论　PTEN基因在胃癌发展不同阶段表达下调 ,并与其围基因微卫星LOH密切相关 ,微卫星LOH可能是其低表达的分子基础之一 ,PTEN基因表达异常与围基因微卫星LOH在胃癌发生和演进中具有重要意义。     

nm23-H1 expression in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma in relation to metastasis and survival

The expression of nm23-H1, product of putative metastasis suppressor gene, was evaluated immunohistochemically in 31 cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of salivary glands and correlated with their clinicopathologic features. All benign salivary gland tumors of various types, which were used as a non-metastatic control, showed obvious nm23-H1 expression. The immunoreactivity of tumor cells was stronger than that of normal salivary gland components, although the distribution patterns of positive cells considerably varied between tumor types. In ACC, 16 cases (52%) showed the reduction of nm23-H1 immunoreactivity either in positive cell frequency or staining intensity. These cases were referred to as negative cases. The incidence of negative cases was 67% (10/15) and 38% (6/16) of the cases with and without metastasis, respectively. Furthermore, metastatic tumors showed decreased immunoreactivity of this protein compared with their primary tumors. The prognosis of patients with a nm23 negative tumor was generally poorer than that with a positive tumor. These results may suggest that the reduction of nm23-H1 protein has an implication for metastasis of ACC.     

Loss of expression of the metastasis suppressor gene KiSS1 during melanoma progression and its association with LOH of chromosome 6q16.3-q23

KiSS1 is a putative melanoma metastasis suppressor gene, the expression of which may be regulated by another gene(s) mapping to chromosome 6q16.3-q23. To additionally elucidate the role of KiSS1 in the progression of human melanoma in vivo, we examined KiSS1 mRNA expression in 51 melanocytic tumors with various stages of progression by in situ hybridization. We also examined a correlation between loss of KiSS1 mRNA expression and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of 6q16.3-q23 in 27 melanoma metastases. All of the four nevocellular nevi and eight primary melanomas <4 mm in thickness showed KiSS1 mRNA expression, whereas only 50% (6 of 12) of primary melanomas >4 mm in thickness expressed KiSS1. Loss of KiSS1 mRNA was equally frequent in metastases; 44% (12 of 27) of tumors lost KiSS1 expression. LOH of 6q16.3-q23 was observed in 52% (14 of 27) of metastases. There was a strong association between LOH and loss of KiSS1 expression (P = 0.03); nine metastases with LOH of 6q16.3-q23 lost KiSS1 expression, whereas 10 tumors with no LOH showed positive KiSS1 mRNA expression. The findings in this study show, for the first time, KiSS1 down-regulation during the progression of melanoma in vivo and strongly suggest that inactivation of a tumor suppressor gene(s) mapping to 6q16.3-q23 by deletion or mutation coupled with LOH may lead to the down-regulation of KiSS1.     

Mutation of the nm23 gene, loss of heterozygosity at the nm23 locus and K-ras mutation in ovarian carcinoma: correlation with tumour progression and nm23 gene expression.

Alteration of expression levels of the nm23 genes has previously been correlated with metastatic status of ovarian epithelial carcinoma. To elucidate the relevance of the qualitative changes of the nm23 genes to progression of ovarian carcinoma and/or to nm23 expression levels of the tumour, 41 samples of epithelial ovarian tumours [three benign, three low malignant potential (LMP), and 35 frankly malignant tumours] were studied for mutation of the nm23-H1 and the nm23-H2 genes using single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. In addition, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the nm23 locus on chromosome 17q was studied by CA repeat polymorphism analysis. Mutation of the K-ras gene was also analysed in the same specimens. A novel mutation of the nm23 gene was found in one case of stage III serous carcinoma without lymph model metastases. Sequencing of the subcloned mutant cDNA revealed a missense mutation from TGG to CGG at codon 133 of the nm23-H2 gene, resulting in a change from Trp to Arg. LOH at the nm23 locus was detected in 5 of 23 (21.7%) informative cases of ovarian carcinoma. Mutation of the K-ras gene was detected in 2 of 35 (5.7%) carcinomas at codons 12 and 13 respectively. There was no correlation between clinical stage or metastatic status of ovarian carcinoma and nm23 mutation, LOH at the nm23 locus or K-ras mutation. The expression levels of both the nm23-H1 and the nm23-H2 genes were lower in the tumour with nm23-H2 mutation and higher in those with K-ras mutation. This suggests that mutation of the nm23 genes and the K-ras gene affects carcinogenesis or progression of ovarian carcinoma by modulating expression of the nm23 genes.     

An immunohistochemical study of c-erbb-2 protein in gastric carcinomas and lymph-node metastases: Is the c-erbB-2 protein really a prognostic indicator?

An immunohistochemical study of the c-erbB-2 protein was conducted on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 136 primary gastric carcinomas and 50 metastatic lymph node tumors obtained at gastrectomy. Expression of the protein was detected in 35 of 136 primary gastric carcinomas (25.7%) and 22 of 50 metastatic lymph nodes (44%). The staining pattern of tumor cells was classified as membranous or cytoplasmic. An immunohistochemical study using serially diluted antibody demonstrated that 82.6% of positive cases in metastatic lymph nodes showed c-erbB-2 immunoreactivity stronger than that in the primary tumors. Membranous staining was stronger than cytoplasmic staining. c-erbB-2 protein of the cytoplasmic as well as membranous types was confirmed to be a 185-kDa whole molecule by immunoblotting. Correlation between the expression of c-erbB-2 protein and clinical and histological parameters was investigated. No significant correlation between 5-year survival rate of patients and expression of c-erbB-2 protein was found. In the poorly differentiated carcinoma group possessing c-erbB-2 protein, overall survival was significantly shorter than in cases without protein expression ( p < 0.01). We conclude that c-erbB-2 protein is not a useful prognostic indicator in gastric carcinomas.     

Expression of nm23-Hl and nm23-H2 Proteins in Prostate Carcinoma

The nm 23 gene products/nucleoside diphosphate (NDP) kinase expression in prostate carcinomas and benign hyperplasias was evaluated immunohistochemically. Monoclonal antibodies against nm 23-H1 and nm 23-H2 proteins were prepared using the corresponding proteins fused with glutathione S-transferase as immunogens. Of the 80 cases of nonmetastatic prostate carcinoma examined, 74% (59/80) and 60% (48/80) were immunoreactive for nm 23-H1 or nm 23-H2 protein, respectively. Negative staining for nm 23-H1 occurred in 83% of metastatic lesions, while 34% were negative for nm 23-H2. All primary tumors corresponding to the metastases examined showed positive immunostaining for nm 23-H1, indicating an inverse relationship between expression of this protein and metastatic status. nm 23-H2 protein was detected in 83% of primary tumors and its expression appeared to he significantly correlated to the degree of histological differentiation. In contrast, all cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia showed elevated levels of both nm 23-H1 and nm 23-H2 expression. These data suggest that the nm 23/NDP kinase may play a role in suppressing the expression of malignant potential in prostate carcinomas.     

nm23 protein expression in colorectal carcinoma metastasis in regional lymph nodes and the liver.

AIMS: The nm23 gene has been shown to have metastasis suppressing activity and abnormalities of the gene or its expression may be important in tumour progression and dissemination. This study was set out to investigate the possible role of the nm23 in colorectal adenocarcinoma dissemination by examining the level of nm23 protein expression in colorectal carcinoma metastasis in regional lymph nodes and the liver. METHODS: Using a monoclonal antibody, NCL-nm23 (Novocastra), immunohistochemical expression of the nm23 protein was examined in cases of metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma in regional lymph nodes (n=71) and liver (n=36). RESULTS: The cases of lymph-node metastasis also had tissues from the primary carcinoma (n=71) and matching normal non-neoplastic mucosal tissues (n=71) from the colon and rectum available for the study. More than half of the cases of primary colorectal carcinoma (43/71; 60%) displayed strong nm23 immunoreactivity, with a similar proportion of the lymph-node metastases (40/71 cases; 56%) having strong nm23 immunostaining. However, only a small minority of the normal controls of non-neoplastic colorectal epithelia (12/71 cases; 17%) had strong nm23 immunoreactivity. The difference in nm23 protein expression between normal colorectal mucosa and primary colorectal carcinoma was statistically significant (P=0.0001; chi-squared test with continuity correction). However, no significant difference in nm23 protein expression was found between primary colorectal carcinoma and lymph-node metastases (P=0.81; chi-squared test with continuity correction). Most of the liver metastases (24/36 cases; 67%) had strong nm23 immunostaining but this finding was not statistically significant when compared with that seen in primary colorectal carcinoma (P=0.62; chi-squared test with continuity correction). In addition, nm23 expression was not found to significantly correlate with 5-year survival of patients with liver metastasis (P=0.86), suggesting that it had no predictive value for overall patient survival. There was also no significant correlation between disease recurrence and nm23 expression (P=0.63). CONCLUSIONS: In summary, increased nm23 protein immunoreactivity is seen in the majority of colorectal carcinomas when compared to normal colorectal tissues but no significant difference in nm23 expression was found between primary colorectal carcinoma and metastatic carcinoma in regional lymph nodes or the liver. This study suggests that increased nm23 expression may be important in early colorectal carcinoma but not in later progression and dissemination of the tumour. In conclusion, the role and importance of the nm23 gene in the development of tumour metastasis in colorectal carcinoma is questionable. Copyright Harcourt Publishers Limited.     

Expression of p27Kip1, cyclin E and E2F-1 in primary and metastatic tumors of gastric carcinoma.

The cell cycle is controlled by positive and negative regulators. Gene abnormalities and aberrant expressions of various cyclins/CDKs and CDK inhibitors may play a pivotal role in stomach carcinogenesis. To clarify the role of cyclin E, CDK inhibitor p27Kip1 and their target molecule, E2F-1 in tumor metastasis, we examined immunohistochemically the expression of cyclin E, p27Kip1 and E2F-1 in 23 gastric carcinomas and metastatic tumors of the lymph node. Most of gastric carcinomas with lymph node metastasis showed reduced p27Kip1 expression. p27Kip1 was negative in 39% (9/23) of primary tumors, while it was so in 52% (12/23) of lymph node metastases. By comparison of p27Kip1 expression in primary and metastatic tumors in individual cases, metastatic tumor cells in the lymph nodes were expressed at weaker levels than in those in primary tumors in 43% (10/23) of the cases. On the other hand, over 70% (17/23) and 50% (12/23) of the cases expressed cyclin E and E2F-1 at nearly the same levels in both primary tumor and lymph node metastasis, respectively. These results suggest that tumor cells with reduced p27Kip1 expression may selectively metastasize to lymph node or distant organs.     

E-cadherin gene (CDH1) promoter methylation as the second hit in sporadic diffuse gastric carcinoma

In diffuse gastric carcinoma, despite common E-cadherin gene (CDH1) mutations, tumors show absence of CDH1 loss of heterozigosity (LOH) in most cases. This observation challenges the classical two-hit model of tumor suppressor gene inactivation. In order to investigate whether or not CDH1 promoter methylation may function as the second hit we analysed a series of 23 sporadic gastric carcinomas for the presence of CDH1 mutations, CDH1 promoter methylation, LOH and E-cadherin expression. CDH1 mutations were detected in nine of the 16 (56.3%) diffuse gastric carcinomas and in none of the seven intestinal gastric carcinomas. In diffuse gastric carcinomas harboring CDH1 mutations, LOH was observed in a single case. Loss of plasma membrane E-cadherin expression was consistently found in all nine cases with CDH1 mutation, suggesting that tumors inactivated the remaining CDH1 allele via a different mechanism. CDH1 promoter methylation was observed in nine of the 16 (56.3%) diffuse-type gastric carcinoma cases, including six of the nine cases (66.7%) harboring CDH1 mutations. CDH1 promoter methylation was also seen in two (28.6%) intestinal-type cases. Our results show that CDH1 promoter methylation is the second hit in more than half of the sporadic diffuse gastric carcinoma cases harboring CDH1 mutations.     

TESTIN基因在原发性胃癌组织中的表达及临床意义

背景与目的:我们既往研究发现胃癌在染色体7q31区域D7S486位点存在高频杂合性缺失.人类TESTIN(TES)基因是一个定位在染色体7q31的候选抑癌基因.本研究旨在检测胃癌组织中TES基因的表达,并分析其与胃癌临床病理特征及预后的关系.方法:应用RT-PCR和免疫组化SP法检测140例胃癌组织及对应癌旁正常组织中TES的表达;应用Western blot法检测50例胃癌组织及对应癌旁正常组织中TES蛋白的表达.同时分析TES的表达与患者临床病理特征及预后的关系.结果:在140例标本中,68.6%(96/140)的胃癌组织TES mRNA表达量比对应癌旁正常组织下降;免疫组化结果显示TES在22.9%(32/140)的胃癌组织中阳性,而在癌旁正常组织中有85.7%(120/140)阳性.在50例标本中,Western blot结果显示72.0%(36/50)的胃癌组织TES蛋白表达量比对应癌旁正常组织下降.统计分析结果发现,TES的表达与胃癌分化程度有关(r=0.178,P=0.035),TES阴性患者的5年生存率差.结论:TES在胃癌中的表达量显著下降,而且与分化程度和患者预后相关,可能成为判断胃癌预后的一个有价值的分子标志.