Serum fucosyl transferase activity and serum fucose levels as diagnostic tools in malignancy

Glycoproteins play a significant role in neoplastic transformations. Both the levels of fucose and the activity of fucosyl transferase, which mediates the assembly of the oligosaccharide moieties of the glycoprotein chains, have been found to be elevated in neoplastic conditions. Since these elevations are common features of a variety of neoplastic cells, these two have been designated as non-specific markers of malignancy. In the present study, the fucose level and fucosyl transferase activity were determined in the sera of cancer patients and an attempt was made to establish a relationship between the two. It was found that both the fucose levels and fucosyl transferase activities showed considerable elevation in the five cancer groups studied, establishing them as useful diagnostic parameters. However, it was also observed that the rate of increased fucosyl transferase activity was not fully reflected in the resulting serum fucose levels in a few cases.     

A study of the determination of serum fucose concentrations

We examined the biochemical properties of reaction products during the procedure for serum fucose determination (Dische & Shettles). The optical density at 396 nm (OD396) of the reaction products increased linearly with the increment of fucose concentrations, and was stable for at least 210-240 min at room temperature. The reaction products were destroyed with the addition of distilled water. Sephadex G-200 gel chromatography of the mixed serum samples revealed a single peak of fucose in the void volume fractions. Of interest was the presence of trace amounts of fucose detected in the low-molecular weight fractions less than 66,000, suggesting the presence of free fucose in the serum. Based on these observations, the method for serum fucose determination was modified so it was possible to use 100 microliters of the serum sample. The mean serum fucose concentration, measured by this modified method, was 561.0 +/- 191.1 mumol/l (9.1 +/- 3.1 mg/dl) in normal healthy children. In patients with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, the values were significantly higher both at relapse and in remission than those in normal healthy children.     

A study of the value and prognostic significance of mucin staining in squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix

One hundred and eighty-one cases of squamous carcinoma of the uterine cervix, which had been retrieved from the archives of Aberdeen Royal Hospital, from 1974 to 1988, were stained with periodic acid-Schiff following diastase and alcian blue to ascertain the value and prognostic significance of demonstrating the presence of mucin. Each case was typed and graded on a representative haematoxylin and eosin section, while the age at diagnosis, stage and survival (within a minimum five year follow-up) was obtained from examination of hospital case notes and death certificates. The data was analysed by Cox regression which revealed that the demonstration of mucin, either by both stains or only one method, had no bearing on prognosis. On this basis, it is concluded that routine mucin staining of squamous carcinomas of the uterine cervix is not justified.     

A new type of papillomavirus associated with cancer of the uterine cervix

A new human papillomavirus (HPV) type was detected by low-stringency Southern blot hybridization analysis of DNA from an endocervical adenocarcinoma. The genomic DNA of the virus, which was obtained as two BamHI fragments of 3.75 and 4.1 kb, was molecularly cloned into lambda L47 and subsequently subcloned into pBR322 for further characterization. Hybridization studies demonstrated that these viral DNA isolates were only distantly related to other HPV and thus represented a new type of HPV, called HPV 35. A restriction enzyme map was prepared which allowed a comparison of the genetic organization of this HPV with that of HPV 6b; the results demonstrated collinearity of the HPV 35 genome with that of HPV 6b. Prevalence studies revealed that HPV 35 was present in 2 of 158 (1%) anogenital intraepithelial neoplasia and in 3 of 69 (4%) anogenital cancers. Thus HPV 35 is a low-prevalence human papillomavirus associated with anogenital intraepithelial neoplasia and cancer.     

A clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study of minimal deviation adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix

Objective

To investigate the clinical, pathological and immunohistochemical features of minimal deviation adenocarcinoma (MDA) of the uterine cervix by conducting a retrospective study of 25 cases consecutively treated in three institutes over a 10 years period.

Methods

Of 25 cases with MDA, clinical features were retrospectively reviewed, gross and micro appearances of surgical specimens of 17 operative cases were observed. Ki67, SMA, p53, PCNA, Vimentin, CEA, ER, CA125 and PR were detected on tissues from MDA and 50 cases common adenocarcinomas of the uterine cervix (AUCs) (differentiation rank: high 16, moderate 20, low 14). Their expressions were assessed in paraffin sections using the immunohistochemistry method.

Results

MDA accounted for only 1.2% of adenocarcinomas of the uterine cervix. The main clinical manifestations were vaginal profuse, watery or mucoid discharge and irregular bleeding. Signs were cervical hypertrophy or thickening. The gross appearance showed many similarities with common AUCs. Immunohistochemical results: the positive rates for p53 and Ki67 in >50% of the cell nuclei (Ki67/50⁺) were 88% and 64% in MDA respectively, significantly higher than common AUCs (38%, 18%, P < 0.01), CA 125 was 18% in MDA, clearly lower than common AUCs (58%, P < 0.01). There was no difference between MDA and common AUCs for CEA, PR, Vimentin, ER, PCNA and SMA (P > 0.05). No significant difference was noticed among the high, moderate and low differentiation groups in common AUCs (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

For early stage diagnoses, MDA should be considered when cervical hypertrophy is present in patients complaining of a vaginal profuse watery or mucoid discharge and irregular bleeding. Positive immunohistochemical staining for p53, Ki67/50⁺ and negative for CA125 can assist diagnosis and discrimination.     

宫颈微偏腺癌的临床病理分析

目的探讨宫颈微偏腺癌的临床及病理形态特征、诊断要点及有辅助诊断意义的免疫组织化学指标,以提高及时诊断的准确性.方法收集13例诊断为宫颈微偏腺癌的临床病理资料,分析其特征,5例作免疫组织化学(LDP法)和组织化学(Foot)染色(以正常宫颈腺体为对照);随访其疗效.结果临床主要表现为水样白带,宫颈肥大,增粗变硬和糜烂,宫旁韧带增厚或硬.病理特征为腺体增生,有轻度异型性,有向间质浸润的反应,或浸至宫颈间质层.癌胚抗原3+,Ki-67+～3+,p53蛋白+～3+,AB/PAS+或2+,Foot染色腺体基底膜部分缺失.结论诊断宫颈微偏腺癌应结合临床表现,指出宫颈腺体有无不典型增生,并深取组织(>5 mm)或高频电力锥切宫颈活检,可及时诊断,防止漏诊.     

人宫颈癌的免疫组织化学分析

本文报道应用抗小鼠宫颈癌单克隆抗体(Au_(14-1))对12例人的宫颈癌和7例人的正常宫颈组织的福尔马林固定石蜡切片作PAP染色,结果其中11例宫颈癌标本呈阳性反应(11/12),正常宫颈标本全部为阴性(0/7);表明小鼠和人的宫颈癌细胞表面共同具有一种肿瘤抗原决定簇;作者对这种抗原进行了讨论,提出了进化抗原的理论。     

Tissue doses from radiotherapy of cancer of the uterine cervix

For use in an epidemiologic study of subsequent tumors, absorbed doses from brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy were measured and calculated for various tissues of patients treated for cancer of the uterine cervix. External beams included orthovoltage x rays (1.9 and 3.0 mm Cu half-value layer), cobalt-60 gamma rays, 2 MV x rays, and 25 MV X rays. The brachytherapy sources were encapsulated radium. Measurements were made in an Alderson anthropomorphic phantom and a water phantom; calculations were made using a Monte Carlo technique or standard radiotherapy methods. Depending upon stage of disease and radiation energy, the absorbed doses (cGy) from typical treatment regimes to tissues of interest were: ovaries, 1400-5200; stomach, 130-320; kidneys, 120-310; pancreas, 100-260; lungs 22-48; breasts, 19-52; thyroid, 6-17; salivary glands, 4-11; brain, 2-7, and total active bone marrow, 320-1100. The lower values of each range were for stage I of the disease.     

Clinicopathological study of role of CD34 expressions in the stroma of premalignant and malignant lesions of uterine cervix

CD34 is a transmembrane glycoprotein that is thought to be involved in the modulation of cell adhesion and signal transduction. The connective tissue stroma of virtually all human organs contain large amounts of resident CD34+ fibrocytes, which are involved in multiple functions such as wound healing, secretion of cytokines and also participate in stromal remodeling. It has been seen in various studies that absence of CD34+ fibrocytes within the stroma is associated with invasive carcinomas. In our study, we also investigated the presence and distribution of CD34+ fibrocytes in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, invasive cervical carcinoma and adjacent normal cervical stroma. It was seen that normal cervical stroma and the stroma adjacent to cervical intra epithelial lesions harbours a dense meshwork of CD34+ fibrocytes, whereas the stroma of invasive carcinoma was nearly devoid of this cell population. Early stromal invasion by squamous carcinoma was characterized by a focal loss of CD34+ fibrocytes. This can be used as a sensitive tool in detecting tiny foci of stromal invasion in early cancer.     

Decrease in platelet serotonin level in uterine cervix cancer patients

Platelet serotonin (5-HT) concentration was measured by HPLC with electrochemical detection in 46 women suffering from cancer of the uterine cervix and 16 matched controls. About 53% reduction (p < 0.05) was recorded in platelet 5-HT level in cancer patients against a control value of 1.29 +/- 0.16 (mean +/- S.E.) nmol per 10(9) platelets. Depletion of intraplatelet 5-HT was positively correlated with clinical stage of the disease although a modest rise (p > 0.05) in platelet 5-HT was observed in patients at stage I. Serotonin release from platelets following activation with thrombin was considerably increased in cancer patients (38.2% compared to 17.4% in controls). The results demonstrate progressive depletion of intraplatelet 5-HT in cervical cancer patients. In addition, their platelets release more 5-HT than the controls upon activation by thrombin.