Genomic alterations in primary cutaneous melanomas detected by metaphase comparative genomic hybridization with laser capture or manual microdissection: 6p gains may predict poor outcome

To clarify the correlation of genomic alterations with clinical and histological features, we performed metaphase comparative genomic hybridization analysis on 20 primary cutaneous melanomas, which were obtained by laser capture or manual microdissection, and 16 melanoma cell lines. There were no differences in the average number of aberrations between acral melanomas (AM) and non-AM, although gains of 5q and 11q13 were more frequent (P=0.05) and 10q loss was less frequent (P=0.01) in AM than in non-AM. Although tumor thickness is considered a measurable estimate of clinical expression, there were no differences in the average number of aberrations among 4 groups, classified by thickness of the tumor. While the majority of aberrations were equally distributed among the 4 groups, 6p gains were found only in the thickest tumors. Patients with 6p or 1q gains had a lower overall survival rate than those without them (P=0.0002 or P=0.013). While gains of 1q, 2q, 3p, 3q, 7q, 20p, and 20q were more frequent in the cell lines than in the primary tumors (P<0.01), losses of 6q, 9p, 10p, and 10q were equally found in both cell lines and primary tumors. The present study showed that chromosomal aberrations had already occurred in the thinner tumors, and that 6p and 1q gains may be a prognostic factor.     

Ossifying fibromyxoid tumor of soft parts. Cytogenetic findings

Ossifying fibromyxoid tumor (OFMT) of soft parts is a recently described, rare but morphologically distinctive soft tissue tumor. The histogenesis of this lesion remains uncertain, although several immunohistochemical and ultrastructural features suggest that it is an unusual neural tumor, possibly of Schwann cell origin. We report here a case of a malignant variant of OFMT that occurred in the foot of a 52-year-old man. The karyotype of a pulmonary metastasis exhibited the following complex numeric and structural aberrations:72 approximately 74,XXY,-5,+6,+del(8)(p21),del(9)(p22),+10,der(11)t(3;11)(p21;p15),del(12) (q13),der(13)t(5;13)(q13;q34),+18,+19,+20,-22 [cp10]. A kidney metastasis exhibited the following karyotypic abnormalities: 46,XY,add(3)(p11),+der(3)t(3;?;11)(3qter-->3p11::?::11q13-->11qter), -5,del(8)(p21),add(9)(q22),del(9)(p22),der(11)t(3;11)(p21;p15),del(12)(q13),+der(13)t(5;13) (q13;q34),-22. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of OFMT in which clonal chromosomal aberrations have been shown.     

Isolation and phenogenetics of a novel circadian rhythm mutant in zebrafish

Widespread use of zebrafish (Danio rerio) in genetic analysis of embryonic development has led to rapid advances in the technology required to generate, map and clone mutated genes. To identify genes involved in the generation and regulation of vertebrate circadian rhythmicity, we screened for dominant mutations that affect the circadian periodicity of larval zebrafish locomotor behavior. In a screen of 6,500 genomes, we recovered 8 homozygous viable, semi-dominant mutants, and describe one of them here. The circadian period of the lager and lime (lag(dg2)) mutant is shortened by 0.7 h in heterozygotes,and 1.3 h in homozygotes. This mutation also shortens the period of the melatonin production rhythm measured from cultured pineal glands, indicating that the mutant gene product affects circadian rhythmicity at the tissue level, as well as at the behavioral level. This mutation also alters the sensitivity of pineal circadian period to temperature, but does not affect phase shifting responses to light. Linkage mapping with microsatellite markers indicates that the lag mutation is on chromosome 7. A zebrafish homolog of period1(per1) is the only known clock gene homolog that maps near the lag locus. However, all sequence variants found in per1 cDNA from lag(dg2) mutants are also present in wild type lines, and we were unable to detect any defect in per1 mRNA splicing, so this mutation may identify a novel clock gene.     

Renal primitive neuroectodermal tumor: An immunohistochemical and cytogenetic analysis

The cytogenetic and morphologic characteristics of a case with a primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) arising from the left kidney in a 22 year old man are presented. The patient was detected as having a left renal mass with a tumor embolus In the inferior vena cava and multiple pulmonary metastases. A radical nephrectomy with tumor embolectomy of the Inferior vena cava, along with a resection of the pulmonary nodules were performed. Histologic examination revealed a dense proliferation of small round cells with many Homer-Wright type rosettes and perlvascular pseudo-rosettes. Immunohlstochemically, the tumor cells stained strongly positive for HBA71(p30/32^{M IC2}), a surface glycopro-teln specific to PNET and Ewlng's sarcoma. In addition, the tumor cells expressed several neural markers (neuron specific enolase, neurofilament, synaptophysin, and Leu-7) and vimentin, while the epithelial, muscular, and lymphocytlc markers were negative in the tumor cells. Cytogenetic analysis of cultured tumor cells showed a reciprocal translocation t(11; 22)(q24; q12) that is considered to be specific to PNET and Ewing's sarcoma. In conclusion, this case suggested that a karyotyping analysis is a useful diagnostic tool for renal PNET, and it may therefore be utilized to help distinguish between difficult cases of small round cell tumors and Wilms' tumor of the kidney.     

Further Survey of Aflatoxin M1 in Milk Powders by ELISA

A survey of AFM₁ residues in 58 commercial milk powder samples was carried out using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on a monoclonal antibody against aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁). The samples were collected from the USA (10), China (28), Italy (14), New Zealand (3) and Poland (3). The ELISA was performed without the need for clean‐up procedures. The data revealed that 4 (US), 21 (Chinese) and 1 (Polish) samples were positive for AFM₁, with an average of 95.5, 102.8 and 85.0 pg g^‐1 of the AFM₁respectively.     

A comparative immunohistochemical study of Kuru and senile plaques with a special reference to glial reactions at various stages of amyloid plaque formation.

The authors examined 10 patients with Gerstmann-Sträussler syndrome or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and 10 with Alzheimer''s disease (AD). Immunohistochemistry using anti-prion protein (PrP) and anti-beta/A4 protein (beta/A4) coupled with formic acid pretreatment could detect Congophilic and non-Congophilic deposits. Prion protein deposits were classified into five types and compared with types of beta/A4 deposits. Kuru plaques with multicentric cores and fine granular deposits were a characteristic feature of PrP deposits. Some types of PrP or beta/A4 deposits depend on the anatomic sites. To clarify the relationship of microglia and astrocytes to PrP or beta/A4 deposits, double-immunostaining method was performed. In both kuru and senile plaques, microglia were closely linked to the Congophilic plaques. Astrocytes, however, extended their processes toward the plaques even in the non-Congophilic plaques. These observations strongly suggest that similar glial association with plaque formation may be involved in both kuru and senile plaques, although the amyloid core proteins differ.     

Effects of Lentinan on Cytotoxic Functions of Human Lymphocytes

The in vitro effects of lentinan on natural killer (NK), antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), lectin-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (LDCC) and mitogen-induced blast transformation were studied in patients with solid tumors and chroyic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). NK activity was measured against Cr-labelled K-562 targets, ADCC against antibody-coated chicken red cells. LDCC and natural cell-mediated cytotoxicity (NCMC) was assessed using ³H-thymidine prelabelled HEp-2 targets. Mitogen (PHA-and Con A-) induced blast transformation was measured by thymidine incorporation.

Blastogenesis and LDCC was not influenced by lentinan. 1 μg/ml lentinan increased NCMC of tumor-bearing subjects. The most prominent enhancement of NK and ADCC activity was seen in CLL patients, where a dose-related increase was seen (from 0.01 to 1 μg/ml).     

Transforming growth factor J3 type II receptor (TGFpRII) mutation in gastric lymphoma without mutator phenotype

A new mutation in the serine-threonine klnase domain of the transforming growth factor β type II receptor (TGFpRII) was found in a case of diffuse, B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the stomach. A mfssense mutation (ACA to GCA, Thr to Ala) was detected In exon 5, and a wild type allele was also present. This Is the first naturally occurring mutation in the klnase domain of this gene identified in human primary lymphoma. The replication error at three loci was negative, and the poly A tract of exon 3, which is frequently a target of mismatch repair genes, was intact. Malignant lymphoma of B cell origin in the stomach Is an addition to an expanding catalogue of tumors with TGFβRII alterations, and the biological sequelae of the change in the functional domain and the clinical characteristics of the patient in this study are intriguing.