P-glycoprotein expression in soft-tissue sarcomas

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is an important problem in chemotheraphy for neoplastic disease. In humans, MDR is mainly mediated by P-glycoprotein (P-gp), a product of theMDR1 gene, which acts as a transmembrane protein pump and eliminates chemotherapeutic agents from the cells. Expression of P-gp was immunohistochemically studied by using two monoclonal antibodies, JSB-1 and C-219, on paraffin-embedded sections from 55 patients with soft-tissue sarcoma. The histological diagnosis of tumors was malignant fibrous histiocytoma in 24 cases, liposarcoma in 9, synovial sarcoma in 7, malignant neurogenic tumors in 6, leiomyosarcoma in 5, others in 4. The histological grade was determined on the basis of criteria previously proposed by us. Out of 55 cases, 34 (62%) were positive for P-gp expression. There was a significant difference in P-gp expression between high-grade (90%) and intermediate and low-grade tumors (46%) (P<0.005). Tumors expressing P-gp had a less favorable prognosis than P-gp-negative tumors in the high- and intermediate-grade tumors. The current study demonstrated that the estimation of P-gp expression could be used to select appropriate therapeutic modalities.Abbreviations MDR multidrug resistance - P-gp P-glyco-protein     

The effect of external gamma-irradiation on 59Fe release in vitro from alveolar macrophages previously having ingested 59Fe-iron hydroxide colloid

The effect of external gamma-irradiation on the digestive function of rat alveolar macrophages (AM) was studied by using the in vitro assay system, where the 59Fe release from AM engulfing 59Fe-iron hydroxide colloid was measured as an indicator of their digestive capability. Graded doses of gamma-irradiation up to 100 Gy had no effect on the extracellular release of 59Fe in AM cultured at 4 and 37 degrees C for 8-72 hrs postirradiation. When 10 mM Ca-DTPA was added to the culture medium, the 59Fe release was slightly depressed by irradiation at a dose of 30 Gy. It is apparent from these results that gamma-irradiation had no effect on the 59Fe transfer between cell and medium, and little effect on the catabolism of 59Fe-colloid in rat AM.     

Urinary bladder carcinoma producing granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF): A case report with immunohistochemistry

A rare case of urinary bladder carcinoma with granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) production was reported. In an 83-year-old female, marked neutrophilia in the peripheral blood decreased from 132,500/mm³ to 3,300/mm³ after tumour resection. The tumour was a transitional cell carcinoma. The serum G-CSF level reduced from 238 pg/ml pre-operatively to normal (60 pg/ml) after the operation. Immunohistochemical investigation of the resected tumour with monoclonal antibody specific for G-CSF revealed positive staining in the carcinoma cells, confirming G-CSF secretion.     

Study of para-aortic lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer subjected to superextensive lymph node dissection

Para-aortic lymph nodes (n4), were dissected out to the technical extreme (superextensive lymph node dissection) from 129 gastric cancer cases, and were subjected to the histological study for metastasis. Following observations led us to the conclusions in reference to the significance of n4 node dissections on curability of surgery. 1) Among 25 cases with n4(+) metastasis n3 was free [n3(-)] in 11 cases (44.0%). 2) ps(+) cancer presented high rate of n4(+) (31.5%). 3) n4(+) occurred irrespective of the location of the cancer, with particularly high rate of occurrence among CMA and cancers. 4) The rate of the metastasized lymph nodes to the total number of the n4 lymph nodes, was found low (34.9%) in cases with n3(-), and high (90.1%) with n3(+). 5) The cumulative survival rate of the cases with n4(+) was found significantly high with n3(-), as compared to n3(+) cases. The lymphatic drainage from the stomach seems more direct and/or more abundant to the n4 than to the n3 nodes. Such observation coincides with our experience that the n4 nodes are involved in metastasis in earlier timing and in higher incidence than n3 nodes. These results warn the present evaluation of curability in which the n4 node dissection is not performed. It is our opinion that the thorough dissection extended to the n4 nodes (superextensive lymph node dissection) is warranted, particularly in order to improve the curability of n3(-)-n4(+) cases.     

Carcinoma of the main hepatic duct junction: indications, operative morbidity and mortality, and long-term survival

Carcinoma of the main hepatic duct junction tends to spread extensively along the hepatic ducts into the liver parenchyma. Therefore extensive resection of the bile ducts combined with hepatic resection is the procedure of choice. Between January 1973 and April 1989, 25 of 50 patients with this type of carcinoma underwent resection, a resectability rate of 50%. One patient died of staphylococcal sepsis on the postoperative day 42 after right trisegmentectomy and resection of the bile ducts, a hospital death rate of 4%. Twenty-four patients were discharged from the hospital. The 5-year actuarial survival rate calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method was 19%. Four patients lived longer than 5 years after surgery; the longest survival was 9 years after right trisegmentectomy and resection of the bile ducts. These four patients had clear margins at the resected bile ducts. This article was designed to clarify the point at issue by presenting our results in terms of indications, operative morbidity and mortality, and long-term survival.     

Hypoosmotic swelling test of sperm

For the diagnosis and evaluation of the therapy for male infertility and for predicting the outcome of AIH and IVF-ET, technically simple, replicable tests that can be performed virtually anywhere and that have definite reliability are required. The results of the HOS test correlate well with the functions of the sperm cell membrane, indicating such aspects as motility, and it is thought to be a particularly effective test of human sperm fertility. Because the HOS test reflects the functions and integrity of the sperm cell membrane, it should be possible to use it to predict the potential for fertilization of frozen sperm.     

Immunohistochemical Study of Colorectal Polyps with Antibodies against CEA,CA19-9, CA125, CA15-3 (DF3), PCNA and p53

Abstract: We analyzed the expression of CEA, CA19-9, CA125, CA15-3 (DF3), PCNA and p53 immunohistochemically in 14 tissue specimens of mucosal cancers in adenoma, seven tubulovillous adenoma specimens, and 16 tubular adenoma specimens. The rates of positive staining for mucosal cancer in adenoma, tubulovillous adenoma and tubular adenoma specimens, respectively, were: for CEA: 100%, 85.7% and 75%; for CA19-9: 71.4%, 71.4% and 56.2%; for CA125:0%, 0% and 0%;for CA15-3 (DF3): 64.3 %, 0% and 0 %; for PCNA: 100%, 88.9% and 56.2%; and for p53: 35.7%, 0% and 0% . The results suggest that the expressions of CEA, CA19-9, CA15-3 (DF3), PCNA and p53 are related to colorectal tumorigenesis. None of the specimens studied showed staining for CA125, suggesting that CA125 is not involved in the early stages of colorectal carcinogenesis. There was no significant difference in the rates of positive staining for CEA and CA19-9 among mucosal cancer in adenoma, tubular adenoma and tubulovillous adenoma specimens. However, the rates of positive staining for PCNA and p53 were significantly higher in mucosal cancer in adenoma specimens than for tubular adenoma specimens (p<0.05), and the rate of CA15-3 (DF3) positive staining was significantly higher for mucosal cancer in adenoma than for tubulovillous adenoma (p<0.01) and tubular adenoma (p< 0.001) specimens. Therefore, the CA15-3 (DF3) antigen is an immunohistochemical marker for colorectal carcinomas. The present results suggest that CA15-3 (DF3), PCNA and p53 play important roles in the genesis of colorectal adenomas.