Proliferative (mib1, mdm2) versus anti-proliferative (p53) markers in head and neck cancer. An Immunohistochemical study

Formalin fixed and paraffin embedded samples from 36 squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx and the oral cavity (pT₂N₀M₀, R₀) surrounded by non-tumorous mucosa were studied immunohistochemically using a panel of four different anti-p53 antibodies (CM1, PAbl801, D07, PAb240), a monoclonal anti-mdm2 antibody and MIB1, following wet autoclave antigen retrieval. P53 immunoreactivity was detected in 11/14 laryngeal and in 9/22 oral carcinomas. All p53 positive oral, and all but one laryngeal tumors revealed mdm2 positivity as well, whereas in p53 negative tumors 4/12 and 1/3 mdm2 immunopositive cases were demonstrated, respectively. MIB1 labeling indices of the tumors ranged between 18% – 64% in p53 positive cases, and 10% – 53% in p53 negative ones. The difference was not statistically significant. Close spatial coexpression of p53, mdm2 and MIB1 immunoreactivity was observed at the invasive front of the carcinomas and in the basal and suprabasal layers of the non-tumorous epithelium in all p53 positive cases. However, the MIB1 expression was similarly increased at the invasive margins in carcinomas lacking immunohistochemically detectable p53 alterations. Our results strongly suggest that p53 overexpression does not necessarily correspond to increased rate of proliferation, but rather to mdm2 overexpression and is largely dependent on the anatomical site in case of small and localized squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck region.     

Decreased HER-2 tyrosine kinase expression in rectal mucosa of FAP patients following low-dose sulindac chemoprevention

As a part of the mechanisms of action in reversing FAP adenomas by the low-dose sulindac maintenance therapy (2 x 25 mg/patient per day), the extent of HER-2 proto-oncogene expression in the rectal mucosa seems to be of interest. Immunocytochemical analyses were performed in plasma and in rectal tissue of sulindac-treated FAP patients during an 18 months follow-up and compared with rectal tissue of patients with FAP, Crohn's disease, or rectal cancer or with healthy volunteers. HER-2 was significantly reduced and maintained in tissue under sulindac chemoprevention below base line levels of healthy individuals, but not in plasma. Therefore, a direct or indirect effect of sulindac as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor may be implicated. During NSAID treatment HER-2 protein expression as a prognostic tool seems to be of little clinical relevance.     

Das Tumorrezidiv am Hals nach papillarem Schilddrüsenkarzinom Eine statistische Analyse zur Rezidivwahrscheinlichkeit nach Radikaloperation

Zusammenfassung 308 Patienten mit papillärem Schilddrüsenkarzinom (82,6% des Gesamtkrankengutes, Operation 19522–1987), die postoperativ als tumorfrei eingestuft worden waren, wurden retrospektiv analysiert. Die Beobachtungszeit reicht von 1 Monat bis zu 29,4 Jahren (mediane Beobachtungszeit 4,58 Jahre). Bei 32 Patienten (10,4%) wurde ein Tumorrezidiv am Hals diagnostiziert (lokal und/oder regionär). 8 davon sind am Ende der Beobachtungszeit nicht tumorfrei, 6 sind am Tumor verstorben (tumorbedingte Todesrate 18,8%, relative Mortalität 66,7%, im Gesamtmaterial 2,9% bzw. 29,0%). Die kumulative Rezidivwahrscheinlichkeit beträgt 9,98% nach 5 und 16,98% nach 10 Jahren. Die statistische Analyse der Rezidivwahrscheinlichkeit erfolgte nur an Patienten, die mindestens 5 Jahre beobachtet wurden oder innerhalb dieses Zeitraumes verstarben. Als Einflußgrößen wurden neben Alter and Geschlecht, tumorstadium und histologische Kriterien des Tumors berücksichtigt. Als bestimmend für das Auftreten eines Rezidivs nach 5 Jahren Beobachtungszeit erweisen sich der Status der regiondren Lymphknoten, der Differenzierungsgrad des Tumors und das Geschlecht der Patienten. Zur Verbesserung der Rezidivrate wird eine abgestufte therapeutische Radikalität in Abhängigkeit von den Einflußgrößen empfohlen.

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Cervical tumour recurrence after papillary thyroid carcinoma. A statistical analysis on the recurrence after potentially curative surgery

Summary 308 cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma (82.6% of our patients operated on between 1952 and 1987) who had undergone potentially curative surgery were analysed postoperatively. The follow-up ranges from 1 month to 29.4 years (median 4.58 years). In 32 cases (10.4%) a cervical tumour recurrence (local recurrence and/or cervical lymph nodes) was found. 8 of these are not free of tumour at the end of the follow-up, 6 had died of thyroid carcinoma (case fatality rate 18.8%, mortality rate 66.7%, in the entire material 2.9% and 29.0% respectively). The cumulative recurrence rate is 9.98% after 5 years and 16.98% after 10 years. A statistical analysis of the probability of recurrence was carried out only for patients who could be followed at least 5 years or those who died within 5 years. Age, sex, stage of tumour and histological criteria were taken into account as statistical variables. The state of cervical lymph nodes, the differentiation of the tumour and the patients' sex turned out to be determining factors for tumour recurrence after 5 years. In order to improve the recurrence rate a differentiated surgical radicality, depending on the above mentioned variables, is recommended.

     

Mikrochirurgie lumbaler Bandscheibenvorfälle Üerlegene Ergebnisse der Mikrochirurgie im Vergleich zu Standard- und perkutanen Verfahren (Literaturübersicht)

In a meta-analysis of 69 prospective and retrospective studies, we investigated the value of various surgical techniques in the treatment of lumbar disk herniations. This analysis includes standard diskectomy (5080 patients from nine series), microdiskectomy (5354/23), and comparison of both techniques (2494/10) and furthermore chemonucleolysis (2729/16), laser therapy (881/3), percutaneous nucleotomy (3506/18), comparisons of percutaneous techniques (942/5) with microdiskectomies (561/5) and standard diskectomies (1020/6). Outcomes were rated according to Macnab's criteria: I "excellent", II "good", III "improved", IV "same as before", V "worse", I/II "markedly improved", III "partially improved", IV/V "not improved", I-III "successful", and IV/V "unsuccessful". Results after microdiskectomy were "successful" more often (90% vs. 95%), "good/excellent" more often (82% vs. 73%), and patients left the hospital sooner than with standard diskectomy. Recurrence rates were comparable (4%). Results of both open techniques were clearly superior to those from any type of percutaneous treatment: chemonucleolysis und laser therapy were "successful" in 69% and 70% of cases respectively, with recurrence rates of 17% and 18%, endoscopic nucleotomy was "successful" in 84% of cases, and recurrence rate was 14%. Please ask the author for the reference database.     

Endourologische Operationstechniken bei interstitieller Zystitis

Endourological surgical procedures (transurethral resection and fulguration, Nd-YAG-laser application) for the treatment of interstitial cystitis (IC) have been evaluated only in a few studies. Theoretically, they could be the next step in a therapeutic concept after conservative measures have failed and before open surgery is performed as an ultima ratio. However, our review of the literature suggests that to date there is no scientific evidence to support endourological techniques in the treatment of IC.     

Vom Antigen zum Tumormarker Forschungsergebnisse zu PSA und ihre klinische Umsetzung

The determination of prostate-specific antigen is credited with dramatic advances in the early detection of men with prostatic carcinoma. This report summarizes the history of biochemical research and current status of prostate-specific antigen in tumor diagnostics.     

Five meters of H(2)O: the pressure at the urinary bladder neck during human ejaculation

BACKGROUND: There are no data in the literature on pressure changes in the prostatic urethra during ejaculation. In healthy men, it has always been postulated that there must be a pressure gradient in order to prevent retrograde ejaculation, but scientific proof for that is pending. METHODS: In five healthy male volunteers, the pressure profile in the prostatic urethra was registered during ejaculation, using a 10 French balloon catheter with 16 pressure channels. The channels were arranged in pairs at 5-mm intervals, beginning just below the balloon at the bladder neck and extending down to the external urethral sphincter. RESULTS: In the proximal part of the prostatic urethra, a pressure of up to 500 cm of H(2)O was measured in all subjects. Contrary to that, pressures did not exceed 400 cm of H(2)O distally to the verumontanum. CONCLUSIONS: A novel method to register the pressure profile in the lower urinary tract during ejaculation (ejaculomanometry) is presented. This study adds to the knowledge of the normal physiology of reproductive function and may be useful in the evaluation of male sexual and reproductive disorders.     

Pure primary choriocarcinoma of the urinary bladder with long-term survival

Choriocarcinoma was diagnosed in a 77-year-old woman with an acute massive, painless hematuria. One year after anterior pelvic exenteration and ileal conduit, the beta-human chorionic gonadotropin level increased to 934 mIU/mL without any sign of tumor progression. After six courses of chemotherapy (vincristine, actinomycin, and cyclophosphamide), the beta-human chorionic gonadotropin levels returned to normal. To our knowledge, this is the fourth case of pure choriocarcinoma in the bladder, with the longest survival time of 33 months so far.     

Die kongenitale Tibiapseudarthrose

Congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia (CPT) is one of the most challenging conditions in paediatric orthopaedics. The history of CPT treatment is characterised by repeatedly ineffective surgical interventions with the inevitable outcome of severe disability. Most procedures failed to account for the complexity of the problem. The past two decades have witnessed more experience having been gained with the Ilizarov technique. This method provides a comprehensive approach to all aspects of CPT problem, allowing the surgeon to simultaneously address the problems of union as well as those of deformity, length discrepancy joint function, ankle valgus and weight bearing. It appears that the goal to achieve stable fusion before the child begins school is attainable. In the pre-pseudoarthrotic stage, bracing should be preferred to surgery until the patient is in an older age group. This study reports on the results of 19 patients: 15 have finished treatment, and 14 of them with a stable fusion at follow-up. The results were highly encouraging in reaching the ultimate goal of avoiding amputation and achieving a well-functioning limb.