The prognostic value of intraepithelial and stromal CD3‐, CD117‐ and CD138‐positive cells in non‐small cell lung carcinoma

Al‐Shibli K, Al‐Saad S, Andersen S, Donnem T, Bremnes RM, Busund L‐T. The prognostic value of intraepithelial and stromal CD3‐, CD117‐ and CD138‐positive cells in non‐small cell lung carcinoma. APMIS 2010; 118: 371–82. The major value of prognostic markers in potentially curable non‐small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) should be to guide therapy after surgical treatment. Although tumor‐infiltrating T lymphocytes and plasma cells have been documented in NSCLC, a clear association with clinical outcome, especially for the stromal component, has not been well established. The aim of this study was to elucidate the prognostic significance of these cells/markers in the epithelial and stromal compartments of NSCLC. Tissue microarrays from 335 resected, stage I‐IIIA, NSCLC were constructed by duplicate cores from viable neoplastic epithelial and stromal areas. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the infiltration of CD3⁺, CD117⁺ as well as CD138⁺ cells in epithelial and stromal areas. In univariate analyses, increasing numbers of stromal CD3⁺ (p = 0.001) and epithelial CD3⁺ cells (p = 0.004) correlated significantly with an improved disease‐specific survival. No such relation was noted with CD3⁺ or CD117⁺ cells. In the multivariate analysis, stromal CD3⁺ cells was an independent prognostic factor for disease‐specific survival (HR 1.925, CI 1.21–3.04, p = 0.005). Increased presence of the pan T‐cell marker, CD3, which is an independent factor, correlates with improved clinical outcome in NSCLC. This prognostic impact of T cells is clearer in the tumor stroma. Neither plasma cells nor mast cells were prognostic indicators in our cohort.     

CYSTIC FIBROSIS AND NORMAL FIBROBLASTS HAVE IDENTICAL GLUCOCORTICOID RECEPTOR PROFILES AND INDUCED PROTEIN RESPONSES

The possibility of differences in glucocorticoid sensitivity between normal and cystic fibrosis fibroblasts was studied in cultured cells derived from forearm skin biopsies. Both normal and cystic fibrosis cells bound tritiated dexamethasone with high affinity (K_d 37°C ± 10 nmol/l) to a limited class of sites (concentration ± 50,000/cell); no difference between cystic fibrosis and normal cells was seen in the nuclear transfer of receptor-bound tritiated dexamethasone. After 4 h exposure to dexamethasone and analysis of ³⁵S-methionine labelled proteins by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis, both normal and cystic fibrosis cells showed increased abundance of protein kappa (molecular weight ～ 41,000; pK_i～6.5) over non-steroid exposed gels. After 16 h exposure, in both cystic fibrosis and normal cells exposed to dexamethasone a decrease in protein omega (mol. wt ～ 42,000; pK_i～ 5.4) was seen compared with control. We interpret these data as evidence against a difference in glucocorticoid receptor or effector mechanisms between cystic fibrosis and normal fibroblasts.     

Lectin binding patterns in nonsensory regions of rat cochlea during postnatal development

The distribution of glycoconjugates was examined in the nonsensory regions of the rat cochlea during postnatal development using biotin-conjugated lectins. Temporal bones of rats at postnatal d 1 and at wk 2, 4 and 6 were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and 0.1% glutaraldehyde and processed for paraffin wax embedding. The dewaxed sections were incubated with 7 biotinylated lectins, followed by avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex. A different staining pattern was observed in the stria vascularis, spiral ligament and spiral limbus in the age groups examined. The staining intensity varied between lectins and the reaction product exhibited limited disparity. The staining intensity for WGA increased with age in all the 3 nonsensory regions. The staining patterns for the other lectins differed in the various nonsensory regions examined indicating tissue specificity. The limited variations in the lectin binding patterns after 2nd wk of postnatal life also indicate that the changes in the carbohydrate moieties are established during the fetal period of cochlear development and limited changes take place during postnatal maturation of the nonsensory regions.     

Primary Stenting of Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Stenoses: A Report of Seven Cases and Review of the Literature

Surgical revascularization for severe atherosclerotic stenoses of the infrarenal abdominal aorta is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We present our experience with percutaneous stenting as a less invasive treatment alternative in seven consecutive patients with the disease (six females, mean age: 63 ± 5). Technical success was achieved in all patients with reduction of the mean percent stenosis from 85 ± 3% down to 13 ± 2%. A total of seven stents were used; 5 Wallstents and 2 Palmaz stents. No immediate complications were observed. One patient developed left leg ischemia due to worsening of a preexisting left iliac lesion a day after the procedure and was successfully stented. All patients were asymptomatic at follow-up (mean: 27 ± 3 months). The mean ABI was 0.91 ± 0.12 and 0.94 ± 0.15 on the right and left sides, respectively. These results suggest that stenting of focal infrarenal abdominal stenoses is effective and associated with favorable late outcome