Pleuropulmonary desmoid tumors: immunohistochemical comparison with solitary fibrous tumors and assessment of beta-catenin and cyclin D1 expression.

Context: Desmoid tumors arising in the lung and pleura are extremely rare and can resemble other, more common neoplasms native to these sites. Alterations of the adenomatous polyposis coli/beta-catenin pathway have been detected in sporadic desmoid tumors and have been associated with nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin and overexpression of cyclin D1.

Objective: To analyze the expression of beta-catenin and cyclin D1 in desmoid tumors and solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs), and to compare the utilities of these substances for distinguishing between these entities with those of other, more commonly used stains.

Increased expression of alpha-1-antitrypsin, glutathione S-transferase pi and vascular endothelial growth factor in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Background: This study was designed to investigate abnormalities in gene expression in ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas using cDNA arrays.

Methods: Gene expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma was compared with normal pancreatic tissue controls. Specimens from 5 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma were taken fresh at operation and analyzed using commercially prepared cDNA arrays evaluating approximately 2,000 genes.