p16 inactivation in small-sized lung adenocarcinoma: its association with poor prognosis.

p16, an inhibitor of cell cycle machinery, is frequently inactivated in non-small cell carcinoma of the lung (NSCCL). To clarify the significance of p16 inactivation in the progression of lung adenocarcinoma, we immunohistochemically evaluated p16 protein status and Rb, p53 and cyclin D1 expression in 51 surgically resected adenocarcinomas that were less than 3 cm in diameter (median follow-up period: 52.5 months).

High K-ras mutation rates in goblet-cell-type adenocarcinomas of the lungs.

Adenocarcinomas of the lungs show a variable histology. We have subclassified such lesions into five cell types: hobnail, columnar, polygonal, mixed and goblet cell types, and investigated their relationships with K-ras mutations. Codons 12, 13 and 61 of the K-ras gene in 120 surgically resected pulmonary adenocarcinomas were examined by the mutation-allele-specific amplification method.

Subcutaneous sarcomas of probable neuronal origin in a transgenic mouse strain containing an albumin promoter-fused simian virus 40 large T antigen gene.

Frequent development of subcutaneous neurogenic sarcomas was observed in a hepatocellular carcinoma-producing transgenic mouse strain harboring an albumin-promoted simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen gene. Found unexpectedly in 19 out of 306 mice (6.2%) by 6 months of age, all the sarcomas were similar and were characterized as neurogenic on the basis of histological features including Homer-Wright type rosette formation, the presence of dense core granules of 100-200 nm diameter under the electron microscope, expression of neuron specific enolase, S-100 protein, and catecholamines, and nerve cell-like differentiation in culture in response to But2cAMP.

Mucosal spreading adenocarcinoma at the hilar portion of the lung.

The first case of mucosal spreading adenocarcinoma at the hilum of the lung is presented. The patient was a 72 year old Japanese male smoker. The carcinoma was located at the right main bronchus with involvement of the apical, posterior and anterior segmental bronchi.

Immunophenotypic and molecular analysis of a case of lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia.

A case of lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia was studied immunophenotypically and with molecular methods in order to clarify its lymphocytic clonality. The patient, a 43 year old Japanese female, underwent lobectomy for a suspected malignant lymphoma as no clear diagnosis could be made from the biopsy specimen. An ill-demarcated, yellowish and elastic firm lesion measuring 60 x 35 x 20 mm in size was located in the peripheral part of the middle lobe of the right lung.