Widespread molecular alterations present in stage I non-small cell lung carcinoma fail to predict tumor recurrence.

Stage I non-small cell carcinoma (NSCLC) of the lung is typically treated with surgery alone, but with a 30 to 40% recurrence rate. Prognostic factors to stratify these patients into high- and low-risk groups would be of significant clinical value, but published data are conflicting. We studied 39 Stage I NSCLC treated with resection alone, followed for a minimum of 5 years, and divided into recurrent (RC) and non-recurrent (NRC) groups (n = 12 and 27, respectively).

Idiopathic bronchiolocentric interstitial pneumonia.

The authors report 10 patients with a distinctive idiopathic bronchiolocentric interstitial pneumonia having some histologic similarities to hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Bronchiolocentric interstitial pneumonia has a marked predilection for women (80%) and occurs in middle age (40-50 years). Chest radiographs and pulmonary function tests show interstitial and restrictive lung disease, while the histologic appearance is that of a centrilobular inflammatory process with small airway fibrosis and inflammation that radiates into the interstitium of the distal acinus in a patchy fashion.

Small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma displays unique profiles of tumor-suppressor gene loss in relationship to the primary site of formation.

Small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNC) is a well characterized malignancy with distinctive cellular morphology and aggressive biologic behavior most frequently encountered in the lung but also noted for origin from other sites. The basis for this difference in incidence and the impact of primary site location on the molecular pathogenesis of the neoplasm is not well understood. To address this issue and to identify reliable molecular markers of potential diagnostic value for primary site localization of this tumor, we have compared the genetic profile of cancer-related gene damage of SCNC arising from a variety of organ sites.

Molecular pathogenesis of pulmonary carcinosarcoma as determined by microdissection-based allelotyping.

Pulmonary carcinosarcoma is a rare, biphasic tumor composed of malignant epithelial and mesenchymal elements. Its histogenesis is controversial in light of the presence of divergent cell lineages and the clonal nature of malignancy. To address these issues, we performed an extensive comparative genotypic analysis using microdissection to secure representative mesenchymal and epithelial components from each of six cases of pulmonary carcinosarcoma.

Col1a1-driven transgenic markers of osteoblast lineage progression.

The modular organization of the type I collagen promoter allows creation of promoter-reporter constructs with preferential activity in different type I collagen-producing tissues that might be useful to mark cells at different stages of osteoblastic differentiation. Primary marrow stromal cell (MSC) and mouse calvarial osteoblast (mCOB) cultures were established from transgenic mice harboring different Col1a1 promoter fragments driving chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT). In these models, Col1a1 messenger RNA (mRNA) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) are the first markers of differentiation appearing soon after the colonies develop.

Postoperative fluorescence bronchoscopic surveillance in non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Background: Second lung primaries occur at a rate of 1% to 3% per patient-year after complete resections for non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Fluorescence bronchoscopy appears to be a sensitive tool for surveillance of the tracheobronchial tree for early neoplasias.

Methods: Patients who were disease-free after complete resection of a NSCLC were entered into a fluorescence bronchoscopy surveillance program.

Nodular amyloidoma and primary pulmonary lymphoma with amyloid production: a differential diagnostic problem.

Nodular amyloidomas (NA) of the lung are non-neoplastic inflammatory nodules containing eosinophilic amyloid deposits and a lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate. In some instances, the extensive amyloid deposits may obscure an underlying lymphoproliferative disorder. The histologic and immunohistologic features that discriminate these two differential diagnostic possibilities were studied in this series of six cases of NA and five cases of primary low-grade malignant lymphomas of lung with secondary amyloid deposits (ML).

Fluorescence bronchoscopic surveillance after curative surgical resection for non-small-cell lung cancer.

Background: Second lung primaries occur at a rate of up to 3% per patient-year after curative resection for non-small-cell lung carcinoma. Postresection patients are often poor candidates for further curative surgery because of their diminished pulmonary reserve. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of fluorescence bronchoscopy by using the Xillix LIFE-Lung Fluorescence Endoscopy System to identify second lung primaries in patients who have had a previous curative resection of a non-small-cell lung cancer.

Ectopic Msx2 overexpression inhibits and Msx2 antisense stimulates calvarial osteoblast differentiation.

Msx2 is believed to play a role in regulating bone development, particularly in sutures of cranial bone. In this study we investigated the effects of retroviral-mediated overexpression of Msx2 mRNA, in both sense and antisense orientations, on primary cultured chick calvarial osteoblasts. Unregulated overexpression of sense mRNA produced high levels of Msx2 protein throughout the culture period, preventing the expected fall as the cells differentiate.

Altered p53 in microdissected, metachronous, premalignant and malignant oral lesions from the same patients.

Aims-To determine whether mutant p53 alleles harboured by malignant tumours of the oral cavity were also present in previous premalignant lesions at the same site.Methods-Paraffin embedded tumour specimens along with their premalignant counterparts were analysed for p53 alterations using immunohistochemistry, microdissection, polymerase chain reaction amplification, and DNA sequencing.Results-Malignant lesions from five of eight patients showed overexpression of p53 protein by immunohistochemistry.

Overexpression of p53 protein is common in premalignant head and neck lesions.

In order to determine whether or not the p53 gene is involved in the malignant transformation of the head and neck carcinoma HNSCC, we have analyzed archival specimens from 527 primary head and neck lesions and 27 corresponding lymph node metastases. Nuclear p53 protein was present in 107 of 190 (56%) dysplasias, 61 of 102 (60%) carcinoma in situ (CIS), and 262 of 493 (53%) carcinomas. The p53 score did not increase significantly with progression of these lesions from dysplasia to CIS and to carcinoma.

Pentagastrin cytoprotection in ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesions in rats.

To establish pentagastrin cytoprotection, the effectiveness of various doses of pentagastrin on ethanol induced gastric mucosal lesions was investigated in Wistar rats. Significant protection was obtained only after parenteral pretreatment with the exception of the lowest dose (1 microgram/kg b.w.