Incident cases of primary liver cancer (PLC): proposal for the use of a standardised method in case-definition.

We defined some standardised criteria for classifying incident cases of liver cancer into either Primary Liver Cancer (PLC) or Unspecified Liver Cancer (ULC), on the basis of the diagnostic procedures performed. A pilot hospital-based study (98 cases) was carried out in Verona, northern Italy, in order to assess the feasibility of the method. The same protocol was subsequently applied in a population-based study (349 cases) in Bresica, northern Italy.

Evidence of c-myc gene abnormalities in mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma of young adult age.

Six cases of mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (MLCL) with sclerosis were analyzed for the presence and patterns of c-myc and bcl-2 loci rearrangements, and for the presence of Epstein-Barr virus DNA sequences by Southern blot hybridization, c-myc gene alterations were found in three of six cases. Two cases showed the presence of mutations or small rearrangements at the 3' end of the first exon. The c-myc gene abnormalities found in these two cases are similar to those observed in the translocation 8;14 of the endemic Burkitt's lymphomas or in its variants t(2;8) and t(8;22).

Chemotherapy for invasive thymoma. A 13-year experience.

From 1977 to 1990, 37 patients with Stage III or IV invasive thymoma (20 men and 17 women; median age, 40 years of age) were referred for chemotherapy to the Padova Medical Oncology Department. All patients initially received the same regimen (50 mg/m2 of cisplatin and 40 mg/m2 of doxorubicin intravenously (IV) on day 1, 0.6 mg/m2 of vincristine IV on day 3, and 700 mg/m2 of cyclophosphamide IV on day 4 [ADOC]), recycling at monthly intervals.

A method for detection of human papillomavirus DNA in stored slides of stained cervical smears.

A simple method was developed for extraction of DNA from stored slides of Papanicolaou stained cervical smears. HPV type 16 DNA was detected by DNA hybridization in 7/10 samples from known HPV-16 positive patients, whereas the 10 samples from negative patients were also negative with our assay. Using our method for obtaining data from stained cervical smears, it will be possible to design and perform historical cohort studies on stored material.

Chemotherapy of invasive thymoma.

Thirty-two patients with stage III or IV invasive thymoma (14 women and 18 men; median age, 40 years) were treated at the Padua Medical Oncology Department from 1977 to 1988. All patients received the following chemotherapy in 4-day courses: 50 mg/m2 of cisplatin intravenously (IV) and 40 mg/m2 of doxorubicin IV on day 1; 0.6 mg/m2 of vincristine IV on day 3; and 700 mg/m2 of cyclophosphamide IV on day 4 (ADOC).

Immunohistochemical differentiation of follicular lymphoma from florid reactive follicular hyperplasia with monoclonal antibodies reactive on paraffin sections.

In this study monoclonal antibodies which recognize lymphoid-associated antigens on paraffin sections (LN1, MB2, L26, MT2, UCHL1) have been evaluated to assess their usefulness in the distinction between reactive and neoplastic lesions of lymphoid follicles. Thirty-three follicular lymphoma samples and 36 reactive samples (lymph nodes and tonsils) were analyzed. MT2 appeared as the most valuable immunophenotypic marker as emerged from a comprehensive quantitative evaluation of 2329 reactive follicles and 2288 neoplastic follicles performed on MT2 immunostained sections.

Expression and gene rearrangement of the T-cell receptor in human thymomas.

Human thymomas are epithelial neoplasms frequently associated with an exuberant lymphoid component. This mixture of epithelial cells and lymphocytes closely mimicks the organization of normal thymic cortex. However, it is not known whether thymocytes in thymoma express the T-cell receptor (TCR) for the antigen.

Isolation of multicellular complexes of follicular dendritic cells and lymphocytes: immunophenotypical characterization, electron microscopy and culture studies.

The morphological and phenotypical features of multicellular complexes formed by follicular dendritic cells and lymphocytes (FDC-LC) isolated from human hyperplastic tonsils and adenoids are described. FDC-LC obtained with this procedure were morphologically and immuno-phenotypically heterogeneous. In one type of FDC-LC, probably obtained from germinal centers, the lymphocytes exhibited ultrastructural features of centroblasts and centrocytes.

Immunohistochemical characterization of osteoclasts and osteoclast-like cells with monoclonal antibody MB1 on paraffin-embedded tissues.

In this study we provide evidence that MB1, a newly developed monoclonal antibody which reacts with B lymphocytes and a proportion of T cells and monocytes, can be successfully used for the direct immunohistochemical identification of osteoclasts on paraffin-embedded surgical specimens. The antigen(s) recognized by MB1 is present at high density in the cytoplasm of osteoclasts of fetal bone and in the multinucleated cells of human giant cell tumour of bone (osteoclastoma), but is weakly expressed or absent in the giant cells of granulomas. MB1 is thus proposed as a new immunohistochemical marker for osteoclasts on paraffin-embedded material.

Distribution of melanoma specific antibody (HMB-45) in benign and malignant melanocytic tumours. An immunohistochemical study on paraffin sections.

The distribution of a recently produced melanoma specific antibody (HMB-45) has been evaluated histochemically on paraffin sections in a large panel of melanocytic and non melanocytic tumours. Results have been compared with the presence of S-100 protein. HMB-45 was shown to be a highly specific antibody being present only in melanomas, junctional melanocytes and histogenetically related neoplasms such as melanocytic neuroectodermal tumour of infancy and, at low levels, on a proportion of peripheral nerve sheath tumours.

Soluble interleukin-2 receptors in the sera of patients with hairy cell leukemia: relationship with the effect of recombinant alpha-interferon therapy on clinical parameters and natural killer in vitro activity.

In this study we provide evidence that the sera of patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL) contain a factor that can prevent the binding of a monoclonal antibody specific for interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) to its target. This factor corresponds to the soluble form of IL-2R (sIL-2R), as assessed by a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test, and appears to be released by neoplastic hairy cells. The serum sIL-2R levels were very high at diagnosis and significantly reduced during recombinant alpha-interferon (rIFN alpha 2) therapy.

Immunohistochemical evidence of active thymocyte proliferation in thymoma. Its possible role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.

Eight cases of human thymoma have been analyzed on cryostat sections with the monoclonal antibody Ki67, which reacts with cells in the proliferative phases of the cell cycle. The aim was to assess the proportion of proliferating thymocytes among lymphoid cells in the thymoma samples. In all cases a large number of cells (mean, 58.

Immunohistological analysis of Rosai-Dorfman histiocytosis. A disease of S-100 + CD1-histiocytes.

Five cases of Rosai-Dorfman histiocytosis (RDH) (also called Sinus Histiocytosis with Massive Lymphoadenopathy; SHML) have been studied by immunohistochemical methods with heteroantisera and monoclonal antibodies. One case was also studied by Southern blot hybridization analysis with DNA probes specific for T cell receptor beta chain and immunoglobulin heavy chain. Immunophenotyping of large histiocytes, characteristic of RDH, evidenced the presence of S-100 protein and the absence of CD1 and other markers usually found in histiocytes and macrophages.

Hyaline-vascular type of Castleman's disease (angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia) with monotypic plasma cells. An immunohistochemical study with monoclonal antibodies.

A case of angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia (Castleman's disease) characterized by monotypic (IgG+, lambda+) plasmacytosis is described. Fresh tissue was available and a thorough immunohistochemical analysis of lymphoid and non-lymphoid cells was performed on cryostat sections. Although lymphoid follicles were numerous and exhibited some abnormal features they did not appear part of the monoclonal cell proliferation.

Mediastinal large-cell lymphoma with sclerosis. Genotypic analysis establishes its B nature.

The Southern blot hybridization technique has been applied to study the configuration of immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor genes in 6 cases of the so called mediastinal large cell lymphoma with sclerosis. This lymphoma has been recently recognized as a separate entity among non-Hodgkin lymphomas mainly affecting young adult patients. The B-cell origin of this neoplasm was suggested by means of immunohistochemical analysis.

Blastic OKT6-positive proliferation preceding malignant histiocytosis.

A 45-year old male presented latero-cervical lymphoadenopathy. Biopsy revealed a malignant proliferation of immature "lymphoid" cells bearing T6 antigen and HLA-DR but negative for other lymphoid markers, suggesting a phenotype similar to Langerhans cells. The patient did not receive any therapy and six months later developed a histologically typical malignant histiocytosis, involving spleen and liver.

Mediastinal large-cell lymphoma of B-type, with sclerosis: histopathological and immunohistochemical study of eight cases.

Eight cases of mediastinal non-lymphoblastic large-cell lymphoma have been studied by histopathological and immunohistochemical methods. A common clinical, morphological and immunophenotypic pattern was identified. Six of eight cases proved to be of B-cell origin by the expression of B-associated antigens detected by specific monoclonal antibodies.

Myasthenia gravis: immunohistological heterogeneity in microenvironmental organization of hyperplastic and neoplastic thymuses suggesting different mechanisms of tolerance breakdown.

Four samples of thymoma obtained from patients affected by myasthenia gravis have been immunohistologically analysed on cryostat sections using a panel of antisera and monoclonal antibodies specific for antigens which define different stages of intrathymic lymphocyte differentiation and antigens specific for different types of thymic epithelial cells (cortical, medullary). When the thymoma samples were compared to age-matched normal thymuses and hyperplastic thymuses obtained from patients with myasthenia gravis some evident microenvironmental differences could be demonstrated using these reagents. In all the thymoma samples in fact the neoplastic lobules appeared as grossly enlarged cortical-type areas, formed by accumulations of T lymphocytes exhibiting the cortical immature phenotype (TdT+, T6+, etc.

Immunohistochemical demonstration of follicular dendritic cells in bone marrow involvement of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Using a sensitive immunohistochemical technique and a specific monoclonal antibody (RFD-3), follicular dendritic cells (FDC) have been demonstrated in a significant proportion (6/12) of bone marrow samples from patients with nodular marrow involvement of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). In all cases with "packed marrow" involvement and advanced stages of disease the FDC were absent. As these accessory cells are normally present only in the lymph nodes, their presence in the bone marrow is in accord with the view that B-CLL might be the malignancy of an immature subpopulation of lymph node lymphocytes that invade the bone marrow.

A distinctive cutaneous malignant neoplasm expressing the Langerhans cell phenotype. Synchronous occurrence with B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The authors describe a 63-year-old woman who developed a histologically distinctive malignant cutaneous neoplasm composed of large pleomorphic cells with abundant cytoplasm and multilobate, often clefted nuclei that occasionally contained small nucleoli. This neoplastic cell population metastasized to a regional lymph node already involved by a B-cell derived chronic lymphocytic leukemia expressing surface IgMk, BA-1, and OKT1. The large metastatic tumor cells lacked surface immunoglobulin, B-lymphocyte associated antigen BA-1, T-lymphocyte associated antigens OKT1 and OKT3, and the monocyte/macrophage markers lysozyme and alpha 1-antichymotrypsin.