CD133 positive endothelial progenitor cells contribute to the tumour vasculature in non-small cell lung cancer.

Aims: Recent results generated in a mouse model suggest that tumour angiogenesis/vasculogenesis can be initiated and maintained by bone marrow derived endothelial progenitor cells. This present study investigated the distribution and frequency of CD133 positive endothelial progenitor cells in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (tumour tissue and tumour free lung regions) and healthy controls using fresh frozen specimens. The novel marker CD133 identifies human haemopoetic precursor cells, in addition to human endothelial progenitor cells.

Immunohistochemical typing of non-small cell lung cancer on cryostat sections: correlation with clinical parameters and prognosis.

Aims: To investigate the immunohistochemical expression of a panel of biologically relevant markers in patients with non-small cell lung cancer using fresh frozen specimens and to test their prognostic relevance for identification of patients at risk.

Methods: Seventy nine tumour infiltrated lung cancer specimens and 66 adjacent histologically tumour free tissues were analysed; 11 postmortem specimens from patients who did not suffer from a malignant disease served as a control group. Cryostat sections were stained with monoclonal antibodies against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), c-erbB-2, c-erbB-3, CD82, Ki-67, p120, p53, bcl-2, and CD31.

[Complications in surgery of varicose veins].

Based on our experience derived from approximately 20,000 varicose vein operations during the last three decades we report about possible complications in varicose vein surgery. We had no postoperative mortality. Crossectomy of the greater saphenous vein may lead to major complications.