Expression of proteoglycan versican in in situ breast lesions: relations between stromal changes, histotype, and invasion.

The role of the stromal constituents in the natural history of breast cancers is still poorly defined. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression of proteoglycan versican, a constituent of desmoplastic stroma of invasive carcinomas, in preinvasive breast lesions. We selected 41 cases of breast carcinoma: 28 pure in situ lesions and 13 invasive lesions with in situ-associated lesions.

Expression of the E-cadherin-catenins complex in sentinel node is related to tumor morphology but not to spread to nonsentinel nodes.

The sentinel node (SN) technique has gained a key role in breast cancer surgery, allowing for an accurate staging of the axillary status with a minimally invasive resection. In this study, we explored the implication of three proteins (E-cadherin, a- and b-catenins) that form the cadherin-catenin complex, a receptorial structure strictly involved in tumoral vascular invasion and embolization in this biologic event. We studied the immunohistochemical expression of the complex in patients with metastatic SN, matching the group with involved nonsentinel lymph nodes (NSNs) with that having free axillary NSNs.

Gastric metaplasia and small bowel ulcerogenesis in a case of ulcerative jejunitis not related to celiac disease.

The possible relationship between gastric metaplasia and ulcerative lesions in an unusual case of ulcerative jejunitis not related to celiac disease and with extensive gastric metaplasia is discussed. Previous studies have described gastric metaplasia in duodenal ulcers on the basis of endoscopic data, and some authors maintain that acid secretion in metaplastic mucosa could represent a pathogenetic factor of ulcerogenesis, with a self-amplifying mechanism. In the absence of functional evidence, we could provide data, in a case of ulcerative jejunitis, about morphologic signs of acid secretion in gastric metaplastic epithelium using an antibody against HMFG-1, a good marker of acid-secreting fundic cells.

Androgen receptor expression in male breast carcinoma: lack of clinicopathological association.

Androgen receptor (AR) expression was retrospectively analysed in 47 primary male breast carcinomas (MBCs) using a monoclonal antibody on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. AR immunopositivity was detected in 16 out of 47 (34%) cases. No association was found with patient age, tumour stage, progesterone receptor (PGR) or p53 protein expression.

Bromodeoxyuridine uptake and proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression throughout the colorectal tumor sequence.

In vitro uptake of bromodeoxyuridine and expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were evaluated histochemically in rectal mucosa of control subjects and subjects with colorectal neoplasia in large intestine adenomas and adenocarcinomas. Both labeling indices progressively increased along the path of tumor progression, as did the difference between them (PCNA labeling indices were always greater than those of bromodeoxyuridine). The correlation between them was fairly close in the controls and in adenomas with low-grade dysplasia, whereas no significant linear relations were noted in adenomas with high-grade dysplasia or in adenocarcinomas.