Preclinical investigation of folate receptor-targeted nanoparticles for photodynamic therapy of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) following lung-sparing extended pleurectomy for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) has been investigated as a potential means to kill residual microscopic cells. High expression levels of folate receptor 1 (FOLR1) have been reported in MPM; therefore, targeting FOLR1 has been considered a novel potential strategy. The present study developed FOLR1‑targeting porphyrin-lipid nanoparticles (folate-porphysomes, FP) for the treatment of PDT.

SORORIN and PLK1 as potential therapeutic targets in malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive type of cancer of the thoracic cavity commonly associated with asbestos exposure and a high mortality rate. There is a need for new molecular targets for the development of more effective therapies for MPM. Using quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and an RNA interference-based screening, we examined the SORORIN gene as potential therapeutic targets for MPM in addition to the PLK1 gene, which is known for kinase of SORORIN.

Kinesin family members KIF11 and KIF23 as potential therapeutic targets in malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare and aggressive form of cancer commonly associated with asbestos exposure that stems from the thoracic mesothelium with high mortality rate. Currently, treatment options for MPM are limited, and new molecular targets for treatments are urgently needed. Using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and an RNA interference-based screening, we screened two kinesin family members as potential therapeutic targets for MPM.

[Pineal Parenchymal Tumor with Marked Cytologic Pleomorphism: Is there a Correlation with the Malignancy Grade?].

Introduction: In benign pineal parenchymal tumors (PPTs), namely, pineocytoma(PC)and PPT of intermediate differentiation (PPTID), cytologic pleomorphism has occasionally been found;however, it is controversial as to whether the presence of pleomorphic cells leads to upgrading of tumors. We experienced a rare case of pleomorphic PPT in an elderly woman and compared it with a retrospective series of 12 PPTs (PC:3, PPTID:6, pineoblastoma[PB]:3)to evaluate the correlation between pleomorphism and the malignancy grade. CASE AND MATERIALS: A 76-year-old woman presented with gradual cognitive deterioration and gait disturbance.

Anemia in a neonate with placental mesenchymal dysplasia.

Causes of intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) are uncertain in most placental mesenchymal dysplasia (PMD) cases. Our case showed high α-fetoprotein levels in the maternal circulation, markedly dilated subchorionic vessels, and neonatal hemoglobin concentration of 8.4 g/dL, suggesting that fetal anemia may explain some adverse outcomes in PMD pregnancies.

A Case of Mature Natural Killer-Cell Neoplasm Manifesting Multiple Choroidal Lesions: Primary Intraocular Natural Killer-Cell Lymphoma.

Purpose: Natural killer (NK) cell neoplasm is a rare disease that follows an acute course and has a poor prognosis. It usually emerges from the nose and appears in the ocular tissue as a metastasis. Herein, we describe a case of NK-cell neoplasm in which the eye was considered to be the primary organ.

Two cases of hard metal lung disease showing gradual improvement in pulmonary function after avoiding dust exposure.

We present herein two cases of hard metal lung disease (HMLD) with distinct pathological findings. Both cases showed gradual improvements in pulmonary function over a period of a few years (Case 1: 30 months; Case 2: 12 months) after the avoidance of dust exposure, while improvements on high-resolution computed tomography were modest. The increased lymphocytes and decreased CD4/CD8 ratio in BALF observed at initial diagnosis normalized after the avoidance of dust exposure in one case.

Importance of luminal membrane mesothelin expression in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms.

The present study demonstrated that luminal membrane mesothelin expression is a reliable prognostic factor in gastric cancer. Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) often exhibit a spectrum of dysplasia, ranging between adenoma and carcinoma. Therefore, an immunohistochemical analysis of mesothelin expression in IPMN was performed in the present study, focusing on the localization of mesothelin.

Prognostic factors for survival in patients with high-grade meningioma and recurrence-risk stratification for application of radiotherapy.

Background: Radiotherapy for high-grade meningioma (HGM) is one of the essential treatment options for disease control. However, appropriate irradiation timing remains under debate. The object of this study is to discern which prognostic factors impact recurrence in HGM patients and to propose a risk-stratification system for the application of postoperative radiotherapy.

microRNA 31 functions as an endometrial cancer oncogene by suppressing Hippo tumor suppressor pathway.

Background: We aimed to investigate whether MIR31 is an oncogene in human endometrial cancer and identify the target molecules associated with the malignant phenotype.

Methods: We investigated the growth potentials of MIR31-overexpressing HEC-50B cells in vitro and in vivo. In order to identify the target molecule of MIR31, a luciferase reporter assay was performed, and the corresponding downstream signaling pathway was examined using immunohistochemistry of human endometrial cancer tissues.

Large solid-pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas with aberrant protein expression and mutation of β-catenin: a case report and literature review of the distribution of β-catenin mutation.

Solid-pseudopapillary neoplasms (SPN) are rare pancreatic tumors. The etiology of SPN involves mutations in the gene that encodes β-catenin (CTNNB1). We herein report the case of a 23-year-old woman with a large SPN with proliferating tumor cells that displayed both solid and pseudo-papillary patterns.

Differential diagnosis of small cell glioblastoma and anaplastic oligodendroglioma: a case report of an elderly man.

Small cell glioblastoma is a histological subtype of glioblastoma with characteristic features of highly proliferative, monotonous small glial cells with high nuclear cytoplasm ratio. Morphologically, malignant lymphoma or small cell metastatic carcinoma should be carefully discriminated. Some cases are difficult to differentiate from anaplastic oligodendroglioma.

Expression of CD163 prevents apoptosis through the production of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in meningioma.

Background: CD163 is a 130-kDa transmembrane protein expressed in human monocytes and macrophages, and the aberrant expression of CD163 in breast and colorectal cancer associated with patients' poor prognosis was reported. Here, we analyzed the expression of CD163 in meningioma, a common intracranial tumor, and its molecular mechanism in association with meningioma progression.

Methods: First, we performed immunohistochemical analysis using 50 human meningioma specimens.

Clinicopathologic study of pineal parenchymal tumors of intermediate differentiation.

Objective: Pineal parenchymal tumors of intermediate differentiation (PPTID) are extremely rare tumor entities, and only limited data are available regarding their pathologic features and biologic behaviors. Because grading criteria of pineal parenchymal tumors (PPTs) have yet to be established, the treatment strategy and prognosis of PPTIDs remain controversial. We describe the clinicopathologic study of six patients with PPTID and compare responses for the treatment and prognosis with cases of pineocytoma (PC) and pineoblastoma (PB).

Clinicopathological evaluation of cyclooxygenase-2 expression in meningioma: immunohistochemical analysis of 76 cases of low and high-grade meningioma.

Tumorigenic activity of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a rate-limiting enzyme in the production of prostaglandins (PGs), has been proved for some types of cancer, including brain tumors. We evaluated expression of COX-2 in meningioma, one of the most common intracranial tumors in adults which accounts for 24-30 % of intracranial tumors. We performed immunostaining for COX-2 in 76 cases of meningioma consisting of 44 cases of low-grade (WHO Grade I) and 32 cases of high-grade (29 cases of Grade II and 3 cases of Grade III) meningioma, and evaluated COX-2 expression levels on the basis of staining intensity and proportion in tumor cells.

Immunohistochemical molecular gene expression profile of metastatic brain tumor as a potent personalized medicine.

Recent progress in molecule-targeting therapy may yield personalized therapeutic strategies for patients with metastatic brain tumors (MBT), the most frequently encountered intracranial tumors. For this purpose, we investigated the molecular expression profile of MBT to establish the pathological basis for personalized diagnosis. We studied 166 MBT specimens including 70 cases of lung cancer and 34 cases of breast cancer, and performed immunostaining for EGFR, COX-2, and O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), among others, which could be target molecules for therapeutic agents or enable prediction of drug efficacy.

Prognostic implication of histological oligodendroglial tumor component: clinicopathological analysis of 111 cases of malignant gliomas.

The favorable prognosis of high-grade oligodendroglial tumor such as glioblastoma (GBM) with oligodendroglioma component (GBMO) has been suggested; however, the studies which examine the prognostic significance of oligodendroglial tumor were limited. In this study, we performed a histopathology-based reevaluation of 111 cases of high grade gliomas according to the latest World Health Organization (WHO), and compared the clinical outcomes between oligodendroglial tumors and pure astrocytic tumors. The survival analysis revealed that the patients with high grade oligodendroglial tumor including GBMO significantly indicated better prognosis compared to the patients with high grade pure astrocytic tumors (GBM and AA, anaplastic astrocytoma) as expected, and the obtained survival curves were almost identical to those from the patients with conventional Grade III or Grade IV tumors, respectively.

Expression of O⁶-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) and immunohistochemical analysis of 12 pineal parenchymal tumors.

Pineal parenchymal tumors (PPTs) are rare neoplasms which occupy less than 1% of primary CNS tumors. Because of their rare incidence, previous reports on PPTs are limited in number and the useful molecular markers for deciding histological grading and even selecting chemotherapy are undetermined. In this study, we conducted immunohistochemical analysis of 12 PPT specimens, especially for expression of O⁶-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) to assess whether temozolomide (TMZ) could serve as a possible alternative therapy for PPTs.

The impact of extent of resection and histological subtype on the outcome of adult patients with high-grade gliomas.

Objective: We reviewed the relationship between extent of resection and survival of patients with high-grade gliomas with special consideration of an oligodendroglial component.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed on 160 adult patients with histological diagnosis of high-grade gliomas since 2000. All histological slides were categorized as high-grade astrocytomas or oligodendroglial tumors.

Neurohypophyseal germinoma with abundant fibrous tissue.

We report an unusual case of neurohypophyseal germinoma with abundant fibrous tissue and clival invasion that was initially misdiagnosed as lymphocytic hypophysitis. A 40-year-old woman presented with diabetes insipidus and panhypopituitarism after delivering her second son and which lasted for 4 years. Magnetic resonance imaging showed the intrasellar mass extending to the suprasellar region with enlarged pituitary stalk.

Co-expression of mesothelin and CA125 correlates with unfavorable patient outcome in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Objectives: Recent studies have shown that the high affinity of mesothelin-CA125 interaction might cause intracavitary tumor metastasis. We examined the clinicopathologic significance and prognostic implication of mesothelin and CA125 expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Methods: Tissue samples from 66 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas were immunohistochemically examined.