Lymphocyte-rich classical Hodgkin lymphoma (LRCHL): clinico-pathological characteristics and outcome of a rare entity.

Background: To investigate the proportion, clinical characteristics and outcome of lymphocyte-rich classical Hodgkin lymphoma (LRCHL) in relation to nodular lymphocyte predominant HL (NLPHL) and classical HL (cHL).

Patients And Methods: A series of 2743 HL patients of all stages enrolled into three EORTC trials (H7, H8, H34) conducted between 1988 and 2000 and forming an unbiased series of HL patients was studied.

Results: Detailed histological classification after panel review was available in 96% of the cases to allow selection of all cases with features potentially compatible with the WHO-definition of LRCHL for this study.

Prognostic value of DNA cytometry in 281 premenopausal patients with lymph node negative breast carcinoma randomized in a control trial: multivariate analysis with Ki-67 index, mitotic count, and microvessel density.

Background: The clinical relevance of DNA image cytometry (ICM) and flow cytometry (FCM) remains under investigation in breast carcinoma. The objective of the current work was to study the prognostic value of DNA ICM and FCM in a series of patients randomized in a control trial. A multivariate analysis has been performed including other factors still under investigation such as Ki-67 index, mitotic count, microvessel density, and P53 and Bcl-2 expression.

Genetic steps in the development of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a frequent form of cancer that shows striking variations in geographic distribution, reflecting exposure to specific environmental factors that are still poorly defined. ESCC develops as the result of a sequence of histopathological changes that typically involves esophagitis, atrophy, mild to severe dysplasia, carcinoma in situ and finally, invasive cancer. Genetic changes associated with the development of ESCC include mutation of the p53 gene, disruption of cell-cycle control in G1 by several mechanisms (inactivation of p16MTS1, amplification of Cyclin D1, alterations of RB), activation of oncogenes (e.

Image analysis software for automatic DNA ploidy assessment of archival solid tumours.

Background: Image cytometry has proved to provide a good alternative to flow cytometry for DNA ploidy measurement of archival tumors. However, when interactively done this technique is unable to give statistically valuable results within an acceptable time for clinical oncology.

Methods: An image cytometer was developed for fully automatic DNA ploidy quantitation, focusing efforts on speed and accuracy.

The utility of mitotic index, oestrogen receptor and Ki-67 measurements in the creation of novel prognostic indices for node-negative breast cancer.

Introduction: Prognostic factors can be useful to identify node-negative patients at increased risk of relapse who should receive adjuvant treatment. In the past, oestrogen receptor status and mitotic index have been shown to be significant predictors of prognosis. Different techniques for the measurement of these prognostic factors are available.

p53 protein accumulation and response to adjuvant chemotherapy in premenopausal women with node-negative early breast cancer.

Purpose: Thirty percent of women with node-negative breast cancer will have a recurrence within 10 years after diagnosis. Molecular markers may identify those patients and predict whether they benefit from adjuvant therapy. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) conducted a randomized trial (EORTC 10854) to compare perioperative treatment with one course of fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FAC) versus no further therapy.

[Neighborhood graphs and image processing. Contribution to images of immunohistochemical staining].

Devising an image analyzer dedicated to the automatic quantification of immunohistochemical staining for clinical oncology implies developing a method for the delimitation of tumoral cell nests, setting aside tumoral stroma, while accounting for the topology of the staining. The representation of images by neighborhood graphs can bring an answer to both requirements. In this paper, a methodological approach is presented.

[Flow cytometry in ORL cancers].

The possibility to perform flow cytometry was examined in a series of 167 patients with primary untreated head and neck carcinoma referred to our Institution from February 1989 to January 1992. In all cases, flow cytometry was carried out on frozen tumour samples. The Cox model was used including age, tumour size, nodal status on clinical assessment, topography, treatment, malignancy grade, S phase fraction and ploidy as independent variables and overall survival as dependent variable.

[Automation of the cytometric analysis of the DNA content of solid tumors].

An automatic machine, dedicated to solid tumor DNA ploidy quantitation has been built in order to provide pathologists with a tool usable in clinical practice. Main efforts were focused on an automation of each step of the analysis and on an elimination of any subjective choice, while preserving the quality of measurement. As the software is independent of the machine architecture, it offers performances which increase in parallel with the rapid evolution of the computers.

Improvements in slide preparation from archival material for automated DNA measurement by image analysis.

Objective: To optimize slide preparation for DNA content measurement by automated image analysis and to obtain a rapid and easy method for routine use.

Study Design: Some improvements in previously described methods were achieved: automatic dewaxing, reduction of washing times, accurate adjustment of final concentration of nuclei, sedimentation and temperate drying of nuclei.

Results: The complete preparation of 12 slides required four intermittent working hours.

Expression of p53 in oesophageal squamous epithelium from surgical specimens resected for squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus, with special reference to uninvolved mucosa.

Accumulation of p53 protein has been considered an intermediate biomarker in multistage oesophageal carcinogenesis. The aim of the present study was to investigate p53 expression by immunohistochemistry in 13 thoroughly sampled oesophagectomy specimens from a geographical area with a high oesophageal cancer incidence (Basse Normandie, France). Expression of p53 was looked for in tissue samples of cancer, intraepithelial neoplasia, and uninvolved mucosa.

Patients with stage III/IV Hodgkin's disease in partial remission after MOPP/ABV chemotherapy have excellent prognosis after additional involved-field radiotherapy: interim results from the ongoing EORTC-LCG and GPMC phase III trial. The EORTC Lymphoma Cooperative Group and Groupe Pierre-et-Marie-Curie.

Background: Failure to reach complete remission (CR) with chemotherapy in advanced stages of Hodgkin's disease is considered a poor prognostic factor for progression-free and overall survival. The role of radiotherapy after chemotherapy-induced remission is controversial.

Patients And Methods: In 1989, the EORTC/GPMC started a randomized phase III trial on involved-field RT (IF-RT) after MOPP/ABV hybrid-induced remission in patients with stage III/IV Hodgkin's disease.

Comparative study of the National Cancer Institute and French Federation of Cancer Centers Sarcoma Group grading systems in a population of 410 adult patients with soft tissue sarcoma.

Purpose: Several histologic grading systems have been validated in soft tissue sarcomas (STS), but no system is currently accepted worldwide. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and French Federation of Cancer Centers Sarcoma Group (FNCLCC) systems were examined comparatively in the same population of patients with STS to determine which system is the best prognosticator with regard to metastasis development and tumor mortality.

Patients And Methods: Four hundred ten adult patients with nonmetastatic STS were examined.

[Recurrence of giant-cell fibroblastoma as dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans in the adult].

Giant cell fibroblastoma is a rare, subcutaneous tumor of children. Local recurrences frequently occur after surgical excision, occasionally taking the form of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. An immunohistochemical study is associated in this case report.

Expression of Bcl-2 in node-negative breast cancer is associated with various prognostic factors, but does not predict response to one course of perioperative chemotherapy.

The aim of this study was to assess relationships between Bcl-2 expression, response to chemotherapy and a number of pathological and biological tumour parameters in premenopausal, lymph node-negative breast cancer patients. Expression of Bcl-2 was determined using immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded sections in a series of 441 premenopausal, lymph node-negative breast cancers of patients randomised to receive perioperative chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide) or no perioperative chemotherapy. Immunohistochemistry of Bcl-2 was evaluated by scoring both staining intensity (0-3) and number of positive cells (0-2).

Prognostic factors for patients with localized primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma: a multicenter study of 216 patients with multivariate analysis.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the independent prognostic variables in a well documented subset of 216 patients with localized primary malignant fibrous histiocytomas (MFH).

Methods: Between the years 1980 and 1989, 216 patients with localized, primary (International Union Against Cancer [UICC]/American Joint Committee on Cancer [AJCC] Stage I-IVA) MFH were evaluated and treated in 10 participating centers of the sarcoma group of the French Federation of Cancer Centers (FNCLCC). Clinicopathologic factors were collected retrospectively and entered into a cooperative database.

Prognostic factors in adult patients with locally controlled soft tissue sarcoma. A study of 546 patients from the French Federation of Cancer Centers Sarcoma Group.

Purpose: To define the prognostic factors in adult patients with locally controlled soft tissue sarcoma (STS) and to determine which patients should be considered for adjuvant treatment.

Patients And Methods: Five hundred forty-six patients with a nonmetastatic and locally controlled STS, collected in a cooperative data base by the French Federation of Cancer Centers (FNCLCC) Sarcoma Group from 1980 and 1989, were studied. Histologic slides of all patients were collegially reviewed.

Thin melanomas with unusual aggressive behavior: a report on nine cases. Melanoma Group of French Federation of Cancer Centers.

Background: The major factor influencing the prognosis of cutaneous malignant melanoma (MMs) is the maximum thickness of the tumor as measured by Breslow's method. However, it has been reported that thin melanomas, which should have an excellent prognosis, may have the potential to metastasize, some with an unusually rapid course.

Objective: Our purpose was to examine prognostic indicators in relation to unusually rapid aggressive behavior in patients with thin MMs (<0.

[Recommendations for the immunohistochemical evaluation of hormone receptors on paraffin sections of breast cancer. Study Group on Hormone Receptors using Immunohistochemistry FNCLCC/AFAQAP. National Federation of Centres to Combat Cancer/French Association for Quality Assurance in Pathology].

These recommendations regard the immunohistochemical evaluation of estrogen and progesterone receptors in paraffin sections of breast cancers. All the components of the procedure are dealt with: fixation, antigen retrieval, antibodies, controls, analysis and interpretation of immunostaining, report and quality assurance parameters. The purpose of these guidelines is to serve as a basis for standardization of techniques and results and to improve quality control.

DNA cytometric abnormalities in human esophageal squamous intraepithelial and invasive carcinomas.

DNA ploidy abnormalities of 21 archival human esophageal intraepithelial neoplasia samples were assessed, using image cytometry of deparaffinized samples, with reference to invasive squamous cell carcinoma and corresponding uninvolved squamous epithelium. Cytometric parameters investigated were proportion of G0G1 aneuploid cell population, histogram typing, proportion of G0G1 diploid nuclei, coefficient of variation, mean DNA content, crude 5c exceeding proportion, 2c deviation index, malignancy index and grade, and entropy. The distributions of the above parameters were compared using the paired t test and Fisher's exact test.

Pathologic assessment of tumor regression after preoperative chemoradiotherapy of esophageal carcinoma. Clinicopathologic correlations.

Background: The benefits of preoperative chemotherapy and radiation for esophageal carcinoma are under investigation. A pilot study was undertaken to determine if pathologic assessment of tumor regression correlated with disease free survival.

Methods: Ninety-three resected specimens from patients treated with cis-dichloro-diamino cisplatin and irradiation before surgery were examined on semiserial sections.

Preliminary results of the EORTC-GPMC controlled clinical trial H7 in early-stage Hodgkin's disease. EORTC Lymphoma Cooperative Group. Groupe Pierre-et-Marie-Curie.

In this phase III trial, 770 patients with clinical stage I-II Hodgkin's disease (HD) have been enrolled since November 1988. Preliminary results are given for the 605 (79%) patients who have completed their initial therapy. Patients were grouped according to 6 pretreatment prognostic characteristics.

Prevalence survey of precancerous lesions of the oesophagus in a high-risk population for oesophageal cancer in France.

The prevalence of precancerous lesions of the oesophagus and their association with alcohol drinking, tobacco smoking and some dietary factors were examined in an endoscopic survey carried out in Lower Normandy, France, a high-risk area for oesophageal cancer. The study included 134 male volunteers of 35-64 years of age. In 124 of the volunteers oesophageal biopsies were evaluable.

[Ovarian tumor with hepatoid differentiation. Discussion and review of the literature. Report of a case].

One case of hepatoid carcinoma of the ovary is described, and a review of the literature is performed. This tumor is now considered as a variety of common epithelial tumor of the ovary and must be distinguished from other ovarian-neoplasms, especially from hepatoid yolk sac tumors.

Development of an automatic program for the stereological estimation of the volume weighted mean volume of cell nuclei.

A stereological method was recently developed for the estimation of the volume weighted mean volume of particles from 2D sections. Several authors successfully applied this manual method to paraffin sections of bladder cancers and malignant melanomas and found a good correlation between the mean nuclear volume and the histological grading and prognosis of these tumors. The implementation of this measuring method on an automatic image analyser, devoted to routine work in tumor pathology, is presented.