Genetic polymorphisms and expression of HLA-G and its receptors, KIR2DL4 and LILRB1, in non-small cell lung cancer.

Human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) is a nonclassical HLA class I molecule absent from most normal tissues but detected in many malignant tumors. It is recognized by cells of the immune system using LILRB1, KIR2DL4 and LILRB2 receptors. We attempted to find out whether some polymorphisms of HLA-G, LILRB1 and KIR2DL4 genes are associated with susceptibility to nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

The importance of time of exposure to harmful anthropogenic factors as an element of cancer risk assessment in children.

This study attempted to verify whether the time of exposure to harmful factors is important for the increased risk of developing cancer. A statistical analysis of all cases of cancer in children in the period from 1995 to 2004 in the province of Silesia (Poland) was conducted, and their spatial distribution was then presented using cartographic and GIS methods. The data were then juxtaposed with the developed assessment of the degree of anthropogenic pressure in the province of Silesia with regard to: population density, the volume of produced waste and the density of road networks.

The effects of changes in cadmium and lead air pollution on cancer incidence in children.

This article presents the results of research on the effects of air pollution on cancer incidence in children in the region of Silesia (Poland), which has undergone one of the most profound anthropogenic transformations in Europe. The main objective of the research was to specify the impact of changes in cadmium and lead pollution in the years 1990-2005 on the incidence of cancers reported in children. Lead concentration ranged from 0 to 1490 x 10(-9) G m(-2)/year, and cadmium concentration ranged from 0 to 33.

TPS and CA 19-9 measurements in the follow-up of patients with pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis.

The aim of this study was to assess the value of TPS and CA 19-9 in a long-term follow-up analysis of 11 patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) and 15 patients with pancreatic cancer (PC). In all monitored patients with chronic pancreatitis the initial TPS level was below 200 U/L, whereas CA 19-9 was elevated in two of them. In one patient a dramatic increase in the TPS concentration (820 U/L) was measured at the last follow-up visit (after 8.

Tissue polypeptide specific antigen (TPS), a marker for differentiation between pancreatic carcinoma and chronic pancreatitis. A comparative study with CA 19-9.

Background: The value of serum tissue polypeptide specific antigen (TPS) as a complement to CA 19-9 in the detection of pancreatic carcinoma was determined prospectively. TPS and CA 19-9 levels obtained at the time of diagnosis in patients suspected of having chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic carcinoma were evaluated in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Methods: Serum TPS and CA 19-9 levels were measured by immunoassays in 122 subjects, 48 with pancreatic carcinoma and 74 with chronic pancreatitis.

Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor family proteins (EGFR, c-erbB-2 and c-erbB-3) in gastric cancer and chronic gastritis.

The expression and coexpression of EGFR, c-erbB-2 and c-erbB-3 in 21 gastric cancers and 20 chronic gastritis was examined using immunohistochemistry on fresh frozen tissues considering clinicopathological variables. Generally, gastric cancer patients showed a higher incidence of EGFR, c-erbB-2 and d-erbB-3 overexpression than the group with chronic gastritis (81% and 43%; 38% and 45%; 35% and 20%, respectively), however, statistically significant differences were found only for EGFR expression (p = 0.01).

[A case of light chain disease characterized by non-secretory myeloma].

A rare case of a 45 yr old woman with non-secretory light chain disease has been presented. The disease course was aggressive and survival time from diagnosis was 24 months. The new classification of literature of non-secretory multiple myeloma and a discussion of pathogenesis of non-secretory monoclonal Ig is delivered.

Field effect of human colon carcinoma on normal mucosa: relevance of carcinoembryonic antigen expression.

Human colon cancer usually develops on a mucosa which has already undergone multiple steps of genetic change. These multiple steps create a field effect characterized by the presence of morphologically normal, but biologically altered epithelial cells. This aims of this study were to evaluate whether the expression of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) can act as a phenotypic marker of the field effect, and to map its topography in relation to the presence of colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Tissue polypeptide antigen-specific (tps) and carcinoembryonic antigen (cea) levels in cancerous and precancerous lesions in human colon.

Serum levels of tissue polypeptide antigen specific (TPS), a cytokeratin 18 marker, were determined and compared with serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in 45 patients with colon adenocarcinoma and in 34 patients with benign diseases (adenomatous polyps and ulcerative colitis) at the time of diagnosis. In colon carcinoma patients 58% had an elevated TPS level (cut-off 100 U/l) and 53% had an elevated CEA level (cut-off 3.0 ng/ml).

Polymorphic epithelial mucin (PEM) epitopes in the estimation of the sequence of neoplastic changes in colon adenocarcinoma.

Aims: The relation between the expression of PEM epitopes and the sequence of neoplastic changes in individual patients with colon adenocarcinoma was investigated.

Methods: Immunohistochemical staining was performed using four monoclonal antibodies to PEM epitopes (139H2, 140C1, 115D8, 115F5) on tissue sections from frankly malignant lesions, adjacent mucosa, colonic mucosa taken 1 cm and 5 cm from the lesion and normal control mucosa.

Results: A clear correlation between PEM expression and the site of mucosa sampling was demonstrated.

Carcinoembryonic antigen isotypes in tissue sections and loose cyst fluid cells of ovarian neoplasms.

The aim of this study was to establish whether different subsets of ovarian neoplasms express a restricted isotype of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) which can be detected in solid tumors and detached cells. Sixty-one cases of mucinous, serous, endometrioid, and Krukenberg tumors were studied by immunohistochemistry using two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), commercial anti-CEA and D14 with a higher specificity for colorectal adenocarcinomas. The results with both antibodies showed a considerable degree of heterogeneity between cases of nonserous tumors, with a more restrictive pattern observed with the D14 MAb.

Lymphocyte subsets in patients with lung cancer treated with thiophosphoric acid alkaloid derivatives from Chelidonium majus L. (Ukrain).

Lymphocyte subsets were evaluated in nine men (aged 42-68 years, mean 57 years) with histologically proven lung cancer, previously untreated. Lymphocyte subpopulations were quantified by immunofluorescence using monoclonal antibodies against total T-cells, T-helper and T-suppressor cells. In addition, the percentage of NK cells and the helper/suppressor (H/S) ratio were evaluated.

In vitro effects of Chelidonium majus L. alkaloid thiophosphoric acid conjugates (Ukrain) on the phenotype of normal human lymphocytes.

Several plant-derived drugs are used in medical oncology (1-3). The thiophosphoric acid-alkaloid derivative from the plant Chelidonium majus L. (Ukrain) has been produced since 1978 by Nowicky.

Unusual case of granular lymphocytes (GL) proliferation: simultaneous reactive and neoplastic proliferation.

We report a case of a 55-year-old male with lymphoproliferative disease of granular lymphocytes. In the first year of follow-up reactive expansion of granular lymphocytes was observed during infectious episodes additionally to malignant proliferation. Histopathological studies revealed malignant lymphocytic infiltrations of the liver and gallbladder walls.

Distribution of carbohydrate structures in individual maturation stages of myeloid leukemic cells.

The distribution of peanut agglutinin (PNA) receptors, nonspecific cross-reacting antigen (NCA) molecule and 3-fucosyl-N-acetyllactosamine (FAL) in myeloid leukemic cells isolated by density gradient centrifugation was compared using immunofluorescence test (IF). Patients with acute myelocytic leukemias (AML) type M2 and M5 showed low percentage of NCA+ and PNA+ cells. In chronic and acute phase of chronic myelocytic leukemias (CML) the number of NCA containing cells increased and the amount of PNA-binding cells decreased as more mature granulocytic fractions were isolated on Ficoll--Uropoline density gradient.

Evaluation of thiophosphoric acid alkaloid derivatives from Chelidonium majus L. ("Ukrain") as an immunostimulant in patients with various carcinomas.

This paper summarizes the preliminary results of two independent clinical trials conducted with the preparation "Ukrain", containing thiophosphoric acid alkaloid derivatives from the plant Chelidonium majus L. (greater celandine), in order to investigate whether it has immunopotentiating properties in cancer patients. A total of twenty-seven patients with various malignancies were treated with "Ukrain" given intravenously in a dose of 10 mg every three days.

Lectin binding ability of B-chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells.

The binding of five fluorescein-labelled lectins: peanut agglutinin (PNA), lentil agglutinin (LEN), soybean agglutinin (SBA), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and asparagus pea agglutinin (ASP) to human B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) and B lymphocytes of normal donors was studied. The specificity of the fluorescence was demonstrated by inhibition with appropriate saccharides. The proportion of B cells was estimated using anti-B cell monoclonal antibody.

Binding of lectins to human leukaemic cells.

The interactions of five different lectins: peanut (PNA), lentil (LEN), wheat germ (WGA), soybean (SBA), Asparagus pea (FBP) with leukaemic cells obtained from 31 children: 25 with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and 6 with acute myeloblastic leukaemia (AML) were examined in this study. The relationship of lectin-binding ability to cells cytomorphological, cytochemical and immunological features and its potential clinical application were investigated. It has been shown that PNA and LEN receptors were found in the majority of blast cells.

Heterogeneity of human natural killer cells with respect to lectin-binding ability.

The binding ability of peanut agglutinin (PNA), lentil agglutinin (LEN), soybean agglutinin (SBA), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), and asparagus pea agglutinin (ASP) to human natural killer (NK) cells with the use of the double-marker immunofluorescence technique was studied. For identification of NK cells, VEP 13 (DC 16) monoclonal antibody was used. The receptor for PNA lectin was shown exclusively after neuraminidase treatment of cells, and VEP 13 antigen was neuraminidase resistant.

Immunological reactivity of mucinous and serous ovarian adenocarcinomas.

Comparison of immunological reactivity of glycoprotein antigens extracted from individual cases of mucinous and serous ovarian adenocarcinomas was performed taking into account the immunological relationship with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), nonspecific cross-reacting antigen (NCA), alpha-1-antichymotrypsin, and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein. In all immunological tests, the specific immune sera against perchloric acid extracts of ovarian mucinous and serous cystadenocarcinomas and antisera against the reference antigens mentioned above were used. It was established that: 1) ovarian mucinous and serous adenocarcinomas are immunologically different and possess various tumor-associated antigens, 2) ovarian mucinous adenocarcinomas contain considerable amounts of CEA and NCA, whereas serous type neoplasms show negligible amounts or lack of these antigens; and 3) in both types of tumors, alpha-1-antichymotrypsin and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein activities are found.

Cervical carcinoma antigen, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and nonspecific cross-reacting antigen (NCA) in appraisal of uterine cervix smears.

The distribution of cervical carcinoma antigens (AgCaCx), CEA, and NCA in different pathologic states of the uterine cervix was studied in cytologic smears by an immunofluorescence method (IF) using specific immune sera against perchloric acid (PCA) extract of cervical squamous cell carcinoma, anti-CEA, and anti-NCA. After excluding cross-reactivity with CEA and NCA, the presence of AgCaCx was demonstrated in the majority of cervical carcinomas, severe dysplasias, and only in one-fourth of squamous metaplasias, especially when accompanied by mild or moderate dysplasias. The intensity and percentage of IF-positive cells varied from case to case.