Possible association between tumor-suppressor gene mutations and hMSH2/hMLH1 inactivation in alveolar soft part sarcoma.

Alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) is a rare soft tissue tumor of unknown origin and pathogenesis. We clinicopathologically analyzed 16 cases of ASPS and screened for the genetic alterations of various tumor-suppressor genes and oncogenes, including p53, adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), E-cadherin, and beta-catenin, in 11 cases of ASPS. We also examined the expression of hMSH2/hMLH1 of DNA mismatch repair genes by immunohistochemistry, and promoter hypermethylation of these DNA mismatch repair genes by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MS-PCR) to elucidate any possible association between mutation status of these genes and inactivation of the hMSH2/hMLH1 genes.

Tenascin expression at the invasive front is associated with poor prognosis in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Tenascin and decorin are components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) that are implicated in cell proliferation in tumors. Here, we propose that abnormal expression of stromal ECM may play an important role in the progression of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, which is characterized by desmoplastic reaction. To explore this hypothesis, we performed immunohistochemical analysis in order to examine the expression and distribution of tenascin and decorin in 75 cases of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Newly established Askin tumor cell line and overexpression of focal adhesion kinase in Ewing sarcoma family of tumors cell lines.

Askin tumor is a malignant small round cell tumor that originates from the thoracopulmonary region and is a member of Ewing sarcoma family of tumors (ESFT). Only a few Askin tumor cell lines have been established. An Askin tumor cell line, designated MP-ASKIN-SA, was established from the left thoracic tumor of a 13-year-old Japanese boy.

Adrenal cytomegaly: two cases detected by prenatal diagnosis.

We report our experience with two cases of adrenal cytomegaly, both of which were detected as cystic adrenal masses during prenatal ultrasonographic examinations. In Case 1, a left suprarenal cystic mass was detected in the fetus at 25 weeks of gestation. The mass, measuring 7 cm in diameter, did not show any change in size and was resected 26 days after birth.

Prenatally diagnosed cystic neuroblastoma: a report of two cases.

We report two cases of prenatally diagnosed cystic neuroblastoma (PDCN). In the first case, prenatal ultrasonography (US) at 33 weeks' gestation showed a 30 x 20 mm cyst at the upper pole of the right kidney. The size and content of the mass demonstrated no change during pregnancy.

Intestinal phenotypic expression of gastric depressed adenomas and the surrounding mucosa.

Background: Gastric depressed adenomas (DAs) have been reported to be more aggressive than nondepressed ones. To clarify any differences among them, we investigated the intestinal phenotypic expression of DAs and the surrounding mucosa.

Methods: Fifty DAs resected surgically or endoscopically were studied.

Phenotypic alteration in malignant transformation of colonic villous tumours: with special reference to a comparison with tubular tumours.

Aims: To clarify the cellular differentiation of colorectal villous tumours in malignant transformation, compared with that of tubular tumours (tubular adenoma and adenocarcinoma arising in tubular adenoma).

Methods And Results: Forty-nine cases of colorectal villous tumours [six cases of low-grade villous adenoma, 21 of high-grade villous adenoma (VA), nine of invasive carcinoma in villous adenoma (CIVA), and 13 of pure villous carcinoma (PVC)] and 46 cases of tubular tumours [14 cases of low-grade and 17 of high-grade tubular adenoma (TA), and 15 cases of carcinoma in tubular adenoma (CITA)] were selected for this study based on their expression patterns of CD10 (small intestinal brush border), MUC2 (intestinal goblet cell), and HGM (gastric foveolar epithelium). HGM was more frequently expressed in the adenomatous components of villous tumours (63%) than in those of tubular tumours (14%) (P < 0.

Transcriptional repressor snail and progression of human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: Snail protein is a suppressive transcriptional factor of E-cadherin that mediates cell-to-cell adhesion, tumor progression, and metastases. We explored the expression and function of Snail and its family member Slug in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to identify its role in tumor progression.

Experimental Design And Results: Transfection of Snail cDNA in Li-7, endogenous E-cadherin-positive human HCC cells, selectively induced the loss of E-cadherin protein expression.

The role of P-glycoprotein in intestinal tumorigenesis: disruption of mdr1a suppresses polyp formation in Apc(Min/+) mice.

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) mediates the active transport of various substrates including xenobiotics, and it thus has a protective function in various cell types and tissues/organs including the intestinal epithelium. However, whether or not P-gp plays a positive role in the intestinal tumorigenesis is unclear. We have introduced disrupted alleles of the murine P-gp gene, mdr1a, into Apc(Min/+) mice to evaluate whether P-gp plays any role in intestinal carcinogenesis.

Prognostic factors in the so-called malignant mesenchymoma: a clinicopathological and immunohistochemical analysis.

The term "malignant mesenchymoma" (MM) has traditionally been applied to a group of malignant soft tissue tumors that are characterized by the presence of two or more different mesenchymal tissue components in the same neoplasm. Currently, sarcomas with multilineage differentiation fulfilling the criteria of MM tend to be diagnosed as specific sarcomas with heterologous differentiation (e.g.

Synovial sarcoma of the thyroid. Report of a case with aspiration cytology findings and gene analysis.

Background: Synovial sarcoma, generally known as a soft tissue tumor, can also occur in the head and neck region, including the thyroid gland. Cytologic findings are important to differentiate the tumor from other types of neoplasms arising in the thyroid gland.

Case: A 60-year-old man complained of hoarseness.

Downregulation of Cap43 gene by von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor protein in human renal cancer cells.

We previously identified 9 genes (i.e., thymosin beta4, secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine, Cap43, ceruloplasmin, serum amyloid A, heat shock protein 90, LOT1, osteopontin and casein kinase Igamma) that are more highly expressed in cancerous regions than in noncancerous regions in human renal cancers.

Primary gastrointestinal lymphoma in Japan: a clinicopathologic analysis of 455 patients with special reference to its time trends.

Background: An optimal treatment modality for patients with primary gastrointestinal lymphoma has not yet been established. This study aimed to elucidate the clinicopathologic features of this disease and the influence of therapeutic modalities on the prognosis in Japanese patients

Methods: The clinicopathologic features of 455 patients with primary gastrointestinal lymphoma were investigated retrospectively regarding treatment modalities and time trends.

Results: This study comprised 342 patients (75%) with gastric lymphoma, 96 patients (22%) with intestinal lymphoma, and 17 patients (4%) with both gastric and intestinal lymphoma.

p53 Mutation and MDM2 amplification in inflammatory myofibroblastic tumours.

Aims: The pathogenic mechanism and predictive indicators of biological behaviour of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour are poorly understood. We investigated molecular abnormalities of p53 and MDM2 in order to assess whether these play an important role in pathogenesis, and whether they also contribute to clinicopathological aggressive phenotype in inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour.

Methods And Results: We compared the immunohistochemical expression of calponin, h-caldesmon, ALK, and p53 gene mutation and MDM2 gene amplification with clinicopathological findings in 15 cases of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour.

Mucinous cystic tumor of the pancreas: immunohistochemical assessment of "ovarian-type stroma".

The new histopathological classification of exocrine pancreatic tumors by the World Health Organization, now includes "ovarian-type stroma" ("OS") in the definition of mucinous cystic tumor of the pancreas (MCT-P). This study investigated the clinicopathological findings of the MCT-P according to WHO classification and scrutinize the function of "OS" in MCT-P immunohistochemically. Thirty-four cases of MCT-P (28 adenomas, 2 borderline tumors and 4 adenocarcinomas) were examined clinicopathologically.

Sarcomatous hepatocellular carcinoma: a special reference to ordinary hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Sarcomatous hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a worse prognosis than ordinary HCC. The relationship between the malignant potential of sarcomatous HCC and cell proliferation or cell adhesion is unknown. This study was undertaken to clarify this relationship.

Risk factors for renal glomerular and vascular changes in an autopsy-based population survey: the Hisayama study.

Background: Information of the effect of cardiovascular risk factors on renal glomerular and vascular changes is scarce in the general population.

Method: Between 1962 and 1994, 1394 autopsies were performed in Hisayama, for a total autopsy rate of 80%. Of these, 839 individuals who preserved adequate renal tissues and had recent health examinations data before death were eligible for the present study.

Cytogenetic and clinicopathological analysis of soft-tissue leiomyosarcomas.

To identify a characteristic cytogenetic aberration and cytogenetic-morphological correlation in soft-tissue leiomyosarcomas, a karyotypic and clinicopathological analysis of 15 cases of leiomyosarcoma was performed. The histological type was classical in nine cases, pleomorphic in three cases and myxoid in three cases. The histological grade was 1 in three cases, 2 in 10 cases and 3 in two cases.

Low-grade fibrosarcoma of the proximal humerus.

We present the clinical, radiographical and pathological features of low-grade fibrosarcoma of the left proximal humerus in a 23-year-old man in whom it was necessary to distinguish the tumor from desmoplastic fibroma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma and intramedullary well-differentiated osteosarcoma. The patient presented with a 10-day history of pain in his left upper arm sustained when trying to break his fall with his left hand when slipping in the street. Plain radiography revealed an expanding multilobular osteolytic lesion from the proximal metaphysis to the diaphysis of his left humerus, accompanied by a pathological fracture at the distal portion of the lesion.

PTEN/MMAC1 gene mutation is a rare event in soft tissue sarcomas without specific balanced translocations.

The tumor suppressor gene PTEN/MMAC1 was identified on chromosome 10q23.3, which is homozygously deleted in many human malignancies. The loss of chromosome 10q was also frequently reported in some types of soft tissue sarcomas.

Mixed tumor of deep soft tissue.

Mixed tumors of the salivary gland and skin are relatively common but are quite rare in soft tissue. It is believed that, as in the salivary gland form, most of these lesions are benign, but that a small subset behave in an aggressive fashion. We report here a patient with recurrent mixed tumor of soft tissue with infiltrative growth.

Phenotypic expression of gastrointestinal differentiation markers in colorectal adenocarcinomas with liver metastasis.

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to clarify the correlation between phenotypic expression of gastrointestinal differentiation markers and colorectal cancer behaviour, particularly invasion and hepatic metastasis.

Methods: Thirty-one cases of advanced colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRC) with liver metastasis were selected. Phenotypic patterns were evaluated immunohistochemically by means of antibodies to CD10, MUC2, and human gastric mucin (HGM).

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the common bile duct: case report and review of the literature.

A 78-year-old Japanese man with undifferentiated carcinoma of the common bile duct is presented. Upon gross examination, the common bile duct was found to be obstructed by a nodule measuring 10 x 10 mm. Microscopically, the nodule was ill-defined and composed of atypical spindle-shaped and pleomorphic tumor cells.