1/98. Isolation and characterization of a new human breast cancer cell line, KPL-4, expressing the Erb B family receptors and interleukin-6.A new human breast cancer cell line, KPL-4, was recently isolated from the malignant pleural effusion of a breast cancer patient with an inflammatory skin metastasis. This cell line can be cultured under serum-free conditions and is tumorigenic in female athymic nude mice. Flow cytometric analysis revealed the expression of Erb B-1, -2 and -3. Dot blot hybridization showed a 15-fold amplification of the erb B-2. reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis showed a detectable level of mRNA expression of all the Erb B family receptors. In addition, all the receptors were autophosphorylated under a serum-supplemented condition. Unexpectedly, transplanted KPL-4 tumours induced cachexia of recipient mice. A high concentration of interleukin-6 (IL-6) was detected in both the culture medium and the serum of mice. The weight of tumours significantly correlated with the serum IL-6 level. The antiproliferative effect of a humanized anti-Erb B-2 monoclonal antibody, rhuMAbHER2, was investigated. This antibody significantly inhibited the growth of KPL-4 cells in vitro but modestly in vivo. Loss of mouse body weight was partly reversed by rhuMAbHER2. These findings suggest that KPL-4 cells may be useful in the development of new strategies against breast cancer overexpressing the Erb B family receptors and against IL-6-induced cachexia.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = amplification (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/98. neuroblastoma metastatic to the liver in infants.Four infants are described who presented with rapid enlargement of the liver. This was found to be due to neuroblastoma which had metastasized to the liver; the condition was associated with high levels of urinary vanillylmandelic acid (VMA). In 3 infants the primary tumour was in the adrenal gland and in one it was not identified. One infant died after laparotomy and 2 infants survive disease free with normal VMA levels, one after adrenalectomy and hepatic irradiation and one after a short course of chemotherapy. The fourth patient responded initially to hepatic irradiation and chemotherapy, but relapsed 2 years later with recurrent disease; at the same time the VMA level which had been normal, again rose. The importance of screening for an abnormal VMA level in any infant with a rapidly enlarging liver in order to obtain an early diagnosis is stressed. Careful follow-up, with serial VMA estimations, is essential to detect recurrent disease. The prognosis for some infants with this distribution of neuroblastoma which has metastasized to the liver, but not to the bones or oribt, is good.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.00091544314924604keywords = acid (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/98. Well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, gastric foveolar type, of the extrahepatic bile ducts: A previously unrecognized and distinctive morphologic variant of bile duct carcinoma.Two examples of a rare but distinctive morphologic variant of extremely well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the extrahepatic bile ducts are reported. One tumor arose in the common bile duct of a 51-year-old man; the other arose in the common hepatic duct of a 27-year-old man. Both tumors were composed predominantly (>95%) of gastric foveolar-type epithelium. Because of their bland nuclear features, low mitotic index, and focal polypoid and lobular architecture, they were initially confused with adenomas. Foci of less-differentiated adenocarcinoma and perineural invasion present in the deep portions of the tumors facilitated recognition. The neoplastic cells and extracellular mucin were periodic acid-Schiff- and alcian blue-positive. By immunohistochemistry, the tumor cells expressed cytokeratins 8 and 20 as well as cathepsin d, as reported in normal foveolar cells. Likewise, p53 overexpression was documented immunohistochemically in both adenocarcinomas, which also stained with the Ki-67 antibody. Despite the well-differentiated nature of the neoplasms and their deceptively benign microscopic appearance, one patient developed recurrence and liver metastasis 5 years after surgery. The other patient is disease-free 2 years following a segmental resection of the common hepatic duct, cystic duct, and gallbladder. The cell phenotype of these tumors can be explained by the ability of the bile duct epithelium to differentiate along gastric cell lines.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.00091544314924604keywords = acid (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/98. Generalized osteoblastic bony metastases from medulloblastoma.Osteoblastic bony metastases were observed in a case of medulloblastoma three years after surgery and radiation treatment. There was clinical response to COP therapy (cytoxin, oncovin, prednisone). Radiographic and isotopic bone scan study showed uniform increase in bone density. serum calcium and phosphorous and acid phosphatase levels were normal. alkaline phosphatase was elevated and declined with therapy without change in the bone appearance. This suggested an increase in bone deposition activity. However, no increase in calcitonin level was detected either during active disease or following a chemotherapy-induced remission.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.00091544314924604keywords = acid (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/98. Pancreatic cancer associated ascites-derived CTL recognize a nine-amino-acid peptide GP2 derived from HER2/neu.BACKGROUND: The proto-oncogene HER2/neu encodes a 185 kDa transmembrane protein with extensive homology to the epidermal growth factor receptor. It is overexpressed in several human cancers of epithelial origin, such as pancreatic cancer. Previously, we demonstrated that CTL derived from breast, ovarian, and non-small cell lung cancer recognized a peptide derived from HER2/neu. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether this HLA-A2-binding peptide is a TAA in pancreatic cancer and if pancreatic cancer associated t-lymphocytes (TAL) are useful to generate tumor- and peptide-specific CTL. MATERIALS AND methods: TAL from malignant ascites of a HLA-A2 pancreatic cancer patient whose tumor overexpressed HER2/neu were stimulated on solid-phase anti-CD3 and cultured in low-dose IL-2. Using repetitive autologous tumor cell stimulation, CTL were generated. RESULTS: CTL recognized autologous and allogeneic HER2/neu tumor cells in an HLA-A2 restricted fashion significantly. Furthermore, all CTL recognized p654-662 (GP2) derived from HER2/neu, but not the control peptide. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that this HER2/neu derived peptide is a TAA in pancreatic carcinoma. The identification of the HER2/neu derived peptide GP2 as a TAA in pancreatic cancer provides an opportunity for the design of novel immunotherapy and vaccine strategies. The possibility of generating peptide-specific CTL from malignant ascites enables future studies to identify more antigens in this disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.0036617725969842keywords = acid (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/98. Carcinocythemia (carcinoma cell leukemia). An acute leukemia-like picture due to metastatic carcinoma cells.observation of a unique population of cells on a Wright-stained blood smear of a patient with metastatic breast carcinoma prompted a study to determine their origin. The primary carcinoma contained a marker, the presence of "signet cells." These were demonstrated in direct peripheral smears and buffy coat preparation of peripheral blood and confirmed histochemically by showing positive periodic acid-Schiff, alpha-napthol and beta-glucuronidase reactions. "Carcinocythemia" is suggested as a name for this unusual process observed over a six month period. Studies of the patient's immunocompetence, of circulating cell surface immunoglobulins and karyotype analysis were made. Postmortem examination revealed retroperitoneal fibrosis, splenic atrophy and extensive metastatic carcinoma but no evidence of leukemia. The cells will be contrasted to those seen in a second patient who appeared to have acute myelocytic leukemia complicating extensive cancer involving the bone marrow. The observations suggest that a leukemia-like blood picture due to circulating cancer cells may occur during the course of metastatic breast carcinoma.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.00091544314924604keywords = acid (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/98. Extracranial metastasis of a glioma: diagnosis by fine-needle aspiration and immunocytochemistry.Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a well-established method for the rapid diagnosis of metastatic neoplasms. A case of metastatic glioma to the neck is presented. Diagnosis was made by FNAC combined with immunocytological techniques (glial fibrillary acidic protein). To the best of our knowledge, there have only been six previous cases of metastatic gliomas diagnosed by FNAC. FNAC, combined with clinical history and immunocytochemistry, is a rapid and reliable method in the definitive diagnosis of metastatic gliomas.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.00091544314924604keywords = acid (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/98. thyrotoxicosis in a male patient associated with excess human chorionic gonadotropin production by germ cell tumor.We report a case of a man with thyrotoxicosis due to excess production of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) by metastatic choriocarcinoma, followed by alterations of his thyroid function tests by nonthyroidal illness. All reported cases of thyrotoxicosis due to high hCG levels in male patients are reviewed. patients with this syndrome usually have widespread choriocarcinoma and relatively few symptoms of thyrotoxicosis. Typically, if the patient survives the metastatic germ cell tumor, the thyrotoxicosis resolves as the hCG levels decrease after chemotherapy directed at the choriocarcinoma. Only rarely are specific antithyroid medications required. The hCG molecule directly stimulates the thyroid gland, and these patients appear to have in the serum a predominance of acidic variants of hCG with greater intrinsic thyroid-stimulating activity than the hCG secreted during a normal pregnancy. In general, these patients have a poor prognosis due to the usually widespread nature of the germ cell tumor at the time of diagnosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.00091544314924604keywords = acid (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/98. Metastatic reticulum cell sarcoma and lactic acidosis.The clinical course of a woman with metastatic reticulum cell sarcoma and intractable lactic acidosis is described. Although her illness was dominated by a myelopathy, she developed severe lactic acidosis which could not be related to decreased tissue oxygen delivery. Necropsy showed extensive hepatic replacement with tumor and widespread disease. This and other possible pathogenetic factors causing lactic acidosis are discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.0064081020447223keywords = acid (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/98. Cytologic features of pleural effusion in apocrine sweat gland carcinoma. A case report.BACKGROUND: Carcinoma arising in the apocrine sweat glands is very rare, and there are few reports of the cytologic features. We encountered a case of metastatic apocrine carcinoma in a pleural effusion. CASE: A 46-year-old male had a dark reddish nodule in the right axillary region that was diagnosed as apocrine carcinoma of skin appendage origin. Three years after wide resection and chemotherapy, widespread metastases developed with a massive pleural effusion. Needle aspiration fluid cytology contained clusters of adenocarcinoma. Some tumor cells had abundant cytoplasm or periodic acid-Schiff-positive, coarse granules. decapitation secretion was occasionally found on the cell surface. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were often positive for BRST-2 and BRST-3. CONCLUSION: Cytologic features of metastatic apocrine sweat gland carcinoma show some characteristics of adenocarcinoma. Moreover, its definitive diagnosis in a pleural effusion can be made because of retaining the characteristics of apocrine sweat gland.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.00091544314924604keywords = acid (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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