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C Sutter

Publications and source records attributed to C Sutter.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Glioblastoma multiforme as a manifestation of Turcot syndrome].

Turcot's syndrome, clinically characterized by the coincident occurrence of primary tumors of the colon and the central nervous system, can genetically be divided into two syndromes: familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and hereditary nonpolyposis colon carcinoma (HNPCC). In the present case, a 60-year-old patient with glioblastoma multiforme and a history of hereditary malignomas is described as an example of a HNPCC-associated Turcot's syndrome. New molecular biological methods and results give deeper insight into clinical syndromes, and the better understanding improves diagnostics, therapy, and outcome estimations, even in rare diseases. In the present case, a new germinal mutation could be identified.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Comprehensive genetic counseling for families at risk for HNPCC: impact on distress and perceptions.

The aim of the study was to explore distress and health beliefs before and after comprehensive interdisciplinary counseling in families at risk for hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). Results reported here were derived from a consecutive sample of 65 counselees [31 patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and 34 unaffected at-risk persons] who participated in interdisciplinary counseling provided by human geneticists, surgeons, and psycho-oncologists before genetic testing. Data were collected from self-administered questionnaires before, as well as 4-6 weeks after, counseling. Distress and perceptions specific to HNPCC were assessed at both timepoints using standardized as well as author-derived instruments. Distress declined after counseling, as did worries related to HNPCC. An increase was found in personal belief in control of cancer risk, for instance, in the perceived efficacy of early detection of CRC. We also observed a trend toward greater anticipated ability to cope with a positive gene test after counseling. Changes after counseling were generally more pronounced for persons at risk, as compared to patients with cancer. The decrease in distress was partly attributable to an increase in personal self-confidence. One-third of the sample reported enhanced communication specific to hereditary disease within the family after counseling. A substantial minority, however, said they experienced increased worry and physical symptoms after counseling. Overall, counselees demonstrated less stress and perceived cancer threat as well as enhanced beliefs regarding personal control over cancer, suggesting an overall beneficial impact of comprehensive counseling. Further research is needed to identify those individuals most at risk for increased fear and worry related to HNPCC so that they may be most appropriately counseled.

Adult↗

Systematic identification of genes with coding microsatellites mutated in DNA mismatch repair-deficient cancer cells.

Microsatellite instability (MSI) caused by deficient DNA mismatch-repair functions is a hallmark of cancers associated with the hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) syndrome but is also found in about 15% of all sporadic tumors. Most affected microsatellites reside in untranslated intergenic or intronic sequences. However, recently few genes with coding microsatellites were also shown to be mutational targets in MSI-positive cancers and might represent important mutation targets in their pathogenesis. The systematic identification of such genes and the analysis of their mutation frequency in MSI-positive cancers might thus reveal major clues to their functional role in MSI-associated carcinogenesis. We therefore initiated a systematic database search in 33,595 distinctly annotated human genes and identified 17,654 potentially coding mononucleotide repeats (cMNRs) and 2,028 coding dinucleotide repeats (cDNRs), which consist of n > or = 6 and n > or = 4 repeat units, respectively. Expression pattern and mutation frequency of 19 of these genes with the longest repeats were compared between DNA mismatch repair-deficient (MSI(+)) and proficient (MSS) cancer cells. Instability frequencies in these coding microsatellite genes ranged from 10% to 100% in MSI-H tumor cells, whereas MSS cancer cells did not show mutations. RT-PCR analysis further showed that most of the affected genes (10/15) were highly expressed in tumor cells. The approach outlined here identified a new set of genes frequently affected by mutations in MSI-positive tumor cells. It will lead to novel and highly specific diagnostic and therapeutic targets for microsatellite unstable cancers.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Evaluation of Bethesda guidelines in relation to microsatellite instability.

PURPOSE: The Bethesda guidelines were developed for selection of patients whose tumors should be tested for high microsatellite instability. This study examined the validity of the different Bethesda criteria in relation to microsatellite instability status to simplify their use in clinical practice. METHODS: A total of 164 patients with colorectal or hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer-associated cancers were registered on the basis of the Amsterdam criteria without age limitations (11 cases), multiple tumors (2 cases), the accumulation of colorectal cancer in the family (no first-degree relatives affected or the index patient's age up to 50 years; 45 cases), an early age at onset up to 50 years (13 cases), morphologic and histopathologic manifestations (right-sided colorectal cancer, mucinous undifferentiated histology; 1 case), and the Bethesda criteria (92 cases). The microsatellite instability status of tumors was determined using the International Collaborative Group on Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer marker reference panel. RESULTS: When applying all Bethesda criteria, high microsatellite instability tumors were identified in our hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer registry with a sensitivity of 87 percent. Twenty-nine percent (27/92) of the Bethesda-positive patients displayed high microsatellite instability compared with 6 percent of patients (4/72) not meeting these criteria (P < 0.001). Only Bethesda Criteria 1, 3, and 4 showed a significantly different distribution of the microsatellite instability status when compared with those of the remaining patients registered (P < or = 0.001). These three criteria detected high microsatellite instability tumors in 48 percent (10/21), 50 percent (18/36), and 31 percent (21/67) of patients, respectively. When applying these criteria only, a cumulative detection rate of 77 percent of all (24/31) high microsatellite instability cases was found, thereby identifying 89 percent of high microsatellite instability tumors among the Bethesda-positive patients. Patients matching Criteria 1, 3, and 4 frequently showed hMSH2 or hMLH1 germline mutations and tumor-specific loss of protein expression. CONCLUSION: In our hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer registry the complete Bethesda criteria showed the highest sensitivity to identify patients with high microsatellite instability tumors. However, for general medical practice outside academic centers, three criteria are reasonably accurate for adequate high microsatellite instability tumor selection.

Adult↗

Magnetic splitting of valence states in ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic lanthanide metals

The magnetic splitting of Delta(2) valence states in the heavy lanthanide metals Gd, Tb, Dy, and Ho was studied in epitaxial films by angle-resolved photoemission, revealing an essentially Stoner-like temperature dependence in all cases. It scales linearly with the 4f spin moment, even in the case of the helical antiferromagnet Ho. Such a behavior can be explained by a substantial localization of the corresponding wave function in the c direction. The helical magnetic structure was confirmed for the thin Ho films by in situ resonant magnetic x-ray diffraction.

Journal Article↗

Molecular screening of potential HNPCC patients using a multiplex microsatellite PCR system.

Microsatellite instability (MSI) is a molecular hallmark of the H ereditary N on- P olyposis C olorectal C ancer (HNPCC) syndrome occurring in about 80-90% of the tumours and also in sporadic tumours of different organs, albeit at lower frequency. Highly unstable colorectal tumours (MSI-H) have different histopathological features and tend to have a better prognosis compared to neoplasms without (MSS) or with low levels of microsatellite instability (MSI-L). Since MSI classification allows the identification of potential HNPCC patients and might represent a valuable diagnostic parameter an increasing demand for high-throughput microsatellite analysis will arise. Therefore, we have adapted five diagnostic microsatellites, m(odified) ACTC, mBAT26, mD5S107, mD5S406 and mD13S153, to allow coamplification. Using this multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system 29 colorectal tumour tissues with known MSI status could be unambiguously identified as MSI-H (13 cases) or MSI-L/MSS (16 cases). Highly unstable colorectal tumour detection frequency of individual markers reached 77% (mD5S406), 85% (mACTC), 85% (mD5S107), 92% (D13S153) and 100% (mBAT26) showing similar sensitivity but improved specificity as compared with a microsatellite reference panel. In a prospective analysis of 31 colorectal tumours, the multiplex PCR system identified five MSI-H cases. Multiplex MSI PCR is a time saving and cost-effective method not restricted to specific technical equipment and applicable to a variety of microsatellite-based genotyping approaches.

Colorectal Neoplasms↗

Sampling technique influences the detection of K-ras mutations in normal appearing mucosa of colorectal cancer patients.

Based on three colorectal cancer cell lines with specified K-ras status, a sensitive PCR-RFLP assay was established detecting one K-ras mutant among 106 wild-type cells. Using this assay for tissues of 124 colorectal cancer patients, 59 tumor (46%) and 11 mucosa samples (9%) were found to harbor a K-ras mutation. When using the same scalpel for collecting tumor and mucosa tissues (group A), 18% of the patients had a matching K-ras mutation in both tissues, but this coincidence was seen in 3% of patients only, when separate scalpels were used (group B). Thus we conclude that the sampling technique used for collecting specimens is a major contributor to the detection of K-ras mutations in normal appearing mucosa when a highly sensitive detection technique is used.

Aged↗

[Modification of surgical strategy in HNPCC by molecular and clinical aspects].

Because of the positive correlation between Amsterdam criteria and positive MSI analysis, a subtotal colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis seems to be indicated in patients with positive Amsterdam criteria to eliminate the high risk of metachronous colon cancer. In patients with an identified mutation in one of the known mismatch repair genes, a subtotal colectomy is indicated as well. In patients with positive Bethesda criteria, apart from the Amsterdam criteria, a subtotal colectomy seems only to be indicated if a positive MSI analysis is available.

Adult↗

Differential diagnosis of malignant tumours in the abdominal cavity of rats after intraperitoneal injection of crocidolite or benzo[a]pyrene.

In our investigation (i.p. test), crocidolite and benzo[a]pyrene, both caused a progression from initially reactive, then autonomously transformed proliferation of myofibroblasts and undifferentiated mesenchymal cells to malignant, multidirectionally differentiated (desmin and ED-1 positive) fibro-histiocytic tumours. Immunohistochemically these tumours showed no morphological characteristics (for example co-expression of vimentin and keratin in spindle-shaped tumour cells) of human asbestos-associated malignant mesotheliomas. On the other hand many tumour cells induced by crocidolite and benzo[a]pyrene had an ultrastructural appearance resembling fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. These have been demonstrated in only a few desmoplastic and sarcomatous mesotheliomas in human beings. None of the tumours revealed the typical ultrastructural features of epitheloid or transitional mesotheliomas. Apparently, both carcinogenic substances induce the transformation of undifferentiated pluripotent mesenchymal cells in rat peritoneum, regardless of their localization in the submesothelial compartment or perivascular connective tissue (preferentially after crocidolite application) or in the connective tissue pseudocapsule of major benzo[a]pyrene containing beeswax/tricaprylin depots in the mesometrium and mesenterial fatty tissue. In this way asbestos fibres in this animal experiment do not seem to induce an arrest in differentiation of intermediate or immature mesothelial cells as supposed formerly, but rather affect undifferentiated mesenchyme cells and myofibroblasts. This is an explanation for the immunohistochemical expression of markers of muscular differentiation in these tumour cells, which is known to occur in human malignant fibro-histiocytic tumours. If supplementary immunohistochemical investigations with different keratin antibodies also fail to confirm the mesothelial differentiation of the tumours induced in our i.p. test, the decision to call them "mesotheliomas" should be reconsidered. Further immuno-transmission-electron microscopical investigations with intermediate filament or macrophage antibodies are needed to clarify whether the term malignant "fibrohistiocytic sarcoma", "mesenchymoma" or "mesothelioblastoma" would be more correct from the morphological point of view.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗

Analysis of v-Ha-ras and v-fos oncogene transduction into a mouse epidermal cell line with "initiated" phenotype in culture but normal skin phenotype in vivo.

Cell line SCR722 was derived from adult SENCAR mouse epidermal cells initiated in culture by treatment with the carcinogen N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and selection for foci proliferating in medium with calcium levels that induce terminal differentiation in normal cells. Expansion of one of these foci and two additional cell clonings produced cell line SCR722, which was near-tetraploid and formed normal skin when grafted to athymic nude mouse hosts. However, unlike normal keratinocytes, SCR722 cells fail to suppress papilloma formation when grafted along with papilloma cell line SP-1. For optimum growth in culture, SCR722 cells required fibroblast-conditioned medium and 0.5 mM Ca2+. SCR722 cells had a wild-type c-Ha-ras gene but had lost their requirement for conditioned medium in culture and produced dysplastic papillomas in grafts when transduced with the v-Ha-ras gene. SCR722 cells stably expressing the v-fos gene produced normal epidermis in grafts, but when these cells were transduced with the v-Ha-ras gene, they produced carcinomas. Clones with greater expression of the transfected v-fos gene had a more invasive phenotype in vivo. These results indicate that carcinogen treatment of epithelial cells can result in an altered but nontumorigenic phenotype that may be at risk for becoming a more advanced neoplastic state with additional genetic alterations.

Animals↗

Importance of the lateral view in the evaluation of suspected brain death.

The authors present two cases of clinical brain death that failed to meet the criteria for whole brain death using Tc-99m HMPAO. Conventional anterior cerebral flow studies demonstrated no intracerebral perfusion. Anterior static images also failed to show cerebral activity. However, the lateral images clearly demonstrate cerebellar activity. These cases demonstrate the importance of Tc-99m HMPAO as the agent of choice in evaluating brain death and the necessity of lateral views to meet the criteria for whole brain death. Cerebellar perfusion challenges the present criteria for whole brain death. New criteria must re-evaluate the present technology.

Adolescent↗

SENCAR mouse skin tumors produced by promotion alone have A to G mutations in codon 61 of the c-rasHa gene.

SENCAR mice, developed by selective breeding for high susceptibility to skin carcinogenesis by initiation with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and promotion with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), form squamous papillomas in approximately 20% of animals treated repeatedly with TPA, without chemical initiation. DNA from eight skin tumors produced by a TPA-only protocol and four cell lines derived from these tumors was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and analyzed by discriminative oligonucleotide hybridization using oligomers specific for various c-rasHa gene codon 61 sequences. Five tumors and three cell lines had CAA (wild-type) to CGA mutations. In addition, one tumor had a CAA to CTA mutation, for a total of six of eight tumors having an activating mutation at this codon. Two tumors and one cell line had no codon 61 mutations detectable by this method. Since tumors derived from promotion-only protocols presumably originated from constitutively initiated cells, we examined tumor-free skins of untreated newborn and eight-month-old retired breeders and of 78-88-week-old SENCAR mice of both sexes, which were treated with TPA for 10 weeks starting at age 16-28 weeks and were untreated thereafter. Only the wild-type c-rasHa gene codon 61 sequence was seen, suggesting that the constitutively initiated cell population, if present, is below the limit of detection by this method.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

[Elevated p53 protein expression in normal and neoplastic light-exposed epidermis].

p53 protein levels are frequently elevated in basal (BCC) and squamous (SCC) cell carcinomas of UV-exposed sites. As recent findings in benign epidermal neoplasia (BEN) and normal epidermis (NE) are controversial, our aim was to look by immunohistochemistry for elevated p53 levels in NE (n = 52), reactive hyperplastic epidermis (REH, n = 8), BEN (n = 48), actinic keratosis (AK, n = 60), SCC (n = 13), and BCC (n = 42) of sun-exposed sites. 81.7% of AK, 100% of SCC, 73.8% of BCC as well as 29.2% of BEN, 37.5% of REH, and 26.9% of NE showed p53 positivity. The results further support that p53 elevated levels are an early marker of UV-mediated epidermal DNA damage.

Basal Cell Carcinoma↗

ras gene activation and aberrant expression of keratin K13 in ultraviolet B radiation-induced epidermal neoplasias of mouse skin.

Both papillomas and squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) induced in mouse epidermis by initiation with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) and promotion with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) exhibit aberrant expression of a type I keratin, K13, that is normally characteristic of terminal differentiation of internal stratified epithelia. There is evidence that the aberrant expression of K13 depends on the presence of an activated ras gene in mouse epidermal keratinocytes (Sutter et al., Mol Carcinog 4:467-476, 1991). To assess the general validity of this hypothesis, we investigated both aberrant K13 expression and activation of each of the three members of the ras gene family in epidermal tumors induced in four different mouse strains (SKH-1 hr, SENCAR, BALB/c, and C3H/He) by chronic irradiation with ultraviolet (UV) B. The tumor collection comprised nine papillomas and 30 well or poorly differentiated SCC. Aberrant K13 expression occurred in only five of 39 tumors and was restricted to SCC of both types. This indicates that aberrant K13 expression in UV-induced epidermal tumors was intrinsically different from that in chemically induced tumors. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of the tumors for different point mutations in codons 12, 13, and 61 of the Ha-ras and Ki-ras genes and in codon 61 of the N-ras gene revealed that only one of the well differentiated tumors from a SKH-1 hr mouse exhibited a GGA-->GAA mutation in codon 12 of the Ha-ras gene. Although this tumor was also positive for aberrant K13 expression, such a correlation could not be made for the remaining K13-expressing tumors. This indicates that the activation of one of the members of the ras gene family is not a general prerequisite for the aberrant expression of K13 in mouse epidermal keratinocytes.

Animals↗

7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced mouse keratinocyte malignant transformation independent of Harvey ras activation.

Independent clones of mouse keratinocytes initiated in vitro gave rise to tumor phenotypes typical of mouse skin multistage carcinogenesis and histologically similar to human tumors of the skin, and head and neck. High-molecular-weight genomic DNAs isolated from two 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-initiated murine epithelial carcinoma cell lines and one papilloma cell line were examined for transforming activity by transfection into NIH3T3 cells. DNAs from each of these cell lines resulted in the formation of foci morphologically unlike foci containing an activated c-Ha-ras oncogene. Following polymerase chain reaction amplification of the c-Ha-ras gene, Xba I restriction analysis and oligonucleotide differential hybridization did not detect 61st, 12th, or 13th codon mutations. Southern and Northern analysis confirmed that the normal c-Ha-ras gene was not activated by amplification or overexpression. These results provide evidence that 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced malignant transformation of murine keratinocytes occurred independent of point mutations associated with c-Ha-ras activation. The absence of an activated c-Ha-ras oncogene in these cell lines distinguishes our model from other mouse models of carcinogenesis and may provide a model for functional genetic changes during initiation and progression of human epithelial cancers.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Carcinogen-specific mutational pattern in the p53 gene in ultraviolet B radiation-induced squamous cell carcinomas of mouse skin.

We have examined 35 epidermal tumors induced in mice of four different strains by chronic exposure to ultraviolet B radiation for the presence of aberrations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene. Polymerase chain reaction products from p53 exons 5 to 8 were screened by single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis and sequencing. Base substitutions were found in seven tumors (20%). All mutations occurred at dipyrimidine sequences; most frequent were C-->T single base and CC-->TT tandem transitions suggesting the involvement of UV radiation in the genesis of the mutations. Three base substitutions were located at codon 148, and all dipyrimidine-derived mutations occurred at sites where the sequence is present in the nontranscribed DNA strand, indicating some site and strand specificity of the ultraviolet B-induced p53 mutations.

Animals↗

v-Ha-ras-induced mouse skin papillomas exhibit aberrant expression of keratin K13 as do their 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene/12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate -induced analogues.

Introduction of the v-Ha-ras gene into primary epidermal keratinocytes, followed by grafting of these cells to animals, leads to the formation of benign epidermal tumors that resemble papillomas induced chemically by a two-stage carcinogenesis protocol. In this study, we investigated v-Ha-ras-induced papillomas for aberrant expression of type I keratin K13, previously described in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene/12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13- acetate (DMBA/TPA)-induced mouse epidermal tumors. Papillomas produced from three independent infection series were removed 3 wk after grafting concomitant with control grafts originating from mock-, neo-, and v-fos-infected primary keratinocytes. Combined analysis of the grafts by western blotting of extracted keratins and immunofluorescence studies of frozen sections with a K13-monospecific antibody revealed K13 expression in all v-Ha-ras-induced papillomas and absence of this keratin in all control grafts. K13-positive cells in papillomas were restricted to the suprabasal cell layers of the lesions and, at this stage of papilloma development, occurred as foci of varying extensions. Analysis of genomic DNA from v-Ha-ras-induced papillomas for the methylation state of a CpG dinucleotide in the distant promoter region of the K13 gene revealed the occurrence of unmethylated DNA copies that were generated at the expense of methylated DNA copies ubiquitously present in normal epidermis. The ratio of unmethylated to methylated DNA copies correlated with the extent of suprabasal K13 protein expression. Thus, all features of aberrant K13 expression previously described in DMBA/TPA-induced papillomas were shared by v-Ha-ras-induced papillomas.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗