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H Goulding

Publications and source records attributed to H Goulding.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

A new immunohistochemical antibody for the assessment of estrogen receptor status on routine formalin-fixed tissue samples.

We describe a method for the immunocytochemical assessment of estrogen receptor (ER) status on routinely processed, formalin-fixed tissue using a recently developed commercially available monoclonal antibody (Dako 1D5) with a microwave antigen retrieval technique. A series of 90 cases of human breast carcinoma was analyzed and the staining was assessed using a semiquantitative microscopic scoring method and by assessment of the percentage of nuclei showing positive staining. The results were compared with assessment using another commercially available antibody (Abbott H222) and with clinical response to tamoxifen therapy. Direct comparison of the paired sets of H scores and the percentage of positively stained nuclei using the two different techniques showed a significant correlation. By assigning an arbitrary cut-off for positivity of H score = 50, assessment of ER status using DAKO 1D5 antibody was found to correlate with response to tamoxifen therapy with a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 51%, similar to values in previous studies using other methods. We conclude that assessment of ER status using this new antibody and technique gives accurate results on routinely processed, formalin-fixed tissue and may be used as an alternative to other methods.

Adult↗

Assessment of angiogenesis in breast carcinoma: an important factor in prognosis?

Recent evidence suggests that angiogenesis, as assessed by vascular density, may be an independent prognostic factor in breast carcinoma. The authors chose to examine this hypothesis further using two different methods, both using an immunohistochemical technique to assess vascularity. In the first, tissue sections from 93 patients with human breast carcinoma were immunostained for the endothelial antigen CD 34. Fields were selected at random in sections stained with the monoclonal antibody QBEnd/10, and both the number of blood vessels and percentage of endothelial cells per unit area measured using an interactive image analysis system (SEESCAN). In the second, an additional 72 patients were added and the 165 sections immunostained for CD31 (PECAM 1) using the monoclonal antibody JC 709. The area of highest vascular density was then identified and measured. A statistically significant correlation was found between percentage endothelial area and tumor type (P < .03) using the first method, and, for lymph node-negative patients only, between vascular density and tumor type (P < .02) using the second method. There was no correlation with lymph node status, recurrence, distant metastases, or overall survival using either method (minimum follow-up 12 years). The authors conclude that the evaluation of tumor angiogenesis using these methods does not provide additional prognostic information in this group of patients.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Metallothionein expression in human breast cancer.

Metallothioneins are ubiquitous low molecular weight proteins characterised by high cysteine content and affinity for binding heavy metals. Abnormal metallothionein function and expression have been implicated in various disease states, including neoplasia. The aim of this study was to investigate metallothionein expression in human breast carcinoma. Sections of routinely fixed and processed blocks of tumour from 100 consecutive cases of primary operable breast carcinoma were stained for metallothionein using a recently developed monoclonal antibody and a standard immunohistochemical technique. Expression was scored on the basis of microscopical assessment of percentage of tumour cells staining. One patient was lost to follow-up and excluded from the study. A significant association (P < 0.0001) was observed between metallothionein expression and tumour type, with low levels being observed in tumours of good prognostic type. There was also a significant association with local recurrence (P < 0.02) and a significant difference (P < 0.02) in both survival and disease-free interval between tumours showing low and high levels of expression, the latter indicating a poor prognosis. No relationship was observed with patient age, tumour size, lymph node stage, histological grade, vascular invasion, menopausal status or oestrogen receptor status. The assessment of metallothionein expression in human breast cancer appears to provide prognostic information and may have important implications for understanding its development.

Breast Neoplasms↗

A histopathological comparison of the uvula between snorers and non-snorers.

Snoring is a very common problem but there are few publications on the histological findings of the soft palate/uvula and these lack consistency. The relative proportions of tissue types in the base of the uvula removed from 17 adults who underwent uvulopalatopharyngoplasty for heavy snoring were therefore compared with 14 cadaveric specimens. The mean percentage of muscle from the snoring group was 12.1% compared with 7.2% in the control group (P < 0.05). The percentage of fibrous tissue was greater in the cadavers (52.8% vs 45.5% in the snorers, P < 0.05). The percentage of muscle was inversely related to the percentage of fibrous tissue in the snoring group (P < 0.02). We hypothesize that these changes are a consequence of the repetitive forces on the soft palate during snoring rather than being related to the pathogenesis of snoring.

Adult↗

Mucosal polyamine metabolism in the columnar lined oesophagus.

Mucosal ornithine decarboxylase activity and polyamine content has been proposed as a possible marker for malignant potential in gastrointestinal mucosa. Polyamine content and histological findings were examined in 107 pairs of endoscopic biopsy specimens taken from gastric fundus, fundic and specialised Barrett's oesophagus and Barrett's adenocarcinoma. The content of putrescine (median nmol/mg protein, range) the primary product of ornithine decarboxylase showed a progressive increase from gastric fundus (0.41, 0.15-1.5); fundic (0.45, 0.01-4.08); specialised Barrett's oesophagus (0.54, 0.01-2.0); dysplastic columnar lined oesophagus (0.56, 0.31-3.1) to adenocarcinoma (1.23, 0.29-8.98). Adenocarcinoma putrescine content was significantly greater than gastric fundus (p < 0.018) and fundic (p < 0.03). Mucosal spermine, spermidine, and total polyamine values were greater in gastric fundus than fundic, specialised Barrett's oesophagus, and dysplastic columnar lined oesophagus (all p < 0.001) suggesting failure to further metabolise putrescine to its higher polyamines in the metaplastic epithelium. Although metaplastic columnar lined oesophagus shows significant differences in polyamine metabolic activity from the stomach the important distinction between specialised and dysplastic columnar lined oesophagus cannot be made by measuring the polyamine content.

Adenocarcinoma↗