Biomedical subjects

Hermann Brustmann

Publications and source records attributed to Hermann Brustmann.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

DNA fragmentation factor (DFF45): expression and prognostic value in serous ovarian cancer.

This study investigated the expression of DNA fragmentation factor (DFF45), MIB-1, and p53 in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded archival tissues of 50 ovarian serous carcinomas. In addition, 10 benign serous cystadenomas and 10 serous neoplasms of low malignant potential (LMP) were included in this DFF45 immunostudy. With regard to quantity and intensity of positively stained cells, immunostaining for DFF45 was scored as low or strong. MIB-1 labeling indexes (LIs) were quantitated as the percentage of positively stained nuclei in 1000 nuclei. For p53, at least 10% of tumor cells had to display nuclear staining to consider a case positive. DFF45 staining was noted predominantly in the nucleus. Low DFF45 expression was identified in all serous cystadenomas and in LMPs, as well as in 18 (36%) ovarian serous carcinomas. The latter displayed strong expression in 32 cases (64%). DFF45 immunoreactivity increased with FIGO stage and with grade (P=0.0213 and 0.0084, respectively), as well as with p53 positivity (P=0.04), but not with MIB-1 LIs (P=0.076). A trend towards poor outcome was observed in patients whose tumors displayed high levels of DFF45 immunoexpression (P=0.0187). Apoptotic bodies were consistently DFF45-negative. This study indicates that DFF45 expression is frequently upregulated in ovarian serous carcinomas and may serve as a marker of aggressive behavior with prognostic value.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Myxoglobulosis of the appendix associated with a proximal carcinoid and a pseudodiverticulum.

A 37-year-old woman presented with acute right lower abdominal pain. Intraoperatively, the appendix was enlarged and distended. The lumen of the appendix was tightly filled with pearl-like globules, diagnostic of myxoglobulosis, a rare variant of mucocele of the appendix. A carcinoid of 2.0 cm diameter was found in the proximal region of the appendix. The appendiceal mucosa showed hyperplastic-adenomatous changes. A pseudodiverticulum interpreted as evidence of increased intraluminal pressure was detected. The latter may be an adjunct to the proximal partial obstruction of the appendiceal lumen by the carcinoid in the development of the spheroids of myxoglobulosis.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Intestinal metastases in a squamous cell carcinoma arising in mature cystic teratoma of the ovary: a case report.

Metastatic spread to the intestines by squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) arising in mature cystic teratoma (MCT) or dermoid cyst is a very rare event. A case of a 40-year-old cachectic woman is presented with an MCT of the left ovary found at autopsy. Focal mural thickening of the cyst wall harbored a moderately differentiated SCC with single cell keratinization. Intramural metastases were noted in the jejunum, ileum, colon transversum, and left colonic flexure. In addition, liver metastases were detected. The tumor was staged as FIGO IV. The peritoneum was covered diffusely by fibrinous and suppurative exudate. In this unusual case, metastasizing SCC of the ovary arising in an MCT led to suppurative peritonitis and consequently to death of the patient. Follow-up procedures regarding intestinal spread could be useful in patients with SCC in MCT.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Galectin-3 and CD1a-positive dendritic cells are involved in the development of an invasive phenotype in vulvar squamous lesions.

In this study, the expression patterns of Galectin-3 (Gal-3) and the frequency of infiltrating CD1a positive dendritic cells (DCs) were determined in 82 cases of vulvar tissues, consisting of normal squamous epithelia (NE, N = 10), vulvar condylomas (VC, N = 24), high grade vulvar intraepithelial neoplasias (HG-VIN, N = 26) of common type, and invasive keratinizing squamous cell carcinomas (SCC, N = 22) by a standard immunohistochemical method using monoclonal antibodies to investigate their differential expression in vulvar squamous dysplasia and infiltrating carcinomas with an emphasis on neoplastic transformation and progression. Gal-3 expression was cytoplasmic, nuclear or membranous in NE, VCs, and HG-VINs, with negative or weak and occasionally moderate reactivities. In SCCs, exclusively cytoplasmic staining patterns with moderate or strong reactivity in 59% of cases were observed (p < 0.0001, chi-square test); Gal-3 expression was not related with stage, grade, and recurrence. The frequency of CD1a positive DCs increased from NE and VCs to highest numbers in HG-VINs, was lowest in SCCs (p < 0.0001, ANOVA), and was not related with stage and grade, but with recurrence in SCCs (p = 0,048, t-test). This study indicates that qualitative and quantitative changes of Gal-3 immunoexpression and infiltration by CD1a positive DCs in vulvar NE, VCs, and HG-VIN lesions, respectively, compared with SCCs play a role in the development of an infiltrative phenotype, and may provide adjunctive criteria in the diagnosis of invasion of vulvar squamous epithelia.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Immunohistochemical detection of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and c-kit in serous ovarian carcinoma: a clinicopathologic study.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and c-kit in a cohort of serous ovarian carcinomas by immunohistochemistry with regard to outcome and clinicopathologic variables. METHODS: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded archival tissue sections of 10 benign serous cystadenomas, 10 serous neoplasms of low malignant potential (LMP), and 41 serous ovarian carcinomas were immunostained with antibodies to hTERT and c-kit. Immunostaining was scored with regard to quantity and intensity of positively stained cells as negative or weak, moderate, and strong. Mitotic activity was determined as mitotic figures per 10 high power fields. RESULTS: hTERT expression was negative in serous cystadenomas; 70% of LMP showed strong nuclear immunoreactivity. In serous carcinomas, nuclear and sometimes cytoplasmic immunoreactivity was observed; 14% of cases were scored as negative, 42% as moderate, and 44% as strong. hTERT immunoreactivity increased with grade (P < 0.0192) and mitotic activity (P = 0.0018), but not with FIGO stage (P = 0.2752), and was related with outcome (P = 0.0477). No c-kit immunoreactivity was observed in serous cystadenomas and LMP; 27% of serous carcinomas were negative, 46% showed moderate, and 27% strong immunostaining. c-kit immunoreactivity was positively correlated with grade (P = 0.0008) and FIGO stage (P = 0.0247), but not with mitotic activity (P = 0.1433) and outcome (P = 0.1145); however, c-kit expression was positively related with poor outcome in FIGO II and III stages (P = 0.0105). CONCLUSIONS: hTERT and c-kit are frequently up-regulated in serous ovarian carcinomas; c-kit immunoexpression may serve as a marker of aggressive behavior in high stage tumors.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Immunohistochemical detection of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), topoisomerase IIalpha expression, and apoptosis in endometrial adenocarcinoma and atypical hyperplasia.

This study evaluated the immunohistochemical expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) in endometrial carcinoma and atypical endometrial hyperplasia, and related it to the expression of topoisomerase (TP)IIalpha (a proliferation associated enzyme); apoptosis as determined by the frequency of apoptotic bodies (ABI); mitotic counts; and other clinicopathologic variables. Immunoreactivity for hTERT and TPIIalpha as well as ABI were assessed in 57 endometrial samples (12 atypical hyperplasias, 33 endometrioid carcinomas, 12 serous/clear cell carcinomas). hTERT immunoreactivity, TPIIalpha labeling indices (LI), ABI, and ratios of the indices (ABI/TPIIalpha LI) increased from atypical hyperplasias to endometrioid carcinomas to serous/clear cell carcinomas (p < 0.0001 for each variable). hTERT expression increased with ABI (p < 0.0001), TPIIalpha LI (p = 0.0019), ABI/TPIIalpha ratios (p < 0.0001), and grade (p = 0.0005), but not with FIGO stage (p = 0.2775). TPIIalpha LI, ABI, and ratios were related to high grade (p = 0.0001 for each variable), but not with FIGO stage (p = 0.7362, p = 0.7554, and p = 0.7405, respectively). TPIIalpha LI and ABI were significantly correlated in atypical hyperplasias (p = 0.0004), endometrioid carcinomas (p < 0.0001), and serous/clear cell carcinomas (p = 0.024). Immunostaining levels for hTERT were similar in atypical hyperplasias and grade 1 endometrioid carcinomas (p = 0.1956). These results suggest that hTERT expression is closely related to proliferation, apoptosis, and high grade in endometrial carcinomas, reflecting cell cycle deregulation in endometrial carcinogenesis.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2004

Expression of cellular apoptosis susceptibility protein in serous ovarian carcinoma: a clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the expression of cellular apoptosis susceptibility protein (CAS) in serous ovarian carcinoma by immunohistochemistry and compared it with topoisomerase IIalpha (topo IIalpha), bcl-2, bcl-x, the frequency of apoptotic bodies (ABI), mitotic activity, and c-erbB-2 with regard to clinicopathologic variables. METHODS: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded archival tissue sections of 10 benign serous cystadenomas, 10 serous neoplasms of low malignant potential (LMP), and 41 serous ovarian carcinomas were immunostained with antibodies to CAS, bcl-x, topo IIalpha, bcl-2, and c-erbB-2. Immunostaining for CAS, bcl-x, and bcl-2 was scored concerning approximate percentage of positive tumor cells and relative staining intensity. For c-erbB-2, at least 10% of tumor cells had to display membrane staining. Topo IIalpha-labeling indices were quantitated as the percentage of positively stained nuclei in 1000 tumor cells. ABIs were reported as the number of apoptotic bodies in 1000 tumor cells, mitotic activity as mitotic figures per 10 high power fields. RESULTS: CAS expression was negative in serous cystadenomas and LMP. In contrast, moderate or strong immunostaining was observed in 34 of 41 cases (83%) of serous carcinomas. CAS immunoreactivity was positively related with ABI (P = 0.0170), mitotic activity (P < 0.0001), c-erbB-2 (P = 0.0153), grade (P = 0.0107), and adverse outcome (P = 0.0035), but not with FIGO stage, topo IIalpha, bcl-2, and bcl-x. Other variables indicating outcome were topo IIalpha, c-erbB-2, and ABI. CONCLUSIONS: CAS is frequently upregulated in serous ovarian carcinomas, correlated with apoptosis and mitotic activity, and relevant prognostically. CAS protein expression may serve as a marker of aggressive tumor behavior in serous ovarian carcinomas.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

PubMed2004

Vascular endothelial growth factor expression in serous ovarian carcinoma: relationship with topoisomerase II alpha and prognosis.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and topoisomerase II alpha (TPII alpha) in a cohort of serous ovarian carcinomas by immunohistochemistry with regard to outcome and clinicopathologic variables. METHODS: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded archival tissue sections of 10 benign serous cystadenomas and 41 serous ovarian carcinomas were immunostained with antibodies to VEGF and TPII alpha. Immunostaining for VEGF was scored with regard to quantity and intensity of positively stained cells as weak, focal strong, and diffuse strong. TPII alpha labeling indices (LI) were quantitated as the percentage of positively stained nuclei in 1000 tumor cells. RESULTS: VEGF expression was weak or negative in serous cystadenomas. In contrast, focal or diffuse strong immunostaining was observed in 21 cases (51%) of serous carcinomas. VEGF immunoreactivity was positively related with TPII alpha LI (P = 0.0055), adverse outcome (P = 0.0052), high International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage (P = 0.0158), and high tumor grade (P = 0.0303). TPII alpha LI increased with FIGO stage (P = 0.0076) as well as tumor grade (P = 0.0034) and indicated poor prognosis (P = 0.0182). CONCLUSIONS: VEGF immunoreactivity is related with TPII alpha LI and prognostically relevant. Expression of VEGF protein and TPII alpha may serve as markers of aggressive tumor behavior in serous adenocarcinomas.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

PubMed2003

Galectin-3 expression in normal, hyperplastic, and neoplastic endometrial tissues.

This study evaluated the expression of galectin-3 in 101 curettage specimens from normal, hyperplastic, and neoplastic endometrial tissues using immunohistochemistry. The histologic diagnoses were as follows: normal proliferative (n = 8) and secretory (n = 4) phase, simple hyperplasia (SH, n = 16), complex hyperplasia without atypia (CH, n = 11), atypical hyperplasia (AH, n = 13), endometrioid adenocarcinoma (EC, n = 35), serous papillary carcinoma (SPC, n = 10), and clear cell carcinoma (CC, n = 4). Immunostaining was scored with regard to the approximate percentage of positive tumor cells and relative staining intensity. The scores of immunostaining increased significantly from NE, SH, CH, and AH to the adenocarcinomas (ANOVA, p < 0.0001). Subsequently, three significantly different levels of galectin-3 expression were found (Newman-Keuls multiple comparison test). These consisted of (a) NE, SH, and CH, (b) AH and EC, and (c) SPC and CC. Galectin-3 expression increased with tumor grade (ANOVA, p = 0.0026). The scores of FIGO stages I to III did not differ significantly (ANOVA, p = 0.1687). Enhanced nuclear galectin-3 expression was noted in carcinomas, immunostaining of stromal cells decreased in the latter. This study shows that galectin-3 expression increases from normal and hyperplastic to atypical hyperplastic and cancerous states of endometrial tissues, and provides further evidence of a relationship between AH and EC.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Vascular endothelial growth factor expression in serous ovarian carcinoma: relationship with high mitotic activity and high FIGO stage.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by neoplastic cells in serous ovarian cystadenocarcinoma in relation to proliferation as determined by mitotic activity and to FIGO stage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded archival tissue from 10 benign serous cystadenomas and 45 serous carcinomas was immunostained with a polyclonal antibody to VEGF (Biogenex) utilizing the LSAB kit, alkaline phosphatase (Dako). Positivity was scored as (0) for no, (+) for weak, and (++) for strong staining. Mitotic activity was determined on hematoxylin and eosin stained sections as mitotic figures per 10 high power fields; for carcinomas, three mitotic activity groups (MAG) were established (0-9 = I [N = 13], 10-24 = II [N = 18], >24 = III [N = 14]). The data were analyzed by Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: In cystadenomas, focal and weak (+) VEGF expression was found in six cases; mitoses were rare. In carcinomas, no significant difference of (+) and (++) staining intensity was found between MAG I and II (P = 0.6239). In MAG II, focal (++) staining was frequently observed on a background of (+). (++) staining was significantly more frequent in MAG III compared with MAG II (P = 0.0027). Diffuse (++) was more common in MAG III than in MAG II (P = 0.0062). FIGO III cases displayed more frequently a diffuse (++) staining than the FIGO I and FIGO II cases taken together (P = 0.0017). CONCLUSION: VEGF expression as determined by immunohistochemistry is related to high mitotic activity and high FIGO stage in serous ovarian cystadenocarcinomas. VEGF expression seems to be an interesting indicator of neoplastic proliferation and may offer therapeutic options for these cancers.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Expression of topoisomerase IIalpha, Ki-67, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, p53, and argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions in vulvar squamous lesions.

OBJECTIVE: It was the aim of this study to investigate the expression of topoisomerase IIalpha (topo IIalpha), Ki-67, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), p53, and argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) staining in normal vulvar epithelia (NE, N = 10), vulvar condylomas (VC, N = 24), vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN, N = 26), as well as squamous cell carcinomas (SCC, N = 22) of the vulva. METHODS: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded archival tissue sections were immunostained with monoclonal antibodies against topo IIalpha, p53, and PCNA, as well as an affinity-isolated prediluted ready-to-use Ki-67 antibody using a standard immunohistochemical method, and stained with a colloid silver solution for AgNORs. Immunostaining was quantitated by determining the percentage of positively staining nuclei in each sample to express the labeling indices (LIs) by counting the immunoreactive nuclei in 1000 epithelial cells per case for each antibody. In each specimen 200 nuclei were examined using a x100 oil emersion lens, and the mean number of AgNORs per nucleus (AC) was calculated. RESULTS: The LIs for topo IIalpha, Ki-67, and PCNA as well as ACs increased stepwise from NE to VCs, VIN lesions, and SCCs. In contrast to PCNA LIs and ACs, a consistent correlation in all four groups was found for Ki-67 and topo IIalpha, suggesting that the latter is a proliferation-associated marker in these tissues. p53 expression was seen 8.3% of VCs, 30.8% of VIN lesions, and 54.45% of SCCs. p53 LIs were not correlated with LIs for topo IIalpha or Ki-67 in SCCs. The LIs for topo IIalpha, Ki-67, PCNA, p53, and ACs were not related to tumor progression, FIGO stage, or tumor grade in SCCs. CONCLUSIONS: This study presents topo IIalpha and Ki-67 as useful proliferation-associated markers of vulvar epithelia.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

PubMed2002

Heterotopic liver in the right cardiac auricle.

Heterotopias in the heart are rare findings. The present case report describes heterotopic liver tissue in the right cardiac auricle of a 20-year-old man who died of coarctation of the aorta, incidentally discovered at autopsy. Another abnormal finding was a horseshoe kidney. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first report of heterotopic liver tissue in the cardiac auricles.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Apoptotic bodies as a morphological feature in serous ovarian carcinoma: correlation with nuclear grade, Ki-67 and mitotic indices.

This study evaluated the relation of apoptosis with mitotic activity, Ki-67 indices, and nuclear and architectural grades in serous ovarian carcinoma. Apoptotic body (ABI) and mitotic indices (MI) were obtained by examining hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections from 35 serous ovarian carcinomas for apoptotic bodies and mitotic figures. ABI and MI were reported as the number of apoptotic bodies, and mitotic figures and immunostaining for Ki-67, respectively, as positive cells in 1000 cells. Nuclear grade was determined as grade 1 [n = 11], grade 2 [n = 13], and grade 3 [n = 11] according to recently defined criteria. There was a significant correlation between Ki-67 indices and ABI (p < 0.0001), Ki-67 and MI (p < 0.0001), as well as between MI and ABI (p < 0.0001). ABI increased with nuclear grade (p < 0.0001) and the type of the histological differentiation pattern (from glandular to papillary and solid architectural patterns) (p < 0.0001). Apoptosis, quantitated by ABI, is positively correlated with proliferation, thereby constituting a factor in the regulation of tumor growth of serous ovarian carcinomas. The positive correlation between ABI and increasing nuclear grade, mitotic activity, and architectural growth pattern may indicate that apoptotic bodies are another variable for grading serous ovarian carcinomas.

Adult↗