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Biomedical subjects

J Slodkowska

Publications and source records attributed to J Slodkowska.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor receptors in lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the expression of two angiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR), in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) in relation to tumor stage (TN0, TN1, TN2) and in association with the expression of p53 protein, a potential suppressor of tumor angiogenesis. STUDY DESIGN: The immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of VEGF and FGFR was examined in paraffin sections of 56 NSCLC in relation to the presence of lymph node metastases and p53 expression. Nodal status of NSCLC determined: 27 tumors, N0; 16, N1; and 13, N2 stage. Semiquantitative analysis with a score corresponding to IHC staining intensity and percentage of positive cells was used. Statistical analysis was performed with the chi 2 test. RESULTS: A significant association was noted between VEGF and FGFR expression in NSCLC. No relation was found between VEGF, FGFR expression and lymph node metastasis or p53 expression. CONCLUSION: We assume that VEGF and FGFR act in a synergistic manner in NSCLC and that their expression is not related to lymph node metastases. Angiogenesis is a very complex phenomenon and heterogeneous within tumors. Also, it is affected by microenviromental factors.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Lung carcinoids. Tumor angiogenesis in relation to clinicopathologic characteristics.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognostic value of carcinoid angiogenesis for the presence of lymph node metastases, histologic subtype and tumor size. STUDY DESIGN: The study group consisted of 72 resected primary lung carcinoids, 57 typical and 15 atypical. TNM staging was performed. The histologic criteria for carcinoids was based on the Flieder classification. Angiogenesis, expressed as tumor microvessel density, was estimated in sections stained with CD34 antibody, according to Weidner's method. RESULTS: The size of carcinoids was related to the histologic type: the average tumor diameter of typical carcinoids was significantly smaller than the average diameter of atypical carcinoids (P = .003, U = 207, Z = -3.023). Atypical carcinoids represented a more aggressive form of tumors than typical carcinoids; patients with typical carcinoids developed lymph node metastases less frequently (10% vs. 33%) as compared to patients with atypical carcinoids; the difference was statistically significant (P = .032). Tumor angiogenesis failed to distinguish the histologic type of carcinoids and did not indicate the presence or absence of regional lymph node metastases; neither did pTN stage or tumor size. CONCLUSION: Angiogenesis is not a determining factor of the metastatic potential of pulmonary carcinoids.

Adolescent↗

Diffuse pulmonary hemosiderosis after exposure to pesticides. A case report.

This report describes the clinical, radiological, microscopical and ligandohistochemical findings in a 17-year-old woman who suffered from an acute onset of pulmonary hemosiderosis after inhalation of pesticides used for the cultivation of strawberries. She complained of headache, dyspnea, rhinitis, weakness and recurrent severe hemoptysis. Chest radiographs revealed bilateral patchy infiltrates, predominantly in the lower parts of both lungs. The consecutive severe anemia was treated by multiple blood transfusions which were repeated every 4-5 days. Open lung biopsies displayed signs of diffuse hemorrhage with hemosiderin-loaded macrophages, some hyaline membranes, focal fibroid deposits with intermingled histiocytes, mild interstitial fibrosis and focal intra-alveolar calcified bodies surrounded by foreign body giant cells. Analysis of endogenous lectins failed to demonstrate expression of binding capacities for maltose, fucose, mannose, lactose and sialic acid, Neither binding capacities for the macrophage-migration-inhibitory factor nor its presence, as analyzed by labeled sarcolectin, could be detected histochemically. The light microscopical findings are consistent with a longer-lasting diffuse pulmonary hemosiderosis; the presence of calcified bodies and foreign body giant cells (including the ligandohistochemical data) argues for a causal role of inhaled substances. The patient's clinical course improved after cyclophosphamide treatment, which restored her ability to work and released her from the need for recurrent blood transfusions.

Adolescent↗

Expression of CEA and trophoblastic cell markers by lung carcinoma in association with histological characteristics and serum marker levels.

The study of tumour markers in lung cancer has focused mainly on serum-based analysis. The controversy about carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), pregnancy specific glycoprotein 1 (SP1) and beta human chorionic gonadotropin (betahCG) production in lung carcinoma has been reported in several studies. The aims of this study were: to explore an expression of CEA, SP1 and betahCG in various histological types of lung carcinoma with respect to the grade of differentiation; and to define the relationship between tumour marker expression and serum marker concentration. Ninety two lung tumours (75 non-small cell carcinomas (NSCLC) and 17 small cell lung carcinomas (SCLC)) entered the study. Tumour marker expression was compared with the serum levels of CEA, SP1 and betahCG in 57 patients (pts) with NSCLC and four pts with SCLC. Positive immunostaining of CEA and SP1 was observed in 87% NSCLC, and betahCG was found in 24% NSCLC. In the SCLC group positive staining showed in 29% of tumours, SP1 in 51% and betahCG in 18%. Positive CEA expression ranged from 50-100% within the carcinomatous cell population (pcp) and was more characteristic for well and moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas. This finding was in contrast to squamous cell carcinomas, where the majority of tumours expressed CEA in 1-50% pcp. A significant negative correlation was noticed for adenocarcinoma between tumour expression and grade of histological differentiation for CEA (P < 0.001) and SP1 (P = 0.023). Results were not significant for squamous carcinoma. Significant differences of serum CEA concentration were noticed between adenocarcinoma and squamous carcinoma (P = 0.003). In addition, a statistically significant relation was found between serum CEA concentration and an early (I + II) and advanced (IIIa + IIIb + IV) stage of NSCLC (P = 0.031). A significant correlation was noticed when serum CEA and tumour CEA expression was compared for NSCLC (P < 0.001), and for serum betahCG and tumour betahCG (P = 0.019).

Adenocarcinoma↗

The role of human chorionic gonadotropin beta subunit elevation in small-cell lung cancer patients.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)-like immunoreactivity has been found in many non-trophoblastic tumours, but the biological behaviour of HCG-producing cells has not been clarified yet. The aim of the study was to estimate the frequency of serum HCG beta subunit (s beta HCG) elevation in patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and to assess its possible prognostic role in this type of tumour. An attempt was also made to reclassify the histology in selected cases to see whether the elevated (s beta HCG) level is connected with any special subtype of small-cell lung cancer. A total of 156 SCLC patients entered the study: 93 men, 63 women, median age 58 years. s beta HCG activity was measured by immunoenzyme assay (Abbott EIA beta HCG 15-15) before treatment. s beta HCG elevation (above 5 mIU/ml) was found in 21 of 156 patients (14%). Response to treatment after chemotherapy (complete and partial response) was obtained in only 48% of those patients in whom elevated s beta HCG was found, in comparison to the 73% response rate observed in the remaining patients. Only 5% of patients with elevated s beta HCG survived 2 years, in comparison to 21% surviving for 2 years among the remaining patients. The prognostic significance of elevated s beta HCG and extent of disease were independent of each other (Cox's proportional-hazard model). Thus s beta HCG elevation in SCLC seems to be a marker of more resistant tumours and of poor prognosis. We have not found any connection between the subtype of small-cell lung cancer and elevated s beta HCG. Elevated s beta HCG was found in 2 out of 11 patients with oat-cell carcinoma, in 3 out of 10 patients with an intermediate cell type and in 5 out of 13 patients with small-cell lung cancer in which the assessment of the subtype was not possible.

Adult↗

Frequency and clinical significance of beta-subunit human chorionic gonadotropin expression in non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), a classic trophoblastic marker, has been found recently in many nontrophoblastic tumors. Previously we have found elevated serum betaHCG levels in 14% of small cell lung cancer patients. The aim of the present study was to assess the frequency and clinical significance of betaHCG expression in non-small cell lung tumors and in the sera of patients. 153 non-small cell lung cancer patients entered into this study. The control group consisted of 85 patients with benign lung diseases. Serum betaHCG elevation exceeding 5 mIU/ml was found in 3.5% of patients with benign lung diseases and in 12% of lung cancer patients (p = 0.03). Tumor analysis revealed the presence of betaHCG positivity in 28% of resected lung specimens. betaHCG positivity was found more often in adenocarcinoma than in squamous cell lung carcinoma both in tissue and in serum, the differences being not significant. Elevated serum betaHCG values were found more frequently in stage IV patients than in the remainder (p = 0.03). Response to chemotherapy (partial or minor response) was obtained more often in the patients with normal serum betaHCG than in those with serum betaHCG elevation (p = 0.03). We suppose that the ability to produce betaHCG is a rare but important biologic feature of lung carcinomas combined to some extent with chemoresistance.

Adult↗

Neuroendocrine phenotype of non-small cell lung carcinoma: immunohistological evaluation and biochemical study.

AIMS AND METHODS: The prevalence and distribution of neuroendocrine differentiation in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was estimated by assays for synaptophysin (SYN), chromogranin A (CgA), Leu7 and neuron-specific enolase (NSE). Serum NSE and CgA were determined in parallel to find the values of these markers for distinguishing neuroendocrine differentiation in NSCLC. Fifty-eight resected NSCLC specimens and 34 sera of NSCLC patients entered the study. Neuroendocrine differentiation was graded according to the percentage of neuroendocrine tumor cells as NE0--0%, NE1-NE4--1%->76%. Serum NSE <12.5 ng/mL and serum CgA <46 U/L were taken as cutoff levels. RESULTS: 63.8% (37/58) of NSCLC were scored as NE1-NE4 according to the SYN, CgA and Leu7 levels; 34.5% as NE1; 29.3% as NE2-NE4. 56.8% of tumors were positive for SYN, 34.4% for CgA, 22.4% for Leu7, and 79.3% for NSE. A significant relationship was found between tumor SYN and tumor CgA expression, and between tumor SYN expression and tumor stage. Adenocarcinomas showed a significantly higher rate of neuroendocrine differentiation than squamous cell carcinomas. All normal serum CgA levels corresponded to a lack of CgA expression in the tumors. The increased serum NSE levels presented by 26% of NSCLC patients (mainly <16 ng/mL) did not correlate with tumor NSE expression. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of neuroendocrine differentiation in NSCLC varies and depends on the immunohistochemical criteria used; this warrants standardization of the immunohistochemical criteria for neuroendocrine differentiation in NSCLC. NSE expression in the tumor and a mild increase in serum NSE are poor markers for distinguishing neuroendocrine differentiation in NSCLC.

Adult↗