Biomedical subjects

Ken-ichi Kawaguchi

Publications and source records attributed to Ken-ichi Kawaguchi.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

DNA hypermethylation status of multiple genes in soft tissue sarcomas.

The aberrant methylation of promoter CpG islands is known to be a major inactivation mechanism of tumor-related genes. To determine the clinicopathological significance of gene promoter methylation in soft tissue sarcomas, we examined the promoter methylation status of 10 tumor-related genes in 65 soft tissue sarcomas and 19 adjacent non-neoplastic tissues by methylation-specific PCR. The methylation frequencies of tumor-related genes tested in soft tissue sarcomas were 17 (26%) for RASSF1A, 11 (17%) for DAP kinase, 10 (15%) for MGMT, nine (14%) for GSTP1, eight (12%) for PTEN, six (9%) for p16 and hMLH1, five (8%) for hMSH2, two (3%) for p14, and one (2%) for RB. Promoter methylation of these genes was not recognized in non-neoplastic tissues. All those cases of soft tissue sarcoma that had MGMT methylation, with the exception of one case of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, showed large tumor size (> or = 10 cm) or recurrence. Moreover, eight of 10 cases with MGMT methylation revealed high American Joint Committee on Cancer stage. Seven of 10 cases (70%) with MGMT methylation showed a loss of MGMT expression by immunohistochemistry. In addition, MGMT methylation status had a statistically significant correlation with a loss of MGMT expression (P=0.014). In conclusion, although methylation of tumor-related genes was a relatively rare event in soft tissue sarcomas, methylation was tumor-specific. Of 10 tumor-related genes, cases with MGMT methylation had a tendency to be aggressive behavior. Moreover, MGMT methylation was closely associated with a loss of MGMT expression. Although our findings need to be extending to a large series, promoter methylation of tumor-related genes is likely to have an association with the pathogenesis of soft tissue sarcomas. Furthermore, MGMT methylation may be associated with tumor aggressiveness and the inactivation of MGMT gene.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

PubMed2006

Malignant perivascular epithelioid cell tumor of the colon: report of a case with molecular analysis.

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa) is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm, and malignant cases are extremely rare. A case of malignant PEComa arising in the colon is described herein. The patient was a 43-year-old Japanese woman without a history of tuberous sclerosis complex. The tumor occurred in the abdominal cavity attached to the serosal side of the descending colon. Histologically, the tumor consisted of sheets or closely packed nests of epithelioid cells with clear or eosinophilic cytoplasms. The tumor cells were positive for HMB-45 but negative for S-100 protein and cytokeratins by immunohistochemical staining. Ki-67 labeling index was 2.9%. Peritoneal dissemination of tumor occurred at 20 months and the patient died of tumor at 38 months after the initial operation. This was considered to be a case of malignant PEComa, based on the histological and clinical features. Tumor cells showed overexpression of cyclin D1 but lacked the loss of heterozygosity of the TSC1 and TSC2 genes. The result suggests that the overexpression of cyclin D1 may play an important role in the tumorigenesis of PEComa. Because PEComas can behave in an aggressive manner, careful follow up is warranted.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Asymmetric total synthesis of fredericamycin A: an intramolecular cycloaddition pathway.

The asymmetric total synthesis of the potent antitumor antibiotic fredericamycin A ((S)-1) was achieved by the intramolecular [4+2] cycloaddition of the silylene-protected styrene derivative (S)-7 followed by the aromatic Pummerer-type reaction of the sulfoxide (S)-5. Although we had already succeeded in the total synthesis of racemic 1 by the same approach, synthesis of its asymmetric version was more complicated than we had expected due to the difficulties involved in constructing the quaternary carbon center and the tendency of this center to undergo facile racemization. Racemization of this center during the installation of the acetylene moiety on the dione (R)-8 was the most serious aspect. Systematic studies of its DE-ring analogue (R)-25 revealed that racemization of the quaternary carbon center proceeded by a retro-aldol-aldol reaction of the initial adduct, (1R)-39 a-Li, and that the degree of racemization was dependent on the reaction temperature. The racemization process could be completely depressed by keeping the reaction temperature at -78 degrees C. The construction of the stereogenic quaternary carbon center was achieved by the lipase-catalyzed desymmetrization of the prochiral 1,3-diol 9 a bearing the DEF-ring moiety. These studies enabled us to attain the asymmetric total synthesis of (S)-1 while completely retaining the chiral integrity created by the enzymatic reactions.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

PubMed2005

Genetic and epigenetic alterations of the PTEN gene in soft tissue sarcomas.

The PTEN/MMAC1 ( PTEN ) gene was identified as a tumor suppressor gene encoding a cytoplasmic protein that controls cellular processes. To investigate the potential role and the alteration of the PTEN gene in soft tissue sarcomas (STSs), we searched for homozygous deletion and promoter hypermethylation in a series of 48 STSs that was composed of malignant fibrous histiocytoma, leiomyosarcoma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, including 2 cases with a mutation that we previously reported; differential polymerase chain reaction and methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction, respectively, were used for the analyses. Furthermore, to determine whether PTEN gene alterations are involved in the down-regulation of PTEN expression, we examined the expression of PTEN protein in 38 cases in which paraffin-embedded tissues were available for immunohistochemical analysis. In addition to our previous results showing that 2 (4%) of 51 cases had a PTEN mutation, promoter methylation was recognized in 6 (13%) of 48 cases, and homozygous deletion was detected in 1 (2%) of 48 cases in the current study. Of 6 cases with promoter methylation of PTEN gene, 5 were malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor. Decreased expression of PTEN protein was recognized in 11 (29%) of 38 STS cases. Of 9 cases with PTEN alterations (6 cases with promoter methylation, 2 with mutation, and 1 with homozygous deletion), 3 (33%) showed decreased expression of PTEN protein. Furthermore, decreased expression of the PTEN gene showed a statistically significant correlation with high MIB-1 labeling index in 38 STS cases examined ( P = .0441). In conclusion, promoter methylation and homozygous deletion of the PTEN gene were found to be relatively rare events in cases of STS, as is mutation of the gene. Of 9 cases with a PTEN alteration, 3 (33%) showed a decrease in PTEN expression, indicating that PTEN gene alterations seem to play a minor role in the inactivation of PTEN in these tumors. Furthermore, although a further detailed analysis of a larger number of cases is still necessary, the present results suggest that PTEN expression may be a useful indicator of cell proliferation in patients with STS.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

E-cadherin mutation and Snail overexpression as alternative mechanisms of E-cadherin inactivation in synovial sarcoma.

We have recently reported frequent E-cadherin gene mutations in synovial sarcoma (SS), suggesting mutational inactivation of E-cadherin as a potential mechanism of spindle cell morphology in SS, a spindle cell sarcoma that shows areas of glandular epithelial differentiaton in some cases (biphasic SS) and only pure spindle cell morphology in most cases (monophasic SS). However, the mechanism of downregulation of E-cadherin in SS remains unknown. To further address this issue, we analysed the mechanisms of E-cadherin silencing in 40 SS. Genetic and epigenetic changes in the E-cadherin gene, and the expression level of its transcriptional repressor Snail were examined by polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP), methylation-specific PCR, and real-time quantitative PCR, respectively. Expression of E-cadherin was examined by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. We also examined ELF3, a transcription factor associated with epithelial differentiation in SS in a previous cDNA microarray, by RT-PCR. E-cadherin and ELF3 transcripts were detected, respectively, in 27/40 (67.5%) and in 25/40 (62.5%) of SS, and these epithelial-related genes were almost always coexpressed. Hypermethylation of the promoter of the E-cadherin gene was detected in five cases (12.5%) in SS; however, E-cadherin was silenced at mRNA level in only one of the five cases. E-cadherin missense mutations were observed in five cases (12.5%) of SS. In SS, all five cases with E-cadherin missense mutations had the SYT-SSX1 fusion and were monophasic tumors, suggesting a relationship between the SYT-SSX fusion type and E-cadherin missense mutation (P=0.07). E-cadherin mRNA expression in SS was associated with reduced Snail expression level (P=0.03). E-cadherin membranous expression was observed in 14/40 (35.0%) of SS, and was also correlated with SYT-SSX1 fusion type and biphasic histology. ELF3 was confirmed to be more highly expressed in biphasic than monophasic SS by real-time quantitative PCR. These results suggest that in SS the loss of E-cadherin expression occurs either by Snail trans-repression or by inactivating mutations. Thus, E-cadherin downregulation is associated with the loss or absence of glandular epithelial differentiation in certain SS.

Cadherins↗

PubMed2004

Death-associated protein kinase (DAP kinase) alteration in soft tissue leiomyosarcoma: Promoter methylation or homozygous deletion is associated with a loss of DAP kinase expression.

The death-associated protein kinase (DAP kinase) was initially identified as a positive mediator of programmed cell death induced by interferon-gamma. To investigate the potential role and the alteration of the DAP kinase gene in soft tissue leiomyosarcoma (LMS), we first searched for homozygous deletion and promoter hypermethylation in 45 LMSs for which genomic DNA was available, using differential PCR and methylation-specific PCR, respectively. Promoter methylation was recognized in 10 of 45 cases (22%), and homozygous deletion was detected in 3 of 45 cases (7%). p53 mutation was detected in 11 of 45 LMS cases (24%). Cases with DAP kinase alteration or p53 mutation showed a close correlation with high French Federation of Cancer Centers grade or with poor prognosis (P = 0.0244, P = 0.0491, respectively). Next, to determine that DAP kinase promoter methylation or homozygous deletion is involved in the down-regulation of DAP kinase expression, we examined the expression of DAP kinase protein by immunohistochemistry. Decreased expression of DAP kinase protein was recognized in 13 of 45 LMS cases (29%). Seven of 13 cases (54%) with decreased expression of DAP kinase protein revealed promoter methylation or homozygous deletion of DAP kinase, and the methylation status or homozygous deletion of its gene showed a close correlation with decreased DAP kinase expression (P = 0.0300). In conclusion, although DAP kinase alteration was relatively rare, DAP kinase alteration and/or p53 mutation may associate with tumor progression in soft-tissue LMSs. Furthermore, although further detailed analyses are necessary, promoter methylation or homozygous deletion status of DAP kinase may present a major alternative mechanism of a loss of or decrease in DAP kinase expression.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

c-kit and PDGFRA mutations in extragastrointestinal stromal tumor (gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the soft tissue).

Extragastrointestinal stromal tumor (EGIST) is a unique tumor that occurs outside the gastrointestinal tract. EGIST shows a c-kit expression and histologic appearance similar to those of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Most GISTs have gain-of-functional mutation of the c-kit gene, and some have mutation of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor-alpha (PDGFRA) gene. However, the frequency of mutation of those genes in EGISTs remains unclear. We examined the clinicopathologic features, prognostic factors, and c-kit and PDGFRA mutation in 39 cases of EGIST. Tumors with high mitotic counts (>or=5/50 high power fields) or a high Ki-67 labeling index (>or=10%) were significantly correlated with worse prognoses. The c-kit mutation was found in the juxtamembrane domain (exon 11) and the extracellular domain (exon 9) in 12 of 29 cases (41.4%) and 2 of 29 cases (6.9%), respectively. The PDGFRA gene mutation was found at the juxtamembrane domain (exon 12) and the tyrosine kinase domain (exon 18) in one case each. The pattern of kit and PDGFRA mutation in EGIST was essentially similar to that in GIST. Our results suggest that the c-kit and PDGFRA mutations play an important role in the tumorigenesis of EGIST. High mitotic counts and a high Ki-67 labeling index may be useful for predicting the aggressive biologic behavior in EGIST. Furthermore, STI-571, targeting c-kit and PDGFR tyrosine kinase, seems to be a possible therapeutic strategy for EGISTs, especially advanced cases.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

PTEN/MMAC1 gene mutation is a rare event in soft tissue sarcomas without specific balanced translocations.

The tumor suppressor gene PTEN/MMAC1 was identified on chromosome 10q23.3, which is homozygously deleted in many human malignancies. The loss of chromosome 10q was also frequently reported in some types of soft tissue sarcomas. Our study was designed to investigate the frequency of PTEN/MMAC1 gene mutation and to evaluate the role of the PTEN/MMAC1 gene in the tumorigenesis of soft tissue sarcomas without specific balanced translocations. We analyzed 51 cases of soft tissue sarcomas without specific balanced translocations for PTEN/MMAC1 mutations by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism and direct sequencing. Mutations in the PTEN/MMAC1 gene were found in only 2 cases (3.9%). Both tumors with PTEN/MMAC1 mutation were leiomyosarcomas arising from the retroperitoneum and inferior vena cava, respectively. Two of 3 leiomyosarcomas arising from the intra-abdominal cavity examined harbored mutations of this tumor suppressor gene. This result suggests that leiomyosarcomas derived from the intra-abdominal cavity might have different tumorigenesis from those of an extremity or the trunk, from the viewpoint of PTEN/MMAC1 mutation, although PTEN/MMAC1 gene mutations are rare event in these soft tissue sarcomas.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2003

Mechanisms of inactivation of the p16INK4a gene in leiomyosarcoma of soft tissue: decreased p16 expression correlates with promoter methylation and poor prognosis.

The p16INK4a tumour suppressor gene, encoding p16 protein, plays a crucial role in regulation of the G1 cell-cycle phase. To investigate the potential role of p16 in soft tissue leiomyosarcoma (LMS), an immunohistochemical analysis was performed of 77 LMSs for p16 expression. Decreased expression of the p16 protein was identified in 25 of 77 LMSs (32%). Decreased expression of p16 correlated significantly with large tumour size (p=0.0038). In a univariate analysis, large tumour size and decreased expression of p16 were statistically significant adverse prognostic factors (p=0.025 and p=0.0021, respectively). In a multivariate analysis including conventional clinicopathological parameters, decreased expression of p16 protein was revealed as the only independent unfavourable prognostic factor (p=0.012). To elucidate the mechanisms of inactivation of the p16INK4a gene, 49 LMSs for which genomic DNA was available were examined; analysis for homozygous deletion, mutation, and promoter hypermethylation was conducted using differential PCR, PCR-SSCP, and methylation-specific PCR, respectively. Promoter hypermethylation was detected in 11 of 49 LMS cases (22%); homozygous deletion was detected in 3 of 49 cases (6%); and mutation was not recognized in any of the cases studied. Eight of 15 cases (53%) with decreased expression of p16 protein revealed methylation of the p16INK4a gene promoter. Promoter hypermethylation correlated closely with decreased expression and poor prognosis (p=0.0014 and p=0.0088, respectively). These results suggest that decreased expression of p16 protein can be considered as an independent reliable prognostic parameter in patients with soft tissue LMS. Furthermore, promoter methylation was more frequent than either homozygous deletion or mutation in this tumour, and promoter methylation was also shown to have a strong association with inactivation of the p16INK4a gene.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

APC mutations in synovial sarcoma.

It has previously been demonstrated that accumulated beta-catenin serves as an oncoprotein in synovial sarcoma and results in a poor overall survival rate, but the frequency of beta-catenin mutation was quite low (8.2%). The present study, using essentially the same study group of cases, screened for genetic alterations in the mutation cluster region (MCR) of the APC gene in 49 cases of synovial sarcoma. SSCP analysis followed by DNA direct sequencing revealed five missense APC mutations in four cases of synovial sarcoma (8.2%). The mutational sites comprised one case each at codons 1299 (GCT to ACT, Ala to Thr), 1412 (GGA to AGA, Gly to Arg), and 1414 (GTA to ATA, Val to Ile), in addition to one case with double point mutations at codon 1398 (AGT to AAT, Ser to Asn) and at codon 1413 (ATG to ATA, Met to Ile), together with beta-catenin mutation at codon 32 (GAC to TAC, Asp to Tyr). All four cases with APC mutations were histologically of the monophasic fibrous type and showed beta-catenin accumulation. All three cases with APC mutations available for follow-up data were long survivors. This study provides the first evidence that APC mutations also occur in the field of sarcoma, especially in synovial sarcoma.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Possible association between higher beta-catenin mRNA expression and mutated beta-catenin in sporadic desmoid tumors: real-time semiquantitative assay by TaqMan polymerase chain reaction.

We screened for genetic alterations of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) and beta-catenin genes in 17 frozen specimens from 12 cases of sporadic desmoid tumors and then subdivided these cases into two groups according to the results of mutational analysis. We further examined mRNA expression of beta-catenin and cyclin D1 by TaqMan PCR and compared the mRNA expression within both groups. Single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis followed by DNA direct sequencing revealed beta-catenin mutation in 3 of 12 cases (6 of 17 specimens), whereas no APC missense mutations in the mutation cluster region were found. TaqMan PCR revealed extremely higher mRNA expression of beta-catenin and cyclin D1 in desmoid tumors, compared with those of normal skeletal muscles. In the beta-catenin mutated group, cyclin D1 mRNA expression was significantly higher than that of the beta-catenin wild-type group (p = 0.0120, Mann-Whitney U test). In addition, in the beta-catenin mutated group, beta-catenin mRNA expression was also significantly higher than that of the beta-catenin wild-type group (p = 0.0036, Mann-Whitney U test). All cases of desmoid tumors showed detectable beta-catenin nuclear expression immunohistochemically. These results suggest that a continuously elevated beta-catenin protein level caused by the beta-catenin mutation itself may have a stronger power that can transactivate transcription in vivo. Furthermore, the results provide a possible association between higher beta-catenin mRNA expression and mutated beta-catenin in sporadic desmoid tumors. This may suggest that the beta-catenin gene may be up-regulated by mutated or continuously elevated beta-catenin protein, that is, the beta-catenin gene may also be one of the targeted genes in the APC-beta-catenin-Tcf pathway.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Malignant transformation of renal angiomyolipoma: a case report.

We report a case of renal angiomyolipoma (AML) with malignant transformation. A 28-year-old woman developed large bilateral renal masses 5 months before admission to our hospital. She was diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis when she was 4 years old. Total nephrectomy of the left kidney was performed, but she died during the operation. Although the focal region of the resected tumor had the appearance of a classic AML, most of the lesion showed a diffuse proliferation of atypical epithelioid cells resembling that in renal cell carcinoma. The epithelioid cells had extremely pleomorphic and hyperchromatic nuclei with frequent mitotic figures, including atypical forms. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the atypical epithelioid cells and the typical AML lesions were both positive for HMB-45 but that the former were negative for epithelial and myogenic markers. The smooth muscle cells and thick-walled vessels were focally positive for muscle-specific actins. Furthermore, the atypical epithelioid cells were immunoreactive for p53, whereas the foci of the typical AML were negative. Examination of the microdissected paraffin-embedded tissues revealed p53 mutations in the malignant epithelioid areas in AML but not in the renal parenchyma or typical AML areas. In this case it is proposed that p53 mutation may play an important role in malignant transformation of renal AML.

Actins↗

PubMed2002

Molecular analysis of p53, MDM2, and H-ras genes in osteosarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone in patients older than 40 years.

Some investigators have reported that the histological features of osteosarcoma (OS) arising in elderly patients are different from those in younger patients; however, a molecular biologic study of OS in elderly patients has not been documented. In this study, 23 cases of OS (15 osteoblastic and 8 MFH-like types) and 18 cases of MFH of bone in patients 40 years of age or older were analyzed for mutation of the p53 gene, amplification of the MDM2 gene, and mutation of the H-ras gene, using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded materials. We also examined the expression of p53, MDM2, and p21WAF1 protein immunohistochemically and assessed the proliferative activities using the monoclonal antibody MIB-1. p53 immunoreactivity was recognized in 5 of 23 OS cases (22%), whereas p53 gene mutations were also detected in 5 of 23 OS cases (22%; osteoblastic [4/15; 27%] and MFH-like [1/8; 18%] types) and in 4 of 18 cases of MFH of bone (22%). There was a statistically significant correlation between p53 immunoreactivity and p53 mutation status in OS (P =.0482). All those cases of osteoblastic OS and MFH of bone that had p53 mutations, with the exception of one case of MFH of bone that had a silent mutation, showed aggressive biologic behavior (dead of disease within 12 mo), in contrast to the MFH-like OS cases (alive without disease at 22 mo). Three cases of OS (13%) and three cases of MFH of bone (17%) showed immunoreactivity for MDM2. As for gene alteration, three cases of OS (13%) and 3 cases of MFH of bone (17%) demonstrated MDM2 amplification. MDM2 amplification showed a significant correlation with the expression of MDM2 protein in OS (P =.0344). p21WAF1 expression was detected in three cases of OS (13%) and in six cases of MFH of bone (33%). MDM2 alteration and p21WAF1 expression were not observed in any of the cases of MFH-like OS. MIB-1-LI showed a statistically significant correlation with p53 immunoreactivity and MDM2 immunoreactivity in OS (P =.0307 and P =.0358, respectively). H-ras mutation at Codons 12 and 13 was not recognized in any of the cases of OS or MFH of bone. In conclusion, although treatment differences during the time of study make it difficult to compare survival analysis, in the current study, p53 mutation in osteoblastic OS and MFH of bone in elderly patients seemed to be closely associated with the progression of the tumor, which was not the case in MFH-like OS. Furthermore, MDM2 alteration and p21WAF1 expression were demonstrated only in osteoblastic OS and MFH of bone, whereas they were not recognized in MFH-like OS. Although the number of patients in this analysis was small, it would appear that MFH-like OS may have some characteristic biologic aspects when compared with osteoblastic OS and MFH of bone in elderly patients.

Adult↗