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M Barbareschi

Publications and source records attributed to M Barbareschi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Tumour suppressor gene products, proliferation, and differentiation markers in lung neuroendocrine neoplasms.

Typical carcinoid, atypical carcinoid, and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) fall within the spectrum of neuroendocrine lung neoplasms. This paper investigates the immunohistochemical expression of the products of tumour suppressor genes p53 and retinoblastoma (RB), together with proliferation (PCNA and Ki67) and neuroendocrine differentiation markers, in 14 typical carcinoids, ten atypical carcinoids, four borderline atypical carcinoid/SCLC, and 11 SCLC. We demonstrated that the phosphoprotein p53 and RB product can be immunolocalized on routine histological material. p53 protein was absent in all typical and atypical carcinoids, while it was abnormally expressed in eight SCLC and one borderline case. RB product was detected in all typical carcinoids and in two atypical carcinoids, while it was consistently absent in the other cases. PCNA-labelled cells were less than 4 per cent in typical carcinoids, about 40 per cent in atypical carcinoids, and over 70 per cent in SCLC. PCNA labelling index discriminates between typical and atypical carcinoids. Neuroendocrine differentiation was evaluated by a semi-quantitative method: a mean score value was obtained, which was high in typical carcinoids, intermediate in atypical carcinoids, and low in SCLC. Our data was obtained, which was high in typical carcinoids, intermediate in atypical carcinoids, and low in SCLC. Our data show that the decrease in neuroendocrine features from typical carcinoid to SCLC is paralleled by an increase in proliferative activity and by an altered expression of tumour suppressor gene products. The above findings have diagnostic relevance.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1992

p53 and c-erbB-2 protein expression in breast carcinomas. An immunohistochemical study including correlations with receptor status, proliferation markers, and clinical stage in human breast cancer.

Receptor status, proliferative activity, loss of differentiation, inactivation of tumor suppressor genes, and overexpression of oncogenes are related events that may affect the prognosis of patients with breast cancer. Ninety-seven unselected breast carcinomas were immunostained for estrogen and progesterone receptors, Ki-67 proliferation-associated antigen, p53 tumor suppressor gene product (p53), and c-erbB-2 protein. Immunohistochemical results and clinical data were compared. Altered p53 expression (regarded as indirect indication of inactivating gene alterations) was found in 25.8% of cases and was associated with a high Ki-67 labeling index, high mitotic count, and high histologic grade, with c-erbB-2 overexpression, and with negative estrogen and progesterone receptor status. p53 immunostaining could be found also in cytologic samples and correlated with p53 immunoreactivity on frozen sections of the corresponding tumors. c-erbB-2 protein overexpression was seen in 24.7% of cases and was associated with p53 altered expression and negative receptor status. Double immunohistochemical staining showed p53 and c-erbB-2 immunoreactivity in the same cells. Median and mean +/- standard deviation Ki-67 labeling index values were 15 and 16.32 +/- 10.05, respectively. Ki-67 labeling index was correlated with high mitotic count and was positively associated with histologic grade, negative progesterone receptor status, and p53 expression. Estrogen receptor status was not associated with any histologic or clinical parameters, whereas progesterone receptor status was associated with grading. The direct relation of p53 protein alterations with c-erbB-2 overexpression may be interpreted in light of the multistep model of tumor progression. Cases with altered expression of both p53 and c-erbB-2 proteins could be interpreted as having lost one inhibitory control mechanism of cell proliferation and having gained one activator of the malignant potential. However, in comparing cases with the p53 + c-erbB-2 + phenotype with cases showing positivity for only one of these gene products, no association with higher stages was seen. Detection of p53 altered expression on cytologic samples of malignant tumors may have diagnostic relevance, and p53 immunostaining may prove to be an additional diagnostic criterion in cytologic diagnosis.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1992

Experience with tretinoin therapy in temperate regions.

In a previously reported study on the anti-photoageing effects of topical tretinoin, the following regimen produced good patient compliance: 0.01% for 1 month, 0.025% for 1 month; and 0.05% for 4 months. The majority of patients (60/89) enrolled in the initial study continued to apply the cream to the face, and a further 140 patients were enrolled for a long-term study (mean duration 2 years). The prolonged study showed that 91.4% of patients used tretinoin in an attempt to slow down skin aging, and 8.6% sought subjective skin benefits. Of the 163 patients who completed the study, 58.8% sought an improvement of wrinkles, 30.1% skin trophism and 14.7% reduced pigmentation. The product was used throughout the year by 66.9% of patients, but 8.0% stopped using it during the summer. A daytime moisturizing cream was required by 77.9% of patients, and 82.8% used a sunscreen in the summer. Tretinoin was applied to other areas of the body by 63.8% of patients.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1992

PCNA and Ki67 expression in breast carcinoma: correlations with clinical and biological variables.

AIMS: To investigate the expression of two cell cycle related antigens (proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Ki67 related antigen) in a series of breast cancers; and the possible correlations between the PCNA and Ki67 labelling indexes (PCNA-LI and Ki67-LI) and their associations with other biological and clinicopathological variables. METHODS: Ninety six ductal and 10 lobular carcinoma specimens were investigated. Samples were fixed in formalin and in Methacarnoy for localisation of PCNA. Ki67 was immunostained on frozen sections. The PCNA-LI and Ki67-LI were evaluated in relation to tumour size, mitotic count, histological grade, nodal state as well as receptor content and altered expression of the p53 gene. RESULTS: PCNA-LI did not correlate with Ki67-LI, nor was it associated with any other variable examined. A high KI67-LI (above the median value of 13.5) was associated with high grade and mitotic count, negative receptor content, and altered expression of the p53 gene, but not with other variables. CONCLUSIONS: The PCNA-LI does not seem to be a substitute for the Ki67-LI in evaluating the growth fraction in breast cancer.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1992

p53 protein expression in central nervous system neoplasms.

AIMS: To demonstrate, immunohistochemically, p53 protein expression in a selection of central nervous system tumours; to investigate the relation between p53 expression and that of the proliferation related antigen, PCNA. METHODS: Surgical specimens from 86 central nervous system tumours were routinely fixed, paraffin wax embedded, and immunostained with a monoclonal (PAb 1801) and a policlonal antibody (CM1) p53 protein and a monoclonal antibody against PCNA (PC10). Normal brain samples obtained at necropsy and 10 surgically obtained samples of gliotic brain parenchyma were also immunostained. RESULTS: p53 protein expression was observed in 35 of 86 brain tumours, suggesting frequent p53 gene mutation. p53 protein alterations were associated with all grades of malignancy in tumours displaying solely astrocytic differentiation, with the exception of pilocytic astrocytomas. In those showing oligodendroglial or ependymal differentiation they appeared to be restricted almost to only high grade lesions. No p53 immunoreactivity was observed in normal or gliotic brain tissue; p53 altered expression was not related to the percentage of PCNA labelled cells. CONCLUSIONS: The use of sophisticated gene amplification techniques or highly sensitive immunohistochemical methods might be useful in distinguishing between reactive and neoplastic astrocytic lesions, and in the identification of malignant progression in other non-astrocytic glial tumours. Tumours with very similar histogenetic differentiation features might actually be a genetically heterogeneous group with possible different clinical courses.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1992

Sclerosing haemangioma of the lung.

The present paper describes a case of sclerosing haemangioma of the lung. Immunohistochemical analysis further supports its origin from respiratory epithelium, and confirms its minimal proliferative activity.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression in central nervous system neoplasms.

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is a cell-cycle-regulated protein, which can be demonstrated in routinely fixed specimens. Studies on various tissues, cell cultures and neoplasms have shown that PCNA labelling index (LI) correlates with flow cytometry, tritiated thymidine LI, bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation and Ki67 LI. PCNA LI may have prognostic value in various neoplasms. The present study concerns PCNA immunostaining in a series of neuroglial tumours. We demonstrate that there is a relation between PCNA LI and histological grade, and between PCNA LI and reported thymidine LI, BrdU LI and Ki67 LI. Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytomas and low-grade astrocytomas had the lowest LI, whereas metastases of small cell lung cancer and medulloblastomas had the highest LI. Glioblastomas sometimes showed a certain degree of intratumoral heterogeneity of distribution of immunostained cells. Intratumoral heterogeneity underscores the critical importance of representative sampling of central nervous system neoplasms for kinetic studies. As expected, PCNA LI are somewhat higher than tritiated thymidine LI, BrdU LI and Ki67 LI because PCNA is a marker of G1, S, G2 and M-phases of the cell cycle and not of S-phase only. In addition, because of its long half-life, PCNA may be detected immunohistochemically in cells that have recently left the cell cycle. The immunohistochemical evaluation of PCNA LI is easy to perform on routinely processed material, allowing retrospective studies. PCNA LI may be a useful tool in grading gliomas. However, its prognostic value must be validated by comparing PCNA LI with the follow-up of the neoplasms, and possibly with the responsiveness to anti-proliferative therapy.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1991

Malignant blue nevus. Report of four new cases and review of the literature.

Malignant blue nevus is a rare melanotic tumor of the skin arising from a pre-existing blue nevus. To date only few cases have been reported. The diagnosis of malignant blue nevus is frequently difficult. Generally accepted criteria do exist, but their application may be controversial. The present paper reports four new cases of malignant blue nevus with follow-up of 3-5 years. Our present data, along with those of the literature, suggest that malignant blue nevus may be more aggressive than generally thought.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Acromegaly and thymic hyperplasia: a case report.

Growth hormone overproduction is characterized by increased size of visceral organs as well as growth of bone and soft tissues. We describe a case of a 23-year-old female acromegalic patient, who had been previously unsuccessfully operated upon by transsphenoidal pituitary surgery and then irradiated. In November 1987 a routine X-ray chest examination revealed a mediastinal mass, subsequently confirmed by CT scan. The patient underwent surgical removal of the mass: macroscopical aspect, histological sections and immunocytochemistry showed typical thymic structures without any evidence of neurosecretory activity. No GH-positive cells were found and only small amounts of immunoreactive GHRH like material (9.2 ng/g wet wg) were detected in the tumor extract. Before surgery plasma GHRH levels were not elevated (26 pg/ml); serum GH and IGF-I levels were 27.4 +/- 4.9 micrograms/l and 191 nmol/l, respectively, and remained unchanged after surgery. These data ruled out a GHRH and/or GH ectopic production, confirming the primitive pituitary origin of acromegaly in this patient. It is likely that thymic hyperplasia may be explained by longstanding overproduction of GH and the young age of the patient.

Acromegaly↗
PubMed1990

Bronchial carcinoids with S-100 positive sustentacular cells. A comparative study with gastrointestinal carcinoids, pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas.

Fourty-six bronchial carcinoids, twelve tumourlets and twenty areas of neuroendocrine cell dysplasia (NED) were immunohistochemically evaluated for various neuroendocrine markers, S-100 protein (S-100), myelin basic protein, intermediate filaments, actin, Leu-7 and several neurohormonal polypeptides. Eighteen of the bronchial carcinoids (39.1%) showed a biphasic cell pattern, with abundant stellate-shaped S-100 positive cells (SC). SC were not reactive for chromogranin A, myelin basic protein, cytokeratins, neurofilaments, glial fibrillary acidic protein or actin, and were only occasionally weakly positive for vimentin. SC were not detected in the tumourlets nor in the NED observed. For comparison a group of other neuroendocrine tumours (11 gastrointestinal carcinoids, 4 pheochromocytomas and 4 paragangliomas) were immunostained for S-100, chromogranin A and actin. SC similar to the ones detected in the bronchial carcinoids could be detected in appendiceal carcinoids, paragangliomas and in two out of four pheochromocytomas. Our present data are in keeping with a Schwannian/sustentacular nature of SC rather than that of a histiocytic or myoepithelial nature. We suggest that SC-rich bronchial carcinoids are biphasic tumours, which could be designed "paraganglioid" bronchial carcinoids. The relationship between SC-rich bronchial carcinoids and tumourlets/NED is a matter of further investigation: SC-rich bronchial carcinoids may either differentiate in a biphasic pattern during tumoural growth or may not be histogenetically related to tumourlets.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1990

The treatment of visible signs of senescence: the Italian experience.

An open clinical study was undertaken to evaluate the anti-photoageing efficacy of topical tretinoin. A length of cream of approximately 1 cm was applied to the face daily in the evening for 6 months: during month 1 of therapy 0.01% tretinoin cream was administered; 0.025% was given during month 2; and 0.05% was given in months 3-6. The clinical symptoms of photoageing (coarse wrinkling, fine wrinkling, skin thinning, mottled hyperpigmentation, laxity and xerosis) were evaluated before and after therapy. A total of 19.1% of patients withdrew from the study; only 5.6% were for treatment-related reasons. At the end of the treatment period all the clinical parameters, except xerosis, were improved. The amount of improvement varied, but only 4.2% of patients failed to show any improvement. Tolerability was excellent in 51.4% of patients, good in 44.4% and fair in 4.2%, and compliance was excellent in 47.0% of patients, good in 48.5% and fair in 4.5%. Tolerability and compliance were improved by applying the same amount of cream each day but increasing the concentration of tretinoin over the 6-month period. Silicone skin replicas of the same area of skin taken before and after treatment, analysed by scanning electron microscopy, profilometry and computer image analysis, showed a decrease in the width of wrinkles, and an improvement in skin texture and follicle density.

Administration, Topical↗