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Biomedical subjects

X Farré

Publications and source records attributed to X Farré.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Expression of cathepsins B and S in the progression of prostate carcinoma.

Cathepsins B and S (CatB, CatS) are lysosomal cysteine proteases which, among other functions, appear to play a role in cancer progression in different tumor models due to their matrix-degrading properties. To investigate their possible involvement in the development of prostate carcinoma, we immunohistochemically analyzed CatB and CatS in 38 primary human prostatic adenocarcinomas, as well as concomitant high-grade prostatic intra-epithelial neoplasia, nodular hyperplasia and normal tissue. CatB expression was observed in 28 (74%) and CatS in 32 (84%) carcinomas, being concomitant in 24 cases (63%). High-grade intra-epithelial neoplasia expressed CatB in 20/23 cases (87%), and a similar result was obtained for CatS, with expression of both coinciding in 18 cases (78%). In non-neoplastic tissue, strong expression of both proteases was observed in macrophages, inflamed glands and transitional metaplasia, whereas atrophic glands and basal cells of normal glands displayed intense CatB positivity. We conclude that CatB and CatS are often expressed together in neoplastic prostatic cells from pre-invasive to invasive and clinically detectable stages, suggesting a putative role in local invasion, though other functions cannot be ruled out.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Tissue macroarrays ("microchops") for gene expression analysis.

We describe a simple system of tissue arraying with multiple tissue fragments obtained with a biopsy punch from selected areas of paraffin blocks. The new blocks thus constructed allow multiple tissue sections in which the uniform shape of the fragments coupled with a geometrical display and a significant amount of tissue per case allows a dependable, cost-effective way to screen tumors or other kinds of tissues with techniques such as immunohistochemistry. This system avoids the disadvantages of previous laborious methods of tissue arraying, such as expensive equipment and scarce tissue sampling, and it can be implemented in any institution with minimal cost and elaboration.

DNA, Neoplasm↗

Cyclophosphamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis in rats that underwent colocystoplasty: experimental study.

PURPOSE: Cyclophosphamide and its derivatives induce hemorrhagic cystitis. A substantial number of patients receive bladder augmentation or replacements using bowel. If patients who have undergone colocystoplasty need treatment with cyclophosphamide before or after the operation, does hemorrhagic cystitis develop? We evaluated the histological changes produced in the colon wall and bladder related to cyclophosphamide and its derivatives in rats that underwent colocystoplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats of each sex were grouped according to whether they received a single 200 mg./kg. dose of cyclophosphamide, underwent colocystoplasty, underwent each technique or served as controls. The technique of colocystoplasty was the same in all groups. Results were analyzed according to previously reported criteria, by the gross appearance of the bladder and colon segment used for colocystoplasty, and by histological changes. RESULTS: Two weeks after surgery colocystoplasty had not resulted in secondary changes in the implanted colon segment or original bladder, while there were only nonspecific changes of an inflammatory type in the anastomotic area. After cyclophosphamide administration the animals lost considerable weight and in the bladder area we observed hemorrhagic cystitis that was greater in males than in females, and greater in isolated bladder than when the bladder was sutured to the colon segment. In the colon there was no inflammation or hemorrhage damage of the hemorrhagic cystitis type in the bladder. A total of 12 days after colocystoplasty there were no secondary histological changes except in the anastomotic area. A single 200 mg./kg. dose of cyclophosphamide caused substantial weight loss and hemorrhagic cystitis. Cystitis was quantitatively greater in males than in females and greater in isolated bladder than in bladder anastomosed to the colon. CONCLUSIONS: Administering a single dose of cyclophosphamide did not result in lesions in the colon segment used for colocystoplasty analogous to those of the bladder, such as hemorrhagic cystitis.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

Expression of p27/Kip1 is down-regulated in human prostate carcinoma progression.

p27(Kip1) is a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor whose down-regulation has been observed in several tumour models, including breast, colorectal, and gastric carcinomas. The purpose of this study was to assess p27(Kip1) protein expression in normal and benign prostatic epithelia as well as the possible existence of abnormalities in prostate carcinoma progression. p27(Kip1) expression was immunohistochemically analysed in 51 normal tissue samples, 11 nodular hyperplasias (NH), 22 high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasias (PIN), 56 localized prostate adenocarcinomas, and 19 metastases. Immunoblotting was performed in ten cases. Normal prostate epithelium and NH showed diffuse and intense p27(Kip1) nuclear expression in most cases. A significant p27(Kip1) down-regulation was observed in many carcinomas when compared with benign epithelium. Forty-seven cases (84 per cent) were low p27(Kip1) expressors (<50 per cent positive cells) and nine cases (16 per cent) were high p27(Kip1) expressors. p27(Kip1) down-regulation was also consistently seen in PIN. Fourteen out of 19 metastases (74 per cent) were low p27(Kip1) expressors. Six metastatic samples had their corresponding primary tumour analysed and three cases showed decreased expression in the metastasis. It is concluded that p27(Kip1) is constitutively expressed in normal and benign prostatic tissue. This expression is clearly down-regulated in neoplastic progression from the preinvasive lesions through invasive carcinoma and metastases and this therefore occurs in early stages of neoplastic transformation.

Adenocarcinoma↗