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PubMed1998

Stereological estimation of mean nuclear volume and staining pattern of Ki-67 antigen in keratoacanthomas and squamous cell carcinomas.

Keratoacanthomas and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin share many histopathologic features, making differential diagnosis difficult. The aim of this study is to investigate the staining pattern of proliferating cells in keratoacanthomas and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin and to evaluate the value of nuclear morphometric criteria in differential diagnosis. Mean nuclear volume was assessed in 21 keratoacanthomas and 21 squamous cell carcinomas in tissue sections by a stereologic method. Immunohistochemical expression of Ki-67 monoclonal antibody was assessed and the distribution pattern (random or peripheral) of proliferating cells evaluated. Mean nuclear volume (MNV +/- SD) was 590 +/- 293.0 for squamous cell carcinomas and 615 + 305.9 for keratoacanthomas. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences between both groups (p = 0.78) in terms of mean nuclear volume values. Proliferating cells in keratoacanthomas showed a peripheral distribution, whereas there was a random distribution of proliferating cells in squamous cell carcinomas. Our results indicate that quantitative nuclear features are not helpful in making a differentiation between keratoacanthomas and squamous cell carcinomas, while immunohistochemistry with Ki-67 antibody may give useful additional information in differential diagnosis.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

PubMed1997

Altered p16/MTS1/CDKN2 and cyclin D1/PRAD-1 gene expression is associated with the prognosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.

The p16/MTS1/CDKN2 gene and the cyclin D1/PRAD-1 gene cooperatively regulate cyclin-dependent kinase 4-mediated phosphorylation of pRB in the cell cycle of normal cells. p16/CDKN2 gene and cyclin D1/PRAD-1 gene alterations have been detected in squamous cell carcinoma cell lines and in several primary squamous cell carcinomas of the esophagus. We immunohistochemically assessed p16 and cyclin D1 expression in 111 squamous cell carcinomas of the esophagus after evaluation of the antibodies against p16 and cyclin D1 protein using four squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. Loss of p16 expression was detected in 56 of 111 cases (50%). The mean number of metastatic lymph nodes without p16 expression was significantly higher than the number of nodes with p16 expression (P = 0.04). The postoperative survival rate for patients without p16 expression was significantly lower than that of patients with p16 expression (P = 0.04). Cyclin D1 overexpression was found in 28 of the 111 cases (25%) and correlated with distant organ metastasis after curative surgery (P = 0.05). The survival rate of patients with cyclin D1 overexpression was significantly lower than that of patients without cyclin D1 overexpression (P = 0.01). A positive correlation between the loss of p16 expression and cyclin D1 overexpression was observed (P = 0. 03). The loss of p16 expression and overexpression of cyclin D1 may be useful prognostic indicators in patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the esophagus. It may be possible to select more suitable treatment for patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the esophagus by evaluating the status of p16 and cyclin D1 expression.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Epidermal growth factor receptor ectodomain in the urine of patients with squamous cell carcinoma.

In this study we determined the levels of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in the urine of patients with squamous cell carcinoma compared to levels in the urine of normal volunteers and patients with nonsquamous cell carcinoma. A 24-h urine specimen was collected from 50 normal volunteers, 50 patients with nonsquamous cell carcinoma, and 42 patients with squamous cell carcinoma. An ELISA using mAbs to the external domain of the EGFR was used to measure levels of the receptor in the urine samples. Measurement of the EGFR ectodomain in the 24-h urine specimens showed detectable levels in 15 (36%) of 42 squamous cell carcinoma patients compared to 3 (6%) of 50 controls and 8 (16%) of 50 nonsquamous patients. It was also observed that 10 (53%) of 19 patients with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma had detectable EGFR ectodomain levels compared to 5 (22%) of 23 squamous cell patients with localized disease. Thus, we concluded that the EGFR ectodomain was detectable in the urine in a significantly higher number of patients with squamous cell carcinoma than normal volunteers or patients with nonsquamous cell carcinoma.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed2026

Intraductal Papillary Squamous Neoplasm (IPSN) of the Pancreas: Histological and Molecular Characterization of a Novel and Distinct Intraductal Cancer Precursor.

We report 6 intraductal papillary squamous neoplasms (IPSNs) of the pancreas, a rare but distinctive tumor whose biological features remain largely unknown. Five cases were investigated using an integrated approach combining histomorphological evaluation, immunohistochemistry, and multiregional molecular profiling through whole-exome DNA sequencing and whole-transcriptome RNA sequencing. Only targeted DNA sequencing was available on a sixth recently diagnosed case. Histologically, the intraductal lesions were characterized by large, confluent papillae with fibrovascular cores lined by multilayered epithelial cells with diffuse squamous differentiation. All cases harbored a concomitant invasive carcinoma. The associated invasive carcinomas consistently included a pancreatic tubular/ductal adenocarcinoma; in 5 cases, a poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma was also present, the proportion/features of which met the diagnostic criteria of adenosquamous carcinoma in 2 of them. Genomic analyses revealed that IPSNs and their matched invasive carcinomas shared the majority of somatic alterations, supporting a shared clonal origin for the 2 components. Activating KRAS mutations and biallelic inactivation of CDKN2A were detected in all cases. Recurrent mutations involved members of the SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complex and KMT2D. Additionally, FGFR1 and MYC amplifications were identified in 2 distinct cases (1 case each). Molecular alterations restricted to the invasive component involved mediators of the transforming growth factor-β signaling pathway. Transcriptomic profiling demonstrated a basal-like expression pattern in all IPSNs and squamous cell carcinomas, although in 2 cases, the matched pancreatic tubular/ductal adenocarcinoma shifted toward a classical transcriptomic subtype. In conclusion, through integrated histological assessment and multiregional molecular sequencing, we demonstrate that IPSN represents a bona fide precursor of invasive pancreatic cancer, a new addition to the intraductal neoplasms category. This study challenges the current paradigm that pancreatic squamous epithelium plays no role in the initiation of pancreatic carcinogenesis, providing the first evidence of its involvement in early tumorigenic processes and yielding immediate implications for pancreatic tumor classification and biological understanding.

Humans↗

PubMed2000

Squamous papilloma of the urinary tract is unrelated to condyloma acuminata.

BACKGROUND: To the authors' knowledge, there is no previous report of squamous papilloma of the urinary tract. It is uncertain whether there is a correlation between squamous papilloma, condyloma acuminatum, and verrucous carcinoma. METHODS: The authors evaluated the clinical and pathologic features of squamous papilloma (5 of the bladder, 2 of the urethra), condyloma acuminatum (3 cases), and verrucous carcinoma (3 cases) of the urinary bladder and performed human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in situ hybridization studies to determine whether HPV was a common feature shared by these lesions. In addition, DNA ploidy evaluation by image cytometry and p53 immunohistochemical staining were performed. RESULTS: Squamous papilloma of the urinary tract occurred in elderly women and followed a benign clinical course with infrequent recurrence. All squamous papillomas were HPV DNA negative and DNA diploid with no or minimal p53 nuclear accumulation. Condyloma acuminata of the bladder contained HPV DNA, increased p53 protein expression, and aneuploid DNA content. All three cases of condyloma acuminata were associated with coexistent condylomata of the external genitalia, and two required pelvic exenteration for uncontrolled expansile growth. Verrucous carcinoma of the bladder occurred in elderly patients. All three cases of verrucous carcinoma were negative for HPV DNA and DNA aneuploid, and they exhibited consistent p53 expression. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that squamous papilloma is a distinct entity not related to condyloma or verrucous carcinoma. These lesions are benign, HPV DNA negative, DNA diploid, and they lack p53 overaccumulation.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

The role of squamous cell carcinoma antigen in the management of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) in laryngeal cancer to predict those patients who will relapse after primary treatment (surgery or radiotherapy) and its utility to detect relapses early and thereby increase salvage rates and cure were assessed. METHODS: Sixty healthy donors and 168 patients with laryngeal cancer were included in this prospective trial. Squamous cell carcinoma antigen was measured at diagnosis in all patients, 24 hours and 1 week after surgery in 113 patients and every 10 Gy of administered dose and 2 weeks after treatment in 49 patients primarily referred to radiotherapy. The marker was determined every 3-6 months during follow-up. All patients who relapsed had SCC-Ag studies before and after salvage treatment. RESULTS: The selected cut-off value was 1.5 ngr/ml (mean value in control group, 0.65 + 2 standard deviation [0.38]). Seventy-eight percent of patients with cancer had elevated SCC-Ag values at diagnosis. Squamous cell carcinoma antigen was statistically related to TNM categories (T, P < 0.04; N, P < 0.05; Stage, P < 0.01). Seventy-five percent of those patients with previously elevated pretreatment values normalized after treatment. Incomplete surgical resection (P < 0.0001) or persistence of the disease after radiotherapy (P < 0.01) were related to high posttreatment values. Squamous cell carcinoma antigen was elevated in 88% of the patients who relapsed. In 55% of the recurrences, SCC-Ag was elevated 3 months before pathologic confirmation of relapse. Salvage by surgery or radiotherapy was effective in 70% of the patients. Squamous cell carcinoma antigen posttreatment values were the most important factor in predicting disease free survival (DFS) (P < 0.0001) and overall survival (P < 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Squamous cell carcinoma antigen is an excellent marker of residual disease after primary treatment that can lead to the addition of other therapeutic procedures (surgery and postoperative radiotherapy). The absence of posttreatment SCC-Ag is the best predictor of DFS, its presence detects recurrence in early stages, permitting salvage of an increased proportion of patients primarily referred for palliative treatment.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

PubMed2000

Circulating serpin tumor markers SCCA1 and SCCA2 are not actively secreted but reside in the cytosol of squamous carcinoma cells.

An elevation in the circulating level of the squamous-cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) can be a poor prognostic indicator in certain types of squamous-cell cancers. Total SCCA in the circulation comprises 2 nearly identical, approximately 45 kDa proteins, SCCA1 and SCCA2. Both proteins are members of the high-molecular weight serine proteinase inhibitor (serpin) family with SCCA1 paradoxically inhibiting lysosomal cysteine proteinases and SCCA2 inhibiting chymotrypsin-like serine proteinases. Although SCCA1 and SCCA2 are detected in the cytoplasm of normal squamous epithelial cells, neither serpin is detected normally in the serum. Thus, their presence in the circulation at relatively high concentrations suggests that malignant epithelial cells are re-directing serpin activity to the fluid phase via an active secretory process. Because serpins typically inhibit their targets by binding at 1:1 stoichiometry, a change in the distribution pattern of SCCA1 and SCCA2 (i.e., intracellular to extracellular) could indicate the need of tumor cells to neutralize harmful extracellular proteinases. The purpose of our study was to determine experimentally the fate of SCCA1 and SCCA2 in squamous carcinoma cells. Using subcellular fractionation, SCCA-green fluorescent fusion protein expression and confocal microscopy, SCCA1 and SCCA2 were found exclusively in the cytosol and were not associated with nuclei, mitochondria, lysosomes, microtubules, actin or the Golgi. In contrast to previous reports, metabolic labeling and pulse-chase experiments showed that neither non-stimulated nor TNFalpha/PMA-stimulated squamous carcinoma cells appreciably secreted these ov-serpins into the medium. Collectively, these data suggest that the major site of SCCA1 and SCCA2 inhibitory activity remains within the cytosol and that their presence in the sera of patients with advanced squamous-cell carcinomas may be due to their passive release into the circulation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2002

Differential expression of a WD protein during squamous differentiation of tracheal epithelial cells.

The lining of the trachea consists of a pseudostratified, mucociliary epithelium that under a variety of conditions, such as vitamin A deficiency, toxic and mechanical injury, becomes a stratified squamous epithelium. Several in vitro cell culture models have been established to study the process of differentiation of airway epithelium. Such studies have indicated that mucosecretory differentiation of tracheal epithelial cells can be modulated by substratum. This study was undertaken to understand molecular mechanisms of squamous differentiation in tracheal epithelia. Primary cultured tracheal cells grown on uncoated filters were differentiated to single layer of squamous cells, whereas cells were grown as stratified columnar cells on collagen-I coated filters. The responses to secretagogues were altered according to culture conditions. DD-PCR revealed that FAK and a WD protein expression was increased in squamous tracheal epithelia. Expression of a WD protein was changed by the treatment of retinoic acid in various epithelial cells. These results indicated that squamous differentiation of tracheal cells changes the expression of a variety of genes, and that the experimental model for this study can be employed to study molecular mechanisms of squamous differentiation in airway epithelial cells.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Clinical characteristics and outcome of non-squamous cell malignancies of the maxillary sinus.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A significant paucity of data exists on non-squamous cancers of the maxillary sinus. The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical characteristics and outcomes of these tumors. METHODS: Retrospective review of 42 patients with complete available data and a diagnosis of non-squamous cancer of the maxillary sinus treated with curative intent between 1994 and 1999 were performed. Information recorded included demography, clinical characteristics, histopathological findings, treatment methods, and outcome. Survival was also compared with that of squamous cancers of the maxillary sinus. RESULTS: The majority of patients presented with locally advanced disease (83%). Malignancies were 14 sarcomas, 8 adenoid cystic carcinoma, 8 mucoepidermoid carcinoma, 2 adenocarcinoma, and 10 miscellaneous tumors. Fifteen (35.7%) patients developed recurrent disease and six developed distant metastases. The most common site of recurrence was local (32.5%). The overall mean survival was 71.7 months and 5-year overall and disease-free survival was 51% and 48%, respectively. In contrast, the mean survival in the selected 62 patients with squamous cancers was 40 months and 5-year survival was 29% (P = 0.01). Tumor stage, histological, and treatment type was not associated with significant survival advantage. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with non-squamous cancers of the maxillary sinus present with locally advanced disease. Local tumor progression remains a significant pattern of failure; however, unlike squamous cancers they have a better prognosis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

A Case of Adenoid Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Breast Skin.

We report a case of a 45-year-old Japanese women with adenoid squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) of the left breast skin. The patient had showed a large mass in the left breast region with axillary swelling about 1 year before admission. Grossly, the tumor was an extensively ulcerated and elevated lesion measuring 15 x 16 x 5cm. Based on the tumor biopsy and cytologic examination of the axillary lymph nodes, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was diagnosed. No evidence of distant metastasis was identified. A modified radical mastectomy with left axillary node dissection was performed. Microscopically, the resected tumor showed on invasive proliferation of atypical squamous cells with marked keratinization. At the periphery of the tumor, an adenoid growth pattern was frequently seen with a transitional area showing squamous cell carcinoma and adenoid growth components. ASCC was diagnosed. A transition between the overlying squamous cell epithelium and squamous cell carcinoma component was also seen, thus the tumor was thought to haveoriginated from the breast skin. The patient died of respiratory failure due tomultiple lung metastasis about 1 month after the mastectomy. Tumor rarely originates at the breast region to include both the mammary glands and breast skin. The pathogenesis and management of ASCC are discussed following the presentation of this case.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1983

Basal cell pseudopodia and the degree of maturation of squamous metaplasia of the uterine cervix: a morphometric quantification.

Application of morphometry to discrete processes was used to study the stroma-epithelial interface in benign proliferative processes of human cervical epithelium. This method with the use of two-dimensional transmission electron micrographs quantifies the number of pseudopodia and other features of the basal cell. The number of pseudopodia per basal cell and other basal cell features in reserve cell hyperplasia, immature squamous metaplasia, intermediate squamous metaplasia, and mature squamous metaplasia of human uterine cervix were measured. The number of pseudopodia per basal cell in reserve cell hyperplasia was 6.77 +/- 1.46 and comparable to that previously observed in advanced cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. The number of pseudopodia per basal cell in the three subtypes of squamous metaplasia ranged from 10.67 to 19.12 and was approximately half that observed in normal control epithelium. The concept of a continuum existing from reserve cell hyperplasia through immature squamous metaplasia to mature squamous metaplasia is supported with the demonstration of increasing numbers of pseudopodia per basal cell with cellular maturation.

Cell Membrane↗

PubMed1986

Squamous cells in the maternal pulmonary circulation.

Identification of squamous cells in the maternal pulmonary arterial circulation, either at autopsy or in blood aspirated from a pulmonary artery catheter, is currently regarded as pathognomonic for amniotic fluid embolism. Sixteen pregnant women underwent pulmonary arterial catheterization for a variety of medical indications. Examination of the buffy coat fraction of the distal lumen aspirate resulted in the identification of squamous cells in all cases. Squamous cells were similarly identified in control specimens from 17 nonpregnant patients; however, the difference in cell count between the pregnant and nonpregnant patients was significant. Such cells presumably reflect, in part, bloodstream contamination from sites of venous access. Reliable differentiation of adult from fetal squamous cells is not possible; however, the significant increase in cell count documented in pregnant patients suggests a possible fetal origin for some squamous cells detected during pregnancy. The detection of squamous cells in the pulmonary arterial circulation of pregnant women is not pathognomonic for amniotic fluid embolism. In a critically ill obstetric patient, such a finding should not deter the clinician from a thorough search for other causes of hemodynamic instability.

Cell Count↗

PubMed1992

Studies of pHi in rabbit esophageal basal and squamous epithelial cells in culture.

Rabbit esophageal epithelium grown in primary culture enabled the study of intracellular pH (pHi) regulation at two distinct stages in the life cycle of the epithelial cell: basal and mature squamous. pHi was measured in single basal and mature squamous cells after loading with the fluorescent probe 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(and -6)carboxyfluorescein at 25 degrees C in a nominally bicarbonate-free HEPES buffer. The results revealed that the resting pHi was higher and the intrinsic buffer capacity lower (at pH values less than or equal to 7.6) in basal compared with mature squamous cells. In addition, both types recovered from an acid load (NH4Cl prepulse) by an Na(+)-dependent, amiloride-inhibitable process consistent with an Na+/H+ antiporter. However, hydrogen ion extrusion rates by the Na+/H+ antiporter, even after taking into account buffer capacity and acid loading, were two to four times as fast for basal as for mature squamous cells. Further, mature squamous cell but not basal cell recovery from an acid load deteriorated with time (3 weeks) in culture. These results establish the use of primary cultures for studying pHi regulation at different stages in the epithelial cell life cycle and document that basal and mature squamous cells show Na+/H+ antiport activity for extrusion of an acid load but that this activity diminishes in effectiveness as the cell matures.

Amiloride↗

PubMed1998

Analysis of atypical squamous (glandular) cells of undetermined significance smears by neural network-directed review.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the value of neural network-directed review of smears determined to contain atypical squamous (glandular) cells of undetermined significance to identify those cases most likely to be associated with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. METHODS: One hundred sixty smears reported as atypical squamous (glandular) cells of undetermined significance on patients having colposcopy and directed biopsy within 1 year of the smear were identified. The smears were subjected to a neural network-directed review and classified according to findings on this review. The latter findings were related to those obtained on cervical biopsy. RESULTS: One hundred sixty smears originally reported as atypical squamous (glandular) cells of undetermined significance were subjected to neural network-directed review. The smears were upgraded in 20.6% of cases. Ninety-one patients were found to have normal biopsies, and 69 had biopsies reported as abnormal. Of the smears in patients with abnormal biopsies, 37.7% were upgraded, whereas only 7.7% of smears from those with normal biopsies were upgraded (P < .001). Nine patients were found to have cervical intraepithelial neoplasia-3 on biopsy. Six of the nine smears (66.7%) taken on these patients were upgraded. CONCLUSION: Neural network-directed analysis of smears conventionally diagnosed as atypical squamous (glandular) cells of undetermined significance will reveal findings suggesting a squamous intraepithelial lesion in a significant number of cases. This approach requires further study because it is a relatively cost-effective means of triaging patients with a cytologic diagnosis of atypical squamous (glandular) cells of undetermined significance.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1988

Temporal and spatial factors in diethylstilbestrol-induced squamous metaplasia of the developing human prostate.

The effects of exogenous estrogen on the developing human prostate were examined in human fetal prostatic rudiments grown for 1 month as subcapsular renal grafts in athymic male nude mice treated with diethylstilbestrol (DES). Prostatic rudiments grown in untreated (control) hosts exhibited normal ductal morphogenesis, growth, and secretory cytodifferentiation. Squamous metaplasia was observed rarely in controls (2 of 22). Conversely, squamous metaplasia was observed in the prostatic utricle and urethra of all 17 specimens grown in DES-treated hosts. Proximal and distal prostatic ducts exhibited DES-induced squamous metaplasia in 13 and 12 of the specimens, respectively. When present, metaplastic changes were mild in the distal ducts. The distribution and intensity of metaplasia were related to the age of the specimen during the period of DES exposure. In specimens grown in DES-treated hosts to a gestational age equivalent of 16.5 weeks or less, squamous metaplasia was only seen in the prostatic utricle and urethra; however, in specimens grown to a gestational age equivalency of 17 weeks or more, squamous metaplasia was observed in the prostatic ducts as well. The nonuniform distribution of estrogen-induced squamous metaplasia within the developing prostatic ductal system emphasizes a regional and age-dependent susceptibility to exogenous estrogens in proximal ductal areas (near the urethra) as compared with distal ductal regions of the developing human prostate.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Squamous cells as predictors of bacterial contamination in urine samples.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether squamous cells in urine indicate bacterial contamination. METHODS: We prospectively studied 105 consecutive women who presented to the emergency department with symptoms suggestive of a urinary tract infection. Two urine samples were collected from each woman, a midstream clean-catch (MSCC) sample and a catheterized (CATH) sample. Microscopic urinalyses to assess for squamous cells and urine cultures to assess for bacterial contamination were performed on all samples. Bacterial contamination was defined as growth of fewer than 10,000 colonies of a single species per milliliter or growth of three or more species of commensal bacteria (mixed flora) in a urine sample. RESULTS: Squamous cells were found in 99 of 105 CATH samples (94%); however, no CATH samples had bacterial contamination. Squamous cells were found in 101 of 105 MSCC samples (96%); however, only 22 MSCC samples (21%) had bacterial contamination. CONCLUSION: The presence of squamous cells in CATH urine samples obtained from women is not indicative of bacterial contamination. The presence of squamous cells in MSCC urine samples obtained from women also is not a good indicator, with an overall predictive value for bacterial contamination of 21%.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Therapy for oral squamous cell carcinoma by tegafur and streptococcal agent OK-432 in combination with radiotherapy: association of the therapeutic effect with differentiation and apoptosis in the cancer cells.

Twenty patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma having mainly stage II or III lesions without distant metastasis, were treated with tegafur and streptococcal agent, OK-432, in combination with radiotherapy. As a consequence, 16 cases among the treated 20 cases showed complete remission by this therapy alone. Especially, we have found that the squamous cell carcinoma arising in non-keratinizing oral epithelium rather than in keratinizing oral epithelium has better response to this therapy. Among the 16 cases with complete remission (CR) by the current therapy, 10 cases were histopathologically diagnosed as well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma and six cases as moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. When we examined immunohistochemically the expression of various antigens such as proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), p53 and LeY or the presence of DNA fragmentation by nick-end labelling in the biopsy materials taken at the first visit to our clinic from 20 patients treated with the current therapy, the CR group showed a significantly increased LeY expres-sion level ( p< 0.05) and DNA fragmentation rate (p< 0.05) as compared with the partial response (PR, n= 3) + no change (NC, n= 1) group. On the other hand, the CR group with respect to PCNA expression level was significantly decreased as compared with the PR + NC group ( p< 0.05). From these findings, it can be considered that the therapy for oral squamous cell carcinoma by UFT and OK-432 in combination with radiotherapy is very effective, which may be associated with differentiation or apoptosis in oral squamous carcinoma cells. In addition, we present the clinical findings and results of immunohistochemical staining for the biopsy materials obtained from four CR cases treated with the current therapeutic method.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1999

Between-observer repeatability of sputum differential cell counts. Influence of cell viability and squamous cell contamination.

BACKGROUND: Induced sputum differential cell counts have been advocated as a method of noninvasively assessing airway inflammation in asthma and other airway diseases. Relatively little is known about the between-observer repeatability of sputum differential cell counts and the factors that influence it. OBJECTIVE: To assess the between-observer variability of induced sputum cell counts. METHODS: Sputum was induced and processed using standard techniques. Forty-two slides from 38 patients (31 with asthma, seven normal subjects) were randomly selected. Slides were classified as good (<20% squamous cells and >50% viability; n = 24); low viability (<50% viability; n = 10) and high squamous cell contamination (>20% squamous cells; n = 8). Two blinded observers counted between 200 and 400 nonsquamous cells and agreement was assessed by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the standard deviation of between-observer differences (SD). RESULTS: The overall ICC were 0.9, 0.89, 0.9 for eosinophils, neutrophils and macrophages and 0.29 and 0.69 for lymphocytes and epithelial cells. Repeatability was greater in slides classified as good compared with slides with low cell viability and particularly excess squamous cell contamination. CONCLUSIONS: We have shown that the overall between-observer repeatability of the differential eosinophil, neutrophil and macrophage cell counts is good. Low cell viability and particularly excess squamous cell contamination reduce between-observer repeatability suggesting that techniques that ensure high cell viability and reduce squamous contamination would be an advantage.

Asthma↗