[en] Cytokines and growth factors have biologic effects that could stimulate tumor growth, invasion and angiogenesis. The incidence of 24 factors was investigated in 25 cultured human melanoma cell lines and in 62 fixed tissues at different stages of the disease. Over 80% of the human melanoma cell lines expressed TGF-β, IL-8, IL-6, VEGF, PDGF-AA and OPN. Significantly higher TGF-β, IGF-1 and IL-15 were determined in primary lesions compared to distant metastases by immunohistochemistry. Illustrating the complexity of the milieu of the tumor microenvironment, some of these factors may have to be considered in targeted therapy

No abstract available

[en] Endometrial cancer is the fourth most common malignancy in women, with most cases being classified as early stage endometrioid tumors that carry a favorable prognosis. The endometrial serous histological subtype (ESC), however, while only accounting for 10% of all endometrial cancers is responsible for a disproportionate number of deaths. Unlike the estrogen-dependent, well differentiated endometrioid tumors, which are commonly associated with a younger age of onset, ESCs are estrogen-independent and tend to present at an advanced stage and in older women. Treatment for ESC entails aggressive surgery and multimodal adjuvant therapy. In this review, we describe the clinical behavior, molecular aspects, and treatment strategies for ESC

[en] Purpose: For patients with early stage nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) but medically inoperable, aggressive radiation therapy might impact on survival. Methods and Materials: Between 1980 and 1990, 71 patients treated at MDACC by radiation therapy alone for NSCLC because of medical contradindications for surgery were analyzed. All patients had histologic or cytologic confirmation of NSCLC. The median total radiation dose was 63.23 Gy with 79% of patients receiving doses exceeding 60 Gy. The radiographic response was documented at completion of radiation therapy and 6 months after completion of radiation therapy. The median follow-up time was 36 months, ranging from 14-61 months. Results: Overall survival rates at 3 and 5 years were 19 and 12%, respectively. The disease-specific survival (DSS) rates at 3 and 5 years were 44 and 32%, respectively. The DSS rates at 3 years by T-stage were: 49% for T1, 47% for T2, 26% for T3, and 32% for T4. The local control rates at 3 and 5 years were 66 and 56%, respectively. The local control rates at 3 years by T-stage were: 89% for T1, 61% for T2, 42% for T3, and 55% for T4. Univariately, the significant favorable prognostic factors for DSS were a KPS ≥ 70, tumor size ≤5 cm, no chest-wall invasion, and a radiation dose ≥50 Gy. The significant favorable prognostic factors for local control were tumor size ≤4 cm, no chest-wall invasion, a radiation dose >60 Gy, and a complete response confirmed by chest x-ray at 6 months after radiotherapy (p = 0.04). Coverage of nodal drainage areas did not affect survival or local control. No lethal complications were seen, and documented symptomatic radiation pneumonitis occurred in only 7% of cases. Hence, the significant favorable prognostic factors for DSS were a KPS of ≥70, tumor size ≤5 cm, no chest-wall invasion, and a radiation dose ≥50 Gy. The significant favorable prognostic factors for local control were tumor size of ≤4 cm, no chest-wall invasion, a radiation dose >60 Gy, and a complete response confirmed by chest x-ray at 6 months after radiotherapy. Multivariate analysis showed that the most important prognostic factor for DSS was KPS, and the most important prognostic factor for local control was radiation dose. Conclusions: Patients with a KPS of ≥70, a tumor size <5 cm, and no chest-wall invastion would benetif most from treatment with radiation alone to doses exceeding 60 Gy. This patient group represents the best sample for studying the benefit of conformal radiotherapy

[en] Immunohistochemistry (IHC) plays an important role in the diagnosis of some bone tumors, especially in the differential diagnosis of primary from metastatic non-osseous tumors and in the categorization of small-round-blue-cell tumors. This article reviews immunomarkers used in bone tumors and their diagnostic significance. (orig.)

[en] Myxoid liposarcoma (MLPS) is an adipocytic tumour and second commonest among the types of liposarcoma. It exhibits a wide histological spectrum. It is important to be aware of this diversity of morphology in this tumour to prevent a wrong diagnosis. Heterologous differentiation in myxoid liposarcoma is reported; however, this is rare. To date, seven cases of MLPS with cartilaginous differentiation have been reported. Only five of these were further confirmed by cytogenetic analysis. We are reporting the 8th case of MLPS with cartilaginous differentiation. A 66-year female presented with posterior left thigh mass. Excision was done. Microscopic examination showed sheets of bland spindle cells containing round to oval nuclei and fine, delicate chicken-wire vessels. The firm blue appearing areas, which accounted for about 20% of the tumor volume, were characterised by mature hyaline cartilage. The final diagnosis was MLPS, showing prominent cartilaginous differentiation. Anterior and lateral margins were involved. Tumour was very close to the rest of the resection margins. FNCLCC grade was 1. Provisional pathological stage, as per staging system of the Union for International Cancer Control for extremity, was pT2. Patient was examined by oncologists. Wide local excision is in plan as two margins were involved by the tumour, while rest of the margins were very close to tumour. (author)

[en] Autoradiography allows a dynamic, and in some cases a quantitative study of cell systems. It is now considered as a most efficient method when approaching conduction and morphogenetic problems in plant biology. The following technical aspects are described: tracer incorporation; autoradiographs; histoautoradiographs

[en] Cystic pancreatic lesions are often discovered incidentally as an asymptomatic finding, at a rate which is increasing considerably. In recent years the understanding of such tumors has become clearly differentiated. The spectrum of relevant lesions includes in particular the intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN), serous cystic neoplasm (SCN) and mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN). With certain knowledge of their histological and radiomorphological structure as well as their distribution in terms of location, age and sex, such tumors are easy to differentiate and demarcate from common pancreatic pseudocysts. This also implies the fundamental understanding of complementary endoscopic procedures such as endosonography, which enables aspiration of the content of the cyst. A number of cystic pancreatic lesions have the potential to undergo malignant transformation along the adenoma-carcinoma sequence and therefore necessitate a differentiated approach to their radiological management. This review aims to develop a broad understanding of the pathological and radiomorphological characteristics of cystic pancreatic lesions and provides advice regarding procedures, particularly with respect to incidentally detected lesions. (orig.)

[en] Human carcinomas frequently exhibit significant stromal reactions such as the so-called “desmoplastic stroma” or “reactive stroma”, which is characterised by the existence of large numbers of stromal cells and extracellular matrix proteins. Carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which are rich in activated fibroblast populations exemplified by myofibroblasts, are among the predominant cell types present within the tumour-associated stroma. Increased numbers of stromal myofibroblasts are often associated with high-grade malignancies with poor prognoses in humans. CAF myofibroblasts possess abilities to promote primary tumour development, growth and progression by stimulating the processes of neoangiogenesis as well as tumour cell proliferation, survival, migration and invasion. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that CAFs serve as a niche supporting the metastatic colonisation of disseminated carcinoma cells in distant organs. Their contribution to primary and secondary malignancies makes these fibroblasts a potential therapeutic target and they also appear to be relevant to the development of drug resistance and tumour recurrence. This review summarises our current knowledge of tumour-promoting CAFs and discusses the therapeutic feasibility of targeting these cells as well as disrupting heterotypic interactions with other cell types in tumours that may improve the efficacy of current anti-tumour therapies

[en] Objective: To evaluate the morphology, grading and staging of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) and to assess the relationship between these parameters. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out at the Departments of Pathology, University of Health Sciences and Sheikh Zayed Federal Post Graduate Medical Institute Lahore, Pakistan, over a period of one year. The study consisted of 100 colectomy/ hemi colectomy specimens, received fixed in 10% formalin. The specimens were examined grossly to observe the various macroscopical features of tumours. Haematoxylin and Eosin stained slides were examined to determine the histological type, grade and stage of CRC. Results: Among the 100 cases, 59 were non mucinous adenocarcinomas, of which 4 were in Dukes' stage A, 51 were in Dukes' stage B and 4 were in Dukes' stage C. Cases of nonmucinous CRC of grade I to grade II were 55 in number. In thirty cases of mucinous carcinomas, 18 were in Dukes' stage B and 12 were in Dukes' stage C, of these 2 were of grade I, 20 were of grade II and 8 were of grade III. All the 11 signet ring cell carcinomas were of grade III and in Dukes' stage C. Conclusion: Mucin secreting and signet-ring cell denocarcinomas of colon and rectum are high grade tumours and presented at an advanced stage. (author)