Eri Toyoshima

Expression of syndecan-1 is common in human lung cancers independent of expression of epidermal growth factor receptor

In order to determine syndecan-1 expression in lung cancer, we examined 115 lung cancer specimens and 17 lung cancer cell lines. Syndecan-1 was immunohistochemically stained with a polyclonal antibody in 115 paraffin-embedded specimens; 84 cases out of 97 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and eight cases out of 18 small cell lung cancer (SCLC) were positively stained. Simultaneously, epidermal growth-factor receptor (EGFR) was stained; 47 cases out of 97 NSCLC and one case of 18 SCLC were positively stained. No significant correlation was shown between EGFR and syndecan-1 expression (P=0.68). Syndecan-1 mRNA was detectable in 16 of 17 lung cancer cell lines and EGFR mRNA in nine of 17. Eight cell lines had syndecan-1 mRNA as well as EGFR mRNA. PR-39 (1 microM) and 80 pM transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)), did not increase expressions of syndecan-1 mRNA and EGFR in five lung cancer cell lines. We concluded that lung cancer had detectable syndecan-1; however, expression of syndecan-1 protein did not correlate with survival time of lung cancer patients.

Alterations in penicillin binding protein gene of Streptococcus pneumoniae and their correlation with susceptibility patterns

Penicillin binding protein (pbp) gene alterations of 328 clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae were examined for a correlation with their antibiotic-resistance. The frequency of penicillin G (PEN-G) resistance was determined to clarify susceptibility to several antibiotics, namely PEN-G, ampicillin, sulbactam/ampicillin, cefozopram, panipenem (PAPM), clarithromycin (CLR), azithromycin (AZM) and levofloxacin (LVX). Oligonucleotide primers for three pbp genes (pbp1a, pbp2x and pbp2b) were used to detect mutations in pbp. Of the strains, 25.9% were classified as Pen-Gs, 68.0% as Pen-Gir and 6.1% as Pen-Gr. The polymerase chain reaction product for wild-type pbp1a was found in 185 isolates, that for wild-type pbp2x was found in 66 isolates and that for wild-type pbp2b was found in 213 isolates. None of these three genes was detectable in 100 isolates while all of them were detected in 64 isolates (1aw/2xw/2bw). Of those 64 isolates with 1aw/2xw/2bw, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of PEN-G was < or =0.06 mg/l for 54 isolates and 0.12 mg/l for 10 isolates. Of the 272 strains for which the MIC of PAPM was < or =0.03 mg/l, there were 85 Pen-Gs, 184 Pen-Gir and three Pen-Gr isolates. Three strains for which the MIC of LVX was > or =4.0 mg/l included one Pen-Gs and two Pen-Gir isolates. The MICs of CLR correlated significantly with those of AZM. The MIC of CLR was > or =1 mg/l for 216 isolates, and the MIC of AZM was > or =1 mg/l for 244 of them. These data suggested that PAPM may be effective against S. pneumoniae infection, although acquisition of resistance should be considered. LVX also seemed to be effective against S. pneumoniae.

Detection of Photofrin Fluorescence From Malignant and Premalignant Lesions in the Bronchus using a Full-color Endoscopic Fluorescence Imaging System.

Study objectives: To detect invisible lung cancer and to determine field of laser radiation during PDT we developed a full-color fluorescence fiberscopic system. We tested the efficacy of this system in patients with various bronchial malignancies. System design: A fiber-optic endoscope was attached to a camera box containing a color ICCD camera which can detect from 400 to 700nm fluorescence in full-color. Light of average wavelength 405 nm was selected and radiated through the light channel of the fiberscope from a 300W Xenon lamp. Patients and methods: We examined nine consecutive patients with bronchial malignancy admitted in our hospital to receive PDT. Sixteen lesions in these nine patients were observed with white light and excitation light and the results were compared. Histological examinations were done by taking biopsy specimens and samples for pathological and cytological examination. After the diagnosis was confirmed, 2.0 mg/kg Photofrin was injected. Forty eight hours after the administration of Photofrin, observation of the bronchial wall was made using a full-color endoscopic fluorescence imaging system just before PDT. Results: Bright red fluorescence from Photofrin was Observed in 14/14 bronchial malignancies: 3 squamous cell carcinoma, 9 squamous cell carcinoma in situ, 1 metastatic breast cancer and 1 metastatic islet cell tumor. Bright red fluorescence was also detected in 2/2 squamous dysplasia. Green autofluorescence was observed in the normal part of the bronchus. Conclusions: Results of the present study suggest that the full-color endoscopic fluorescence imaging system can be used to detect malignant and premalignant lesions as red fluorescence against green autofluorescence with Photofrin administration, and this system has the potential to detect absence of autofluorescence in cancerous lesions.

Immunohistochemical Analysis of bcl-2 and p53 Protein Expresion in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers with Reference to Histological Type and Pathological Stage.

原発性非小細胞肺癌手術例299例を対象としてbcl-2蛋白およびp53蛋白の発現と予後との関連を免疫組織化学的に検討した. 299例中, 64例 (21.4%) がbcl-2蛋白, 149例 (49.8%) がp53蛋白陽性であった. bcl-2蛋白およびp53蛋白の陽性率はいずれも腺癌に比し扁平上皮癌で高かった. 病理病期ではbcl-2蛋白の陽性率はIII, IV期に比べI, II期で高かった (p=0.032). 生存率はbcl-2蛋白陽性例は陰性例に比べ高く (p=0.012), p53蛋白陽性例が陰性例に比べ低かった (p=0.021). 病期別の検討ではI, II期ではbcl-2蛋白陽性例で有意に生存率が高かった (p=0.033). 組織型と生存率との関連では, 腺癌ではp53蛋白陰性例が, 扁平上皮癌ではbcl-2蛋白陽性例がいずれも有意 (それぞれp=0.012, p=0.012) に生存率が高かった. 腺癌におけるp53蛋白の発現, 扁平上皮癌におけるbcl-2蛋白の発現が予後因子として有用と考えられた.