Izilda Aparecida Cardinalli

Renal medullary carcinoma: report of seven cases from Brazil

We report seven cases of renal medullary carcinoma collected from several institutions in Brazil. In spite of a relatively high incidence of sickle cell trait in Brazil, this is a rare tumor. All patients were males between the ages of 8 and 69 years (mean 22 years). From the collected information, the most frequent presenting symptoms were gross hematuria and flank or abdominal pain. The duration of symptoms ranged from 1 week to 5 months. Most of the tumors were poorly circumscribed arising centrally in the renal medulla. Size ranged from 4 to 12 cm (mean 7 cm) and hemorrhage and necrosis were common findings. All seven cases described showed sickled red blood cells in the tissue and six patients were confirmed to have sickle cell trait. All cases disclosed the characteristic reticular pattern consisting of tumor cell aggregates forming spaces of varied size, reminiscent of yolk sac testicular tumors of reticular type. Other findings included microcystic, tubular, trabecular, solid and adenoid-cystic patterns, rhabdoid-like cells and stromal desmoplasia. A peculiar feature was suppurative necrosis typically resembling microabscesses within epithelial aggregates. The medullary carcinoma of the 69-year-old patient was associated with a conventional clear cell carcinoma. To our knowledge, this association has not been previously reported and the patient is the oldest in the literature. The survival after diagnosis or admission ranged from 4 days to 9 months. The 8-year-old African–Brazilian patient with a circumscribed mass is alive and free of recurrence 8 years after diagnosis. This case raises the question whether a periodic search for renal medullary carcinoma in young patients who have known abnormalities of the hemoglobin gene and hematuria could result in an early diagnosis and a better survival.

Association of the highly prevalent TP53 R337H mutation with pediatric choroid plexus carcinoma and osteosarcoma in southeast Brazil.

The inherited, low‐penetrance arginine‐to‐histidine substitution at codon 337 (R337H) of the tumor protein 53 gene (TP53) is clustered in southeast Brazil (estimated frequency, 0.3%). Although its tumorigenic effect initially appeared to be tissue‐specific, recent evidence suggests its association with a broader range of tumors. Therefore, the authors of this report investigated the spectrum of pediatric malignancies associated with the TP53 R337H mutation at a single referral institution in southeast Brazil.

Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway Deregulation in Childhood Adrenocortical Tumors

CONTEXT CTNNB1/β-catenin mutations and activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway are frequent in adult adrenocortical tumors (ACT), but data on childhood ACT are lacking. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to investigate the presence of Wnt/β-catenin pathway abnormalities in childhood ACT. PATIENTS AND METHODS Clinicopathological findings and outcome of 62 childhood ACT patients were analyzed regarding CTNNB1 mutations and the expression of Wnt-related genes (CTNNB1; WNT4, a Wnt ligand; SFRP1, DKK3, and AXIN1, Wnt inhibitors; TCF7, a transcription factor; and MYC and WISP2, target genes) by quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS CTNNB1-activating mutations were found in only four of 62 ACT (6%), all of them harboring TP53 mutation. There was association between the presence of CTNNB1 mutations and death (P = 0.02). Diffuse β-catenin accumulation was found in 71% of ACT, even in ACT without CTNNB1 mutations. Compared to normal adrenals, ACT presented increased expression of CTNNB1 (P = 0.008) and underexpression of Wnt inhibitor genes: DKK3 (P < 0.0001), SFRP1 (P = 0.05), and AXIN1 (P = 0.04). With regard to Wnt/β-catenin target genes, ACT presented increased expression of WISP2 but lower expression of MYC. Higher overall survival was associated with underexpression of SFRP1 (P = 0.01), WNT4 (P = 0.004), and TCF7 (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS CTNNB1 mutations are not common in childhood ACT but appear to associate with poor prognosis. Nevertheless, most ACT exhibit increased expression of β-catenin and WISP2 and reduced expression of Wnt inhibitor genes (DKK3, SFRP1, and AXIN1). Thus, in addition to CTNNB1 mutations, other genetic events affecting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway may be involved in childhood adrenocortical tumorigenesis.

Evaluation by computerized morphometry of histopathological alterations of the colon wall in segments with and without intestinal transit in rats

PURPOSE To evaluate histopathological alterations of the colon wall in segments with and without intestinal transit, by computer-assisted imaging, and to correlate these with the length of time diversion. METHODS Thirty male Wistar rats were subjected to intestinal transit diversion by a proximal colostomy and distal mucosa fistula. The animals were divided into three experimental groups according to how long after the initial surgical procedure they were sacrificed: six, twelve and eighteen weeks. Colon segments with and without transit were subjected to histopathological study. The variables colon crypt length, mucosal ulceration, muscle layer thickness of the muscularis mucosa, submucosa and muscularis propria, vascular congestion, number of caliciform cells, inflammatory grade and degree of inflammation, comparing the two colon segments in the different experimental groups were studied. Intestinal crypt length, muscle layer thickness of the mucosa, submucosa and muscularis propria and caliciform cells were measured by computer-assisted imaging method. Mean equality, variance analysis and correlation tests were used in the statistical analysis, and the significance level was set at 5%. RESULTS Comparison between segments with and without transit showed that the latter presented reduced length of colon crypts and increased muscle layer thickness of the muscularis mucosa, submucosa and muscularis propria. There were greater quantities of ulceration of the mucosal and greater degree of inflammation with increasing time without transit. Mucosal ulceration, submucosal vascular congestion, increased thickness of the submucosal and muscularis propria layers, presence of caliciform cells, inflammatory infiltrate and inflammatory grade correlated significantly with the length of time without transit. CONCLUSIONS Histological alterations occurred in all layers of the colon wall, in the segments without intestinal transit. Ulcerations in the intestinal mucosa, increased number of caliciform cells, greater vascular congestion of the submucosal layer and inflammatory reaction were related to increasing length of time without transit.

Morphometry and histology of gonads from 13 children with dysgenetic male pseudohermaphroditism.

Abstract Background.—Dysgenetic male pseudohermaphroditism (DMP) is a sexual differentiation disorder characterized by bilateral dysgenetic testes, persistent mullerian structures, and cryptorchidism in individuals with a 46,XY karyotype. However, the histologic criteria for the diagnosis of DMP are poorly established. Objective.—To determine gonadal histology in children with DMP. Patients and Methods.—Between 1996 and 1998, 13 patients with DMP were evaluated on our service. The clinical diagnosis of DMP was based on a 46,XY karyotype, sex ambiguity, high levels of follicle-stimulating hormone and low levels of antimullerian hormone, a decreased testosterone response to human chorionic gonadotropin stimulation without accumulation of testosterone precursors, and the presence of mullerian structures. Molecular sequencing the HMGbox region of the SRY gene did not reveal any mutations. Biopsies were performed for 22 of 26 gonads (patient age at the time of biopsy, 16 months to 10 years). Conventional micro...

Downregulation of 14q32 microRNAs in Primary Human Desmoplastic Medulloblastoma

Medulloblastoma (MB) is one of the most common pediatric cancers, likely originating from abnormal development of cerebellar progenitor neurons. MicroRNA (miRNA) has been shown to play an important role in the development of the central nervous system. Microarray analysis was used to investigate miRNA expression in desmoplastic MB from patients diagnosed at a young age (1 or 2 years old). Normal fetal or newborn cerebellum was used as control. A total of 84 differentially expressed miRNAs (64 downregulated and 20 upregulated) were found. Most downregulated miRNAs (32/64) were found to belong to the cluster of miRNAs at the 14q32 locus, suggesting that this miRNA locus is regulated as a module in MB. Possible mechanisms of 14q32 miRNAs downregulation were investigated by the analysis of publicly available gene expression data sets. First, expression of estrogen-related receptor-γ (ESRRG), a reported positive transcriptional regulator of some 14q32 miRNAs, was found downregulated in desmoplastic MB. Second, expression of the parentally imprinted gene MEG3 was lower in MB in comparison to normal cerebellum, suggesting a possible epigenetic silencing of the 14q32 locus. miR-129-5p (11p11.2/7q32.1), miR-206 (6p12.2), and miR-323-3p (14q32.2), were chosen for functional studies in DAOY cells. Overexpression of miR-129-5p using mimics decreased DAOY proliferation. No effect was found with miR-206 or miR-323 mimics.

Sonic Hedgehog Signaling Is Active in Human Adrenal Cortex Development and Deregulated in Adrenocortical Tumors

BACKGROUND The sonic hedgehog (SHH) pathway plays a key role in rodent adrenal cortex development and is involved in tumorigenesis in several human tissues, but data in human adrenal glands are limited. OBJECTIVES The objectives of the study were to analyze the involvement of the SHH pathway in human adrenal development and tumorigenesis and the effects of SHH inhibition on an adrenocortical tumor (ACT) cell line. PATIENTS AND METHODS Expression of SHH pathway components was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 51 normal adrenals (33 fetal) and 34 ACTs (23 pediatric) and by quantitative PCR in 81 ACTs (61 pediatric) and 19 controls (10 pediatric). The effects of SHH pathway inhibition on gene expression and cell viability in the NCI-H295A adrenocortical tumor cell line after cyclopamine treatment were analyzed. RESULTS SHH pathway proteins were present in fetal and postnatal normal adrenals and showed distinct patterns of spatiotemporal expression throughout development. Adult adrenocortical carcinomas presented with higher expression of PTCH1, SMO, GLI3, and SUFU compared with normal adult adrenal cortices. Conversely, pediatric ACTs showed lower mRNA expression of SHH, PTCH1, SMO, GLI1, and GLI3 compared with normal pediatric adrenal cortices. In vitro treatment with cyclopamine resulted in decreased GLI3, SFRP1, and CTNNB1 mRNA expression and β-catenin staining as well as decreased cell viability. CONCLUSIONS The SHH pathway is active in human fetal and postnatal adrenals, up-regulated in adult adrenocortical carcinomas, and down-regulated in pediatric ACTs. SHH pathway antagonism impaired cell viability. The SHH pathway is deregulated in ACTs and might provide a new target therapy to be explored.

Spindle Assembly Checkpoint Gene Expression in Childhood Adrenocortical Tumors (ACT): Overexpression of Aurora Kinases A and B Is Associated With a Poor Prognosis

Pediatric adrenocortical tumors (ACT) are rare malignancies and treatment has a small impact on survival in advanced disease and the discovery of potential target genes could be important in new therapeutic approaches.

Granulocytic Sarcoma of the Larynx Preceding Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

The authors report one case of granulocytic sarcoma infiltrating the larynx and cervical lymph nodes in a 50-year-old smoking patient. At the time of diagnosis there was no clinical and laboratory evidence of acute myeloid leukemia or chronic myeloproliferative disease. Four months after diagnosis, bone marrow morphology was consistent with chronic myeloid leukemia, accelerated phase. Cytogenetic abnormalities (Ph 1 chromosome, t(1; 12) (p36; p13), and trisomy of chromosome 20) were also found in hemopoetic cells. Granulocytic sarcoma preceding installation of chronic myeloid leukemia, as described here, seems to be a rare clinical event.

Influência da localização do tumor na expressão tecidual da proteína p53 em doentes com câncer colorretal: estudo de 100 casos

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate if there are any differences in tissue expression of p53 protein according to tumor location in colorectal cancer patients. METHOD: One hundred colorectal adenocarcinoma patients (54 women) of mean age 59.8 years were studied. Expression of p53 protein was analyzed through immunohistochemistry, using anti-p53 monoclonal antibodies and the streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase technique. Correlations between tissue expression of p53 protein and the following variables were investigated: gender, age, histological grade, histological type, tumor size, TNM staging, depth of intestinal wall invasion, lymph node involvement, angiolymphatic invasion, and proximal or distal tumor location in relation to the splenic flexure. For statistical evaluation of the relationship between p53 protein expression and these variables, the chi-squared test was used, with the significance level set at 5% (p<0.05). RESULTS: There was positivity for p53 protein in 75% of the cases. Among the different variables considered, a greater tendency towards expression of the mutant protein was found in relation to age (p=0.001), a histological grade (p=0.001), a histological type (p=0.001), advanced TNM staging (p=0.001), deeper depth of colon wall invasion (p=0.001), lymph node involvement (p=0.001), angiolymphatic invasion (p=0.02) and distal location to the splenic flexure (p=0.001). However, there was no relationship with gender (p=0.49) or tumor size (p=0.08). CONCLUSION: The results from this study allow the conclusion that the expression of mutant p53 protein occurs more frequently in tumors located distally to the splenic flexure.