Lora Hedrick

Use of keratin 903 as an adjunct in the diagnosis of prostate carcinoma.

The identification of basal cells is often helpful in excluding a diagnosis of prostate carcinoma. However, it can be difficult to distinguish basal cells from underlying fibroblasts or an artifactual two-cell layer in neoplastic glands. To determine the usefulness of anti-keratin antibody 903 for identifying basal cells in glandular patterns sometimes confused with carcinoma, we examined frozen sections from radical prostatectomy specimens and formalin-fixed needle biopsy, radical prostatectomy, and transurethral resection specimens. Atrophic glands, basal cell hyperplasia, intraductal severe dysplasia and various grades of carcinoma were examined. Also evaluated were cases of atypical adenosis, defined as clusters of small glands that mimic low-grade carcinoma yet focally appear to have a basal cell layer and merge with more recognizable benign glands. Almost all normal glands showed some staining, although it was often discontinuous with formalin fixation. Intraductal dysplasia stained in a manner similar to normal glands. Ninety-two percent of atrophic glands and 88% of glands in basal cell hyperplasia stained. Sixty-one percent of th& glands in atypical adenosis stained intensely but discontinuously. All grades of adenocarcinoma lacked any immunoreactivity. These results indicate that keratin 903 is useful in the diagnosis of prostatic carcinoma because positive staining identifies a questionable focus as benign whereas negative staining helps to substantiate the diagnosis of carcinoma.

Cell adhesion molecules as tumour suppressors

Cell adhesion molecules, a diverse group of proteins expressed on the cell surface, have been implicated in numerous important cellular functions ranging from controlling morphogenesis to suppressing tumourigenesis. In this article, we discuss evidence supporting the idea that at least some proteins involved in cell adhesion may suppress tumourigenesis through influences on cell growth, differentiation and/or invasion. These studies suggest that some cell adhesion molecules may be encoded by tumour suppressor genes.

Chromosome abnormalities in primary endometrioid ovarian carcinoma

Specific and recurrent chromosome abnormalities may occur in regions of the genome that are involved in the conversion of normal cells to those with tumorigenic potential. Ovarian cancer is the primary cause of death among patients with gynecologic malignancies. We performed cytogenetic analysis in a subgroup of epithelial ovarian tumors, the endometrioid tumors, which are histologically indistinguishable from endometrial carcinoma of the uterus. We studied 10 endometrioid tumors to determine the degree of cytogenetic similarity between these two carcinomas. Six of 10 endometrioid tumors showed a near-triploid modal number, and one had a tetraploid modal number. Eight of the 10 contained structural chromosome abnormalities, of which the most frequent were 1p-- (5 tumors), 6q-- (4 tumors), 19q+ (4 tumors), and chromosome 3 rearrangements (4 tumors). These cytogenetic results resemble those reported for papillary ovarian tumors and differ from those of endometrial carcinoma of the uterus. We conclude that despite the histologic similarities between the endometrioid and endometrial carcinomas, the genetic abnormalities in the genesis of these tumors differ significantly.

Abscess of allantoic duct remnant

A recently submitted placenta was found to be histopathologically unique. Funicitis was present at the early gestational age of 22 1/7 weeks, and an abscessed allantoic duct remnant was present. The latter finding had not previously been seen at this pathology department, nor could reference to it be found in the literature.