Mei Fang Zhang

Primary small cell carcinoma of the esophagus: clinicopathological and immunohistochemical features of 21 cases

BackgroundPrimary small cell carcinoma (SCC) of the esophagus is a rare and aggressive tumor with poor prognosis. In this study, we report the clinicopathological characteristics of 21 cases of small cell carcinoma of the esophagus treated at the Cancer Center of Sun Yat-Sen University, with particular focus on the histologic and immunohistochemical findings.MethodsTwenty-one patient records were reviewed including presenting symptoms, demographics, disease stage, treatment, and follow-up. Histologic features were observed and immunohistochemical detection of cytokeratin (CK), epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), neuron specific enolase (NSE), synaptophysin (Syn), chromogranin A (CgA), neuronal cell adhesion molecules (CD56), thyroid transcriptional factor-1 (TTF-1) and S100 protein (S100) was performed.ResultsThe median age of patients in the study was 56 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 3.2:1. Histologically, there were 19 homogenous SCC esophageal samples and 2 samples comprised of SCC and well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. The percentages of SCC samples with positive immunoreactivity were Syn 95.2%, CD56 76.2%, TTF-1 71.4%, NSE 61.9%, CgA 61.9%, CK 57.1%, EMA 61.9%, and S100 19.0%, respectively. The median patient survival time was 18.3 months after diagnosis. The 2-year survival rate was 28.6%.ConclusionOur study suggests that esophageal SCC has similar histology to SCC that arises in the lung compartment, and Chinese patients have a poor prognosis. Higher proportion of positive labeling of Syn, CD56, CgA, NSE, and TTF-1 in esophageal SCC implicate that they are valuably applied in differential diagnosis of the malignancy.

Correlation between expression of p53, p21/WAF1, and MDM2 proteins and their prognostic significance in primary hepatocellular carcinoma

BackgroundTumor Protein p53 (p53), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (p21/WAF1), and murine double minute 2 (MDM2) participate in the regulation of cell growth. Altered expression of these gene products has been found in malignant tumors and has been associated with poor prognosis. Our aim was to investigate the expression of the 3 proteins in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and their prognostic significance.MethodsWe examined p53, p21/WAF1, and MDM2 expression in 181 pairs of HCC tissues and the adjacent hepatic tissues by performing immunohistochemistry and examined the expression of the 3 proteins in 7 pairs of HCC tissues and the adjacent hepatic tissues by using western blot analysis.ResultsThe expression of p53, p21/WAF1, and MDM2 in the HCC tissues was significantly higher than those in the adjacent hepatic tissues (P < 0.05). A statistical correlation was observed between p53 and p21/WAF1 expression in HCC tissues (R = 0.195, P = 0.008). A statistical correlation was observed between expression of p53 and p21/WAF1 (R = 0.380, P = 0.000), p53 and MDM2 (R = 0.299, P = 0.000), p21/WAF1 and MDM2 (R = 0.285, P = 0.000) in 181 liver tissues adjacent to the tumor. Patients with a low pathologic grade HCC (I+II) had a higher tendency to express p53 on tumor cells than the patients with high pathologic grade HCC (III+IV) (P = 0.007). Survival analysis showed that positive p21/WAF1 expression or/and negative MDM2 expression in HCC was a predictor of better survival of patients after tumor resection (P < 0.05).ConclusionsThe proteins p53, p21/WAF1, and MDM2 were overexpressed in all the HCC cases in this study, and p53 and p21/WAF1 overexpression were positively correlated. The expression of p21/WAF1 and MDM2 can be considered as 2 useful indicators for predicting the prognosis of HCC.

The expression of ADAM12 (meltrin α) in human giant cell tumours of bone

Aims: To examine the expression of ADAM12 (meltrin α), a member of the disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM) family, in human giant cell tumours of the bone, skeletal muscle tissue from human embryos, and human adult skeletal muscle tissue. Methods: ADAM12 mRNA was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridisation. Results: ADAM12 mRNA was detected in 14 of the 20 giant cell tumours of bone and in three of the six tumour cell cultures. The expression of ADAM12 in cells cultured from the tumour was linked to the presence of multinucleated giant cells. ADAM12 mRNA could not be detected in the five adult skeletal muscle tissue samples, although it was found in the two embryonic skeletal muscle tissue samples. ADAM12 mRNA was localised to the cytoplasm of multinucleated giant cells and some mononuclear stromal cells. Conclusions: These results indicate that multinucleated giant cells are formed by the cell fusion of mononuclear stromal cells in giant cell tumours of bone and that ADAM12 is involved in the cell fusion process.

miR-634 exhibits anti-tumor activities toward hepatocellular carcinoma via Rab1A and DHX33

Deregulation of microRNAs contributes to the aberrant growth of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we showed that miR-634 expression was frequently decreased in HCC. Low miR-634 expression was significantly associated with larger tumor size, poorer tumor differentiation, advanced TNM stage, vascular invasion, absence of tumor capsule and unfavorable overall survival. Overexpression of miR-634 markedly attenuated cell viability, colony formation, tumor growth and metastasis, whereas miR-634 inhibition resulted in the opposite phenotypes. Furthermore, re-introduction of miR-634 induced cell apoptosis inxa0vitro and inxa0vivo. Mechanistically, miR-634 inhibited the expression of Rab1A and DHX33 via directly binding to the 3-UTR of both genes. In clinical samples, the expression of Rab1A or DHX33 was reversely correlated with miR-634. Re-expression of Rab1A or DHX33 abrogated the miR-634-mediated inhibition of cell proliferation and migration. Collectively, our data suggest a tumor suppressor role of miR-634 in HCC. The newly identified miR-634/Rab1A or miR-634/DHX33 axis serves as a potential therapeutic target for the clinical management.Deregulation of microRNAs contributes to the aberrant growth of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we showed that miR‐634 expression was frequently decreased in HCC. Low miR‐634 expression was significantly associated with larger tumor size, poorer tumor differentiation, advanced TNM stage, vascular invasion, absence of tumor capsule and unfavorable overall survival. Overexpression of miR‐634 markedly attenuated cell viability, colony formation, tumor growth and metastasis, whereas miR‐634 inhibition resulted in the opposite phenotypes. Furthermore, re‐introduction of miR‐634 induced cell apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, miR‐634 inhibited the expression of Rab1A and DHX33 via directly binding to the 3′‐UTR of both genes. In clinical samples, the expression of Rab1A or DHX33 was reversely correlated with miR‐634. Re‐expression of Rab1A or DHX33 abrogated the miR‐634‐mediated inhibition of cell proliferation and migration. Collectively, our data suggest a tumor suppressor role of miR‐634 in HCC. The newly identified miR‐634/Rab1A or miR‐634/DHX33 axis serves as a potential therapeutic target for the clinical management.

Keratocystoma of the parotid gland: case report and immunohistochemical investigation

Keratocystoma of the parotid gland was first defined and reported as an unusual pathological entity in 2002.1 It was not listed as an independent pathological entity in the revised World Health Organization (WHO) classification of salivary gland tumours published in 2005.2 Recently, the designation of keratocystoma of the parotid gland was introduced as a newly recognised diagnosis.3 Here, we present a case of a benign tumour of the parotid gland diagnosed as a keratocystoma.nnA 37-year-old man presented with a painless circumscribed nodule that had been gradually enlarging in the left parotid gland area for six years. No cervical lymphadenopathy was detected. A subtotal parotidectomy was performed and a tumour was excised. No tumour recurrence was observed 18 months after the surgery.nnGrossly, the tumour was completely circumscribed within the parotid gland, measuring 20×18×15u2005mm in size. The cut surface revealed multilocular cystic spaces. No bleeding or necrosis was detected in the tumour.nnHistologically, the tumour consisted mainly of multiple cystic formations lined with stratified …