Yoshiteru Kitahori

Immunohistochemical Detection of p53 Oncoprotein in Human Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas and Leukoplakias: Comparison with Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen Staining and Correlation with Clinicopathological Findings

Forty oral squamous cell carcinomas and 20 leukoplakias were examined for expression of p53 oncoprotein using an immunohistochemical technique with BP53-12 monoclonal antibody. Positive staining was found in 21/40 (52%) of the carcinomas and 2/20 (10%) of the leukoplakias. Furthermore, comparison of p53 expression with binding of PC10 monoclonal antibody to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and degree of histological malignancy in terms of invasion and histological differentiation of carcinomas demonstrated a positive correlation in both cases.

Expression of the estrogen receptor in human thyroid neoplasms

The expression and quantitation of the estrogen receptor (ER) in human thyroid tumors were examined by biochemical, immunohistochemical, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) techniques. For this study, neoplasms, adenomatous goiters and adjacent normal thyroid tissues were obtained from 35 patients which included 10 cases of papillary carcinomas, 17 cases of adenomas and 8 cases of adenomatous goiters. Regardless of the histopathological subtype, ER was detected in 19% (5/27) of the neoplastic tissues with the mean value of ER content of 5.0 +/- 1.3 fmol/mg protein and the mean Kd value of 0.38 +/- 0.28 nM. ER was also detected, but at a lower concentration (2.8 +/- 1.6 fmol/mg protein), in the surrounding normal tissues. There was no significant difference between the neoplasms and adenomatous goiters with respect to the incidence of ER positivity and ER content. Furthermore, ER-positive specimens, as determined by both biochemical and immunohistochemical techniques, also showed the expression of ER mRNA detected by RT-PCR method. These results demonstrate that both ER mRNA as well as ER protein are expressed in thyroid neoplasms. This suggests the possibility that estrogen may affect the tumorigenesis or the progression of some thyroid neoplasms.

Activation of the MN/CA9 gene is associated with hypomethylation in human renal cell carcinoma cell lines

The MN/CA9 (G250) gene expressed in the normal alimentary tract in a tissue‐specific manner is often activated in renal cell carcinomas. To cast light on the activation mechanism, we examined the methylation status of this gene in seven human renal cell carcinoma cell lines (SKRC‐01, ‐06, ‐10, ‐12, ‐14, ‐44, and ‐59) and three normal kidney tissue samples by using the bisulfite genomic sequencing protocol. CpG methylation was measured at seven locations in the MN/CA9 5′ region. MN/CA9 transcripts were detected by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction in five of the renal cell carcinoma cell lines (SKRC‐01, ‐06, ‐10, ‐44, and ‐59). These MN/CA9 positive cell lines showed hypomethylation, whereas the remaining two cell lines (SKRC‐12, and ‐14), and three normal kidney tissue samples without transcripts demonstrated hypermethylation. Treatment with the demethylating agent 5‐aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine resulted in activation of the MN/CA9 gene in the negative cell lines (SKRC‐12 and ‐14). These data suggest that hypomethylation in the 5′ region may have a major role in expression of the MN/CA9 gene in renal cell carcinoma cells. Mol. Carcinog. 27:184–189, 2000.

The Promoting Effects of Food Dyes, Erythrosine (Red 3) and Rose Bengal B (Red 105), on Thyroid Tumors in Partially Thyroidectomized N‐Bis(2‐hydroxypropyl)‐ nitrosamine‐treated Rats

The effects of erythrosine (Red 3), rose bengal B (Red 105) and thyroidectomy on the development of thyroid tumor were examined in male Wistar rats treated with N‐bis(2‐hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine (DHPN). Red 3 and Red 105 were used at 4% in the basal diet and were administered for 19 weeks from week 2 to 20. Thyroidectomy was performed by resection of the left lobe at week 4. Single injection of DHPN was performed intraperitoneally at 280 mg per 100 g body weight at the beginning of the experiment. Red 3 and Red 105 significantly promoted the development of thyroid tumors in thyroidectomized rats given DHPN, but had no significant effect in non‐thyroidectomized rats. The incidence of thyroid tumors was 91% in rats with partial thyroidectomy, Red 3 and DHPN, 100% in rats with partial thyroidectomy, Red 105 and DHPN, and 64% in rats with partial thyroidectomy and DHPN. Serum TSH was 5.5±3.1 ng/ml in rats with partial thyroidectomy, Red 3 and DHPN, 2.1 ± 2.2 ng/ml in rats with partial thyroidectomy, Red 105 and DHPN, and 1.5±0.5 ng/ml in rats with partial thyroidectomy and DHPN.

Lack of p16/CDKN2 alterations in thyroid carcinomas

Exons 1-3 of the p16/CDKN2 gene and exons 4-9 of the p53 gene were screened for mutations by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis and direct sequencing of PCR-amplified DNA from human primary thyroid carcinomas and thyroid carcinoma cell lines. The samples included 21 papillary carcinomas, 2 undifferentiated carcinomas, 1 follicular carcinoma, 1 medullary carcinoma and 2 cell lines originating from thyroid undifferentiated carcinomas. No homozygous deletions and mutations in the p16/CDKN2 were observed in any of the primary tumors or cell lined. In contrast, one of the two undifferentiated carcinomas an both cell lines demonstrated point mutations in the p53 gene. These results that p16/CDKN2 gene alteration is not required for malignant transformation in the thyroid, while p53 gene mutations may play a role in the progression from differentiated to undifferentiated carcinoma.

Different ras gene mutational frequencies in thyroid papillary carcinomas in Japan and Thailand

The incidence and pattern of ras oncogene mutations in human malignancies demonstrate geographic and racial differences. For example, specificity of alterations is found in cholangiocellular carcinomas in Thai patients with a different etiology from those in Japanese patients. In the present study, a comparison of ras gene mutations in thyroid papillary carcinomas from Japanese and Thai patients was performed using single-strand conformation polymorphism and direct sequencing analyses. The incidence of ras mutation differed markedly in Japanese (two of 24 carcinomas, 8.3%) and Thai (five of 10 carcinomas, 50%) patients. In addition, all but one ras mutation occurred at codon 12 of the K-ras gene in the Thai cases. These results suggest that thyroid cancers in Thailand may be due to specific genetic and/or environmental factors.

Promoting effect of 2,4-diaminoanisole sulfate on rat thyroid carcinogenesis

Two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of 2,4-diaminoanisole sulfate (2,4-DAAS) on thyroid function and carcinogenesis in male Wistar rats. In experiment 1, feeding with 2,4-DAAS resulted in significantly elevated levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), reduced thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) in the serum, although the latter had almost recovered to normal levels by week 6. However, skin application did not affect serum levels. In experiment 2, administration of 0.5% 2,4-DAAS in the diet for 19 weeks, a week after a single 210 mg/100 g body weight i.p. injection of N-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine (DHPN), significantly increased the incidence and numbers of preneoplastic lesions (focal hyperplasia), adenomas and carcinomas developing in the thyroid gland. Histologically, brown pigment was usually observed within follicular epithelial cells in non-tumorous regions, but not in the tumors themselves.

Frequent mutations of Ki-ras codon 12 in N-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)-nitrosamine-initiated thyroid, kidney and lung tumors in Wistar rats

N-Bis (2-hydroxypropyl) nitrosamine (DHPN) is a very potent mutagen and wide spectrum carcinogen in rodents. In the present study, we investigated mutational activation of the Ki-ras gene in eight thyroid, five kidney (four mesenchymal and one transitional cell lesion) and two lung tumors induced with DHPN. Mutations were identified using single-strand conformation polymorphism, restriction fragment length polymorphism and DNA sequencing analysis. All of the 15 neoplasms could be shown to have mutations in codon 12 (GGT-->GAT). These results suggest that Ki-ras mutations are frequent events during the development of DHPN-induced carcinomas in these organs. In a separate experiment, moreover, we analyzed the presence of Ki-ras mutations in various tissues 8 weeks after DHPN treatment. One of five thyroid tissues treated with DHPN was found to have the same characteristic mutation, suggesting that it may represent an early event during carcinogen-induced tumor formation in the thyroid.

Formation of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine in rat kidney DNA after administration of N-ethyl-N-hydroxyethylnitrosamine

N-Ethyl-N-hydroxyethylnitrosamine (EHEN) is known to induce renal and liver tumors in rodents. Recent reports have indicated the formation of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), an oxidative DNA product, induced by various carcinogens. In the present study, to examine whether oxygen radicals are involved in tumorigenesis induced by EHEN, we investigated the formation and localization of 8-OHdG in kidney, liver and lung of rats. The effects of reduced glutathione (GSH) and diethylmaleate on these responses were also studied. Multiple doses of EHEN administrations (250, 500 or 750 mg/kg, i.p.) resulted in a significant elevation of the 8-OHdG level in kidney DNA in a dose-dependent manner and the formation of 8-OHdG reached the maximal level at 1-2 h after EHEN injection and recovered to the control level at 4 h. On the other hand, no increase in the 8-OHdG level was observed in the DNA of liver and lung. Combined pre- and post-treatment of rats with 2 x 800 mg/kg of GSH i.p. inhibited the elevation of the 8-OHdG level induced by EHEN. Pre-treatment with 0.3 ml/kg of diethylmaleate i.p. increased the formation of 8-OHdG. In the immunohistochemical examinations of rats treated with EHEN (750 mg/kg, i.p.), nuclear expression of 8-OHdG was detected in the epithelial cells of renal cortex, while no induction was observed in liver and lung. These findings suggest that the formation of 8-OHdG by active oxygen species may be an important factor in the initiation of EHEN-induced kidney carcinogenesis.

Antigen Immunohistochemistry of Renal Cell Adenomas in Autopsy Cases: Relevance to Histogenesis

Eighty-three kidneys from autopsy cases, all more than 60 years of age, were used in the present studies. Three millimeter-thick step slices from all kidneys were embedded in paraffin, and serial sections from all blocks used for the immunohistochemical demonstration of Leu M1 (leukocyte membrane antigen) and LTA (Lotus tetragonolobus agglutinin) in cells of proximal convoluted tubular origin, and PNA (peanut agglutinin) and EMA (epithelial membrane antigen) in cells of distal convoluted tubular origin. The ABC staining method was used in all cases. A total of 65 renal cell adenomas found in 31 of the 83 kidneys consisted of 40 papillary, 20 tubular and 5 solid type lesions. The sizes of these renal cell adenomas were from 0.6 to 5 mm in diameter and compression of neighboring tissues was characteristic. Papillary renal cell adenomas were positive in their cytoplasms for Leu M1 and LTA in 7 cases and at their cell membranes for PNA and EMA in 33 cases. The respective figures for tubular renal cell adenomas were 6 cases for Leu M1 and LTA and 14 cases for PNA and EMA. All solid renal cell adenomas were positive in their cytoplasms for PNA and EMA. The immunohistochemical results thus indicated 13 of 65 lesions to have a proximal convoluted tubular cell origin and 52 to be possibly derived from distal convoluted tubules or collecting ducts. A role for metaplasia, however, could not be ruled out.