Histology and histopathology Vol.29, nº11 (2014)

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  • Publication
    Open Access
    Factors influencing malignant evolution and long-term survival in solitary fibrous tumours of the pleura
    (F. Hernández y Juan F. Madrid. Universidad de Murcia: Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2014) Rodríguez-González, Marta; Nuria M., Novoa; Gomez, Maria T.; García, J.L.; Ludeña, Dolores
    Solitary pleuro-pulmonary fibrous tumours are relatively uncommon neoplasms that are difficult to manage therapeutically and which, cytogenetically, have been poorly studied. The aim of the present work was to analyse the characteristics of a series of consecutive operated solitary pleural fibrous tumours in an attempt to discover a malignant pattern of evolution. This was a retrospective observational study of 19 cases. Samples were studied for clinical, histological, immunohistochemical and cytogenetic characteristics (aCGH, FISH). Descriptive statistics were used: the Kapplan-Meyer log-rank test and the Cox-regression model for survival analysis. Analysis of malignant evolution was achieved using 2x2 tables; significant factors were included in a binary logistic regression model. Parietal pleural implantation of the primary tumour, high mib1 expression, and low p53 expression were seen to be statistically significant factors for survival. We recommend a close follow-up for patients with a malignant primary tumour and low p53 expression and a regular long-term follow-up for benign primary tumours with a high mib1 index, high positive p53, and deletions. These findings need confirmation in more extensive series.
  • Publication
    Open Access
    Prognostic impact of perineural, blood and lymph vessel invasion for esophageal cancer
    (F. Hernández y Juan F. Madrid. Universidad de Murcia: Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2014) Tachezy, Michael; Tiebe, Anne-Kathrin; Gebauer, Florian; Kutup, Asad; Tharun, Lars; Pantel, Klaus; Izbicki, Jacob Robert; Vashist, Yogesh Kumar
    Background: With a median survival of <22 months esophageal cancer is one of the most aggressive tumors, up to 20% of node negative patients develop systemic relapse. Studies investigating the prognostic impact of tumor-micro-invasion in blood (AI) and lymphatic vessels (LVI) as well as perineural invasion (PNI) have shown inconsistent results. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic value of the aforementioned factors in a large homogenously treated cohort of patients with esophageal cancer. Methods: Data from 695 patients with surgically treated esophageal cancer were analyzed. AI, LVI and PNI were determined and data were statistically correlated with clinico-pathological parameters and survival of the patients. Results: Thirteen percent of all specimens showed an AI, 35% a LVI and 5% a PNI. The invasion factors were mostly significantly correlated with the established prognostic parameter, including bone marrow micrometastases. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a prognostic impact for LVI in both cancer subtypes, while AI and PNI were significant factors in adenocarcinoma only. In multivariate analysis, none showed statistical significance. However, sub-analysis of completely resected, node negative and non-metastasized patients showed a significant prognostic impact of LVI. Conclusion: The prognostic significance of AI, LVI and PNI seems to be limited compared to the established prognostic parameters of the UICC staging system. In completely resected, node negative and nonmetastasized patients, LVI is an independent prognostic parameter for a worse outcome. Those patients might benfit from additional treatment or more intensive follow up.
  • Publication
    Open Access
    Correlation between 3D microstructural and 2D histomorphometric properties of subchondral bone with healthy and degenerative cartilage of the knee joint
    (F. Hernández y Juan F. Madrid. Universidad de Murcia: Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2014) Lahm, Andreas; Kasch, Richard; Spank, Heiko; Erggelet, Christoph; Esser, Jan; Merk, Harry; Mrosek, Eike
    Cartilage degeneration of the knee joint is considered to be a largely mechanically driven process. We conducted a microstructural and histomorphometric analysis of subchondral bone samples of intact cartilage and in samples with early and higher- grade arthritic degeneration to compare the different states and correlate the findings with the condition of hyaline cartilage. These findings will enable us to evaluate changes in biomechanical properties of subchondral bone during the evolution of arthritic degeneration, for which bone density alone is an insufficient parameter. From a continuous series of 80 patients undergoing implantation of total knee endoprosthesis 30 osteochondral samples with lesions macroscopically classified as ICRS grade 1b (group A) and 30 samples with ICRS grade 3a or 3b lesions (group B) were taken. The bone samples were assessed by 2D histomorphometry (semiautomatic image analysis system) and 3D microstructural analysis (high-resolution microCT system). The cartilage was examined using the semiquantitative real-time PCR gene expression of collagen type I and II and aggrecan. Both histomorphometry and microstructural and biomechanical analysis of subchondral bone in groups A and B consistently revealed progressive changes of both bone and cartilage compared with healthy controls. The severity of cartilage degeneration as assessed by RT PCR was significantly correlated with BV/TV (Bone Volume Fraction), Tb.Th (Trabecular Thickness) showed a slight increase. Tb.N (Trabecular Number), Tb.Sp (Trabecular separation) SMI (Structure Model Index), Conn.D (Connectivity Density) and DA (Degree of Anisotropy) were inversely correlated. We saw sclerotic transformation and phagocytic reticulum cells. Bone volume fraction decreased with an increasing distance from the cartilage with the differences compared with healthy controls becoming greater in more advanced cartilage damage. The density of subchondral bone alone is considered an unreliable parameter for classifying changes evolving over time. The progressive damage of subchondral bone seen in the present study correlates well with cartilage changes. Trabecular orientation is also impaired, which explains the changes in biomechanical parameters and the inadequate load transfer and excessive loading of cartilage. Besides subchondral bone density, which in turn correlates with cartilage thickness, other parameters such as structure model index and grade of anisotropy best reflect mechanical properties such as Young modulus, compressive strength, tensile stress, and failure energy. However, it remains unclear whether the mechanical interaction of the mineralized subchondral tissues with articular cartilage works vice versa. The possibility of a biochemical signalling from the degenerating cartilage via the synovial fluid and bone- cartilage crosstalks via subchondral pores may indeed explain a certain depth dependency of subchondral bone changes.
  • Publication
    Open Access
    Evidence for different expression profiles for c-Met, EGFR, PTEN and the mTOR pathway in low and high grade endometrial carcinomas in a cohort of consecutive women. Occurrence of PIK3CA and K-Ras mutations and microsatellite instability
    (F. Hernández y Juan F. Madrid. Universidad de Murcia: Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2014) Thoury, Anne; Descatoire, Véronique; Kotelevets, Larissa; Kannengiesser, Caroline; Bertrand, Guylène; Theou-Anton, Nathalie; Frey, Caroline; Genestie, Catherine; Raymond, Eric; Chastre, Eric; Lehy, Thérèse; Walker, Francine
    Molecular and genetic investigations in endometrial carcinogenesis may have prognostic and therapeutic implications. We studied the expression of EGFR, c-Met, PTEN and the mTOR signalling pathway (phospho-AKT/phospho-mTOR/phospho-RPS6) in 69 consecutive tumours and 16 tissue microarrays. We also analysed PIK3CA, K-Ras mutations and microsatellite instability (MSI). We distinguished two groups: group 1 (grade 1 and 2 endometrioid cancers) and group 2 (grade 3 endometrioid and type II clear and serous cell cancers). We hypothesised that these histological groups might have different features. We found that a) survival was higher in group 1 with less aggressive tumours (P<0.03); b) EGFR (P=0.01), PTEN and the AKT/mTOR/RPS6 signalling pathway were increased in group 1 versus group 2 (P=0.05 for phospho-mTOR); c) conversely, cMet was higher (P<0.03) in group 2 than in group 1; d) In group 1, EGFR was correlated with c-Met, phosphomTOR, phospho-RPS6 and the global activity of the phospho-AKT/phospho-mTOR/phospho-RPS6 pathway. In group 2, EGFR was correlated only with the phosphoAKT/phospho-mTOR/phospho-RPS6 pathway, whereas c-Met was correlated with PTEN; e) survival was higher for tumours with more than 50% PTEN-positive cells; f) K-RAS and PIK3CA mutations occurred in 10-12% of the available tumours and MSI in 40.4%, with a loss of MLH1 and PMS2 expression. Our results for endometrial cancers provide the first evidence for a difference in status between groups 1 and 2. The patients may benefit from different targeted treatments, antiEGFR agents and rapamycin derivatives (anti-mTOR) for group 1 and an anti c-MET/ligand complex for group 2.
  • Publication
    Open Access
    INF-γ sensitizes head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis and necroptosis through up-regulation of Egr-1
    (F. Hernández y Juan F. Madrid. Universidad de Murcia: Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2014) Xu, Bei; Shu, Yongqian; Liu, Peng
    Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. Acquired resistance to standard chemotherapy accounts for most of treatment failure. Here we demonstrate that Interferon-γ (INF-γ) may up-regulate Egr-1 gene expression in HNSCC cell line SCC-25. Forced expression of Egr-1 sensitizes SCC-25 cells to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis and necroptosis, a novel form of programmed cell death. Egr-1 upregulation also significantly increases the production of Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), a matricellular glycoprotein which has been described to induce cell death in HNSCC. Moreover, INF-γ-induced sensitization of cells to chemotherapy-mediated cell death and TSP-1 production could be markedly abolished by Egr-1 silencing. The present investigation provides the first evidence that INF-γ may sensitize HNSCC cells to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis and necroptosis through up-regulation of Egr-1. These data support the combination use of INF-γ and cytotoxic drugs for HNSCC Therapy.