To evaluate correlation between the amount of oncogene products in tumor cell extracts and malignant potentiality in breast tumor, immunohistochemical staining for the ras Oncogene products was performed in the sections of benign and malignant lesions of the breast. The results obtained were as follows: 1) The positive reaction to ras Oncogene products was usually observed in the cytoplasm and cell membrane. 2) The ratio of positive reaction was 30.4% in epithelial hyperplasia of fibrocystic disease, 26.5% in fibroadenoma. 49.5% in intraductal carcinoma 71.6% in infiltrating ductal carcinoma, 85.2% in metastatic infiltrating ductal carcinoma, and 89.7% in relatively preserved neighboring lobules of infiltrating ductal carcinoma. In conclusion, the ras oncogene products are found by a significantly higher ratio in the more aggressive lesions, and the infiltrating ductal carcinoma might represent its potential of malignant transformation. 3) The expression of ras oncogene was heterogeneous in primary as well as metastatic mammary carcinomas.
Neoplasm Metastasis

Purpose: The aim of this study was to review our experience with laparoscopic-assisted colectomy (LACs), and to evaluate its feasibility and safety for surgical treatment of colorectal diseases, including cancer. Methods: Between September 2002 and September 2005, a LAC was performed in 58 patients. Of these, 6 cases of conversion to open colectomy were excluded from the analysis. Fifty conventional open colectomy (OCs) with clinicopathologic characteristics comparable to those of the LACs were selected and matched as a control group for comparative analysis regarding short-term oncologic and perioperative outcomes. The mean follow-up period was 13.8 (2~37) months. Results: Thirteen complications, involving 11 patients, occurred. The mean operative time of the LAC was longer than that of the OC (215 min vs. 179 min; P<0.0001). However, earlier restoration of bowel function was achieved in the LAC as measured by postoperative first flatus (2.8 days vs. 3.8 days) and intake of a clear liquid diet (4.7 days vs. 5.8 days). There was no significant difference in hospital stay (LAC vs. OC, 10.2 days vs. 11.8 days). In patients with malignancy, the proximal resection margin in the LAC was significantly shorter than that in the OC (9.2 cm vs. 13.3 cm; P<0.0001). However, there were no significant differences in the mean numbers of harvested lymph nodes (LAC vs. OC, 16.6 vs. 19.3; P=0.4330) and the mean distal resection margins (LAC vs. OC, 6.9 cm vs. 6.0 cm; P=0.1359). There were 3 distant metastases and one local recurrence during follow-up in the LAC group, but no port-site recurrence. Conclusions: In this study, we could not receive an advantage of shorter hospital stay due to the relatively high complication rate for a LAC, which may reflect a learning curve. Earlier postoperative recovery of bowel function and equal pathologic extent of resection in the LAC suggest that the LAC is an acceptable alternative procedure in the treatment of colorectal diseases, including malignancy. More experience with the LAC is necessary to overcome the learning curve. Affirmative long-term oncologic outcomes of are expected for the LAC.
Neoplasm Metastasis

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are notorious for their unpredictable clinical behavior. To assess the cellular proliferating activities, four different methods were used: mitotic count, nucleolar organizer region(AgNOR) staining, immunostaining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and DNA ploidy were used on 39 cases of gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Additionally, we analysed cellularity, cellular atypism and necrosis. Among 39 cases of gastrointestinal stromal tumors, 11 cases were diagnosed as benign lesions according to clinicopathologic findings. Malignant lesions were arbitrarily classified into low grade(n=ll) and high grade(n=17) on the basis of absence or presence of recurrence, metastasis or tumor-related death during the follow-up period. Numbers of mitosis, AgNORs, PCNA index and DNA ploidy were correlated with grades of tumor and prognosis. Among them, AgNORs counting appeared to be the most useful in predicting prognosis. Numbers of mitosis, PCNA index and DNA ploidy showed varying degrees of overlap among the 3 groups. Among the histological parameters, cellular atypia showed some relationship with the prognosis that others did not reveal.
Neoplasm Metastasis

Primary meningeal melanocytoma of the central nervous system is extremely rare. We report a case of meningeal melanocytoma associated with Ota's nevus as a recurrent form in a 53-year old male. The meningeal melanocytoma was removed from right parietooccipital lobe 4 years ago and recurred in right parietal, occipital and left frontal lobes. Ultrastructurally, the tumor cells were characterized by the presence of numerous melanosomes and premelanosomes in their cytoplasm. Moreover, the tumor was lacking in histologic and ultrastructural features of pigmented meningioma, melanotic schwannoma and prolonged clinical course was different from primary meningeal melanoma or metastatic malignant melanoma.
Neoplasm Metastasis

No abstract available.
Neoplasm Metastasis*

No abstract available.
Neoplasm Metastasis

BACKGROUND: The authors of this study wanted to confirm the prognostic implication of the histologic subtype; further, we wanted to explore the expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (pERK) in papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC) and determine its clinicopathologic and prognostic significance. METHODS: A total of 45 patients who underwent nephrectomy for PRCC were enrolled in this study. The hematoxylin and eosin slides were reviewed and pERK immunohistochemistry was performed. RESULTS: Type 2 PRCC was significantly correlated with a larger tumor size (p=0.030), a higher nuclear grade (p<0.001), a more advanced tumor stage (p=0.041) and more frequent distant metastasis (p=0.019). The tumors were pERK-low (0 and 1+) in 30 cases (66.7%) and pERK-high (2+) in 15 cases (33.3%). The pERK-high PRCC was significantly associated with a smaller tumor size (p=0.001) and an earlier tumor stage (p=0.004). On the univariate analysis, the histologic subtype, the TNM stage and the pERK status were significantly associated with progression-free survival (PFS). Multivariate analysis showed that the histologic subtype (hazard ratio 22.81, p=0.042) and the TNM stage (hazard ratio 23.48, p=0.009) were independent prognostic factors for PFS. CONCLUSIONS: Type 2 PRCC, together with the TNM stage, was identified as one of independent poor prognostic factors for PFS. The pERK status was a prognostic factor for PFS on the univariate analysis, but not on the multivariate analysis.
Neoplasm Metastasis

Forty cases of infiltrating duct carcinoma of the breast were examined immunohistochemically for expression of TGF-beta and angiogenesis in order to analyze significant correlation with prognostic parameters including tumor size, axillary lymph node metastasis, clinical stage, histologic grade, estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor status. The TGF-beta expression was observed in tumors center and advancing edges of tumors. To determine microvessel density for angiogenesis, we stained endothelial cells for Factor VIII related antigen and counted microvessel within tumor. The results were as follows: 1) The strong immunohistochemical expression of TGF-beta and higher counts of microvessels were observed in advancing edges of tumors (p<0.05). 2) The TGF-beta expression in the advancing edges of tumors was closely related to clinical stage and presence of axillary lymph node metastasis (p<0.05). 3) The mean microvessel counts were significantly higher in tumors from patients with axillary lymph node metastasis and increased with increasing clinical stage (p<0.05). 4) The TGF-beta expression was not related to histologic grade, estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor status(p>0.05). Therefore, the results suggested that the TGF-beta expression and angiogenesis in infiltrating duct carcinoma of the breast may play an important part in prognostic factors, closely related to the lymph node metastasis and clinical stage.
Neoplasm Metastasis

Among total 108 cases of biopsy-proven fibroadenomas of the breast, which obtained from the files of the Asan Medical Center during one year period from October 1998 to September 1999, 23 cases cytologically diagnosed as high risk group were reviewed to retrieve the mis-leading factors. Initial cytologic diagnoses of 23 cases were proliferative breast lesion with atypia(high risk) in 21 cases(91.3%) and papillary neoplasm in 2 cases(8.7%). When we reanalysed 23 cases by Masood scoring system, they were classified as one non-proliferative breast lesion(4.3%), 16 proliferative breast lesions without atypia (69.6%), and 6 proliferative breast lesions with atypia(26.1%). None were subject to the category of carcinoma. Cytologic features leading to the overdiagnosis of high grade epithelial lesions were as follows; cellular dissociation without nuclear atypia, nuclear pleomorphism, anisonucleosis, and occasional macronucleoli without nuclear enlargement, lack of myxoid stroma, and few naked stromal cells. To avoid cytologic overdiagnosis of fibroadenoma, mild to moderate nuclear pleomorphism without nuclear enlargement, and cellular dissociation without nuclear atypia should not be regarded as criteria of high risk group.
Neoplasm Metastasis

Congenital malignant melanocytic schwannoma in ankle joint was not reported on literature and it was a very interesting case. Light microscopically, melaninladen cells were mixed in abundant wavy spindle cells, some mitotic cells were also observed. Ultrastructurally, melanosomes in variable stages of development were scattered in the cytoplasm which had basal lamina. Collagen bundles were abundant in the intercellular connective tissue. It was histologically malignant tumor and clinically recurred. But in non-congenital potentially malignant melanocytic schwannoma which had been reported, reccurrence or distant metastasis were not noted. So, further clinical survey may be necessary for evaluation of the malignant behavior of this neoplasm.
Neoplasm Metastasis