To elucidate a possible prognostic factor, we studied 91 cases of breast carcinoma for the expression of n-tn23 protein using an immunohistochemical method, and compared these results with the known prognostic parameters of the breast carcinoma. The mn23 protein was intensely stained in the cytoplasm and/or the nucleus of carcinoma cells in 82 cases(90.1%). There were two patterns of cytoplasmic staining; heterogeneous pattern and homogeneous pattern. Among the positive cases, 43 cases(47.2%) were heterogeneous while 39 cases(42.8%) were homogeneous. Axillary lymph node metastases(p<0.005) was found more frequently in the heterogeneous pattern group(79.0%) than in the homogeneous pattern group(41.0%). There was no significant correlation between nm23 protein expression and other parameters such as patient age, tumor size, estrogen receptor, histopathologic grade, and p53 overexpression. Although axillary lymph node metastasis was correlated with the disease free status(p<0.0005) and patient survival (p<0.05), they showed no correlation with nin23 expression. Multivariate analysis showed that axillary lymph node metastasis was the only prognostic indicator(p<0.05), and the expression of nm23 protein was of borderline significance. The results suggest that the homogeneous and/or granular cytoplasmic expression of mn23 protein plays a role in the suppression of nodal metastasis in breast carcinoma and might contribute in predicting patient survival.
Neoplasm Metastasis

Two cases of unusual giant carcinoma of the pancreas are presented. Each presented with a large tumor mass with or without cystic change, either in the head or tail portion of the pancreas. A pleomorphic gaint cell carcinoma variant (case 1) differed from an epulis type (case 2) with nuclear atypism of giant cells, but widespread metastasis in both cases reflected the accountability of spindle cell element as an important parameter for the determination of their biological behavior.
Neoplasm Metastasis

Bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation was first described in 1983, when Nora and his collegues reported 35 examples of a proliferative lesion involving bones of the hands and the feet. In 1993, Meneses reported 65 cases of this condition. A fourth of all the reported cases involved the long bones. It is important to identify the clinical, roentgenographic, and histologic characteristic to seperate it from other entities because it is a benign lesion with atypical microscopic features with a tendency to recur. Roentgenograms show a calcific mass attached to the underlying cortex having a broad base. Histologically, the lesion exhibites proliferative activity, irregular bony cartilaginous interfaces, and enlarged, bizarre, and binucleated chondrocytes. We reviewed the bone tumors, diagnosed in the KyungHee University Hospital, dated from 1984 to 1994. Five cases were revised to Nora's lesion, all of which were previously diagnosed as osteochondroma. The ages of the patients ranged from 12 to 57 years (median, 19 years), and all of them were males. Two cases involved the bones of hands and feet (metacarpal and talus), and 3 cases involved the long bones (humerus, fibula, and ulna). One lesion involving the humerus has a recurrence. No metastasis had been reported.
Neoplasm Metastasis

Sebaceous epithelioma is a relatively rare tumor, mostly occuring in the face or scalp. The histogenesis and clinical and pathological features of sebaceous epithelioma have not been clearly defined, and a few other diagnostic terms have been used so far instead of sebaceous epithelioma. Two cases of sebacous epitheliomas were presented. No recurrence or metastasis was observed in our cases, so sebaceous epithelioma is considered to be a benign tumor. A brief review of the literature, concerned about the biological behavior, histogenesis and pathological findings of the sebaceous epithelioma, was made.
Neoplasm Metastasis

Various clinical and pathologic parameters in order to determine the prognosis of gastric carcinoma have been proposed. Among them "carcinoma with lymphoid stroma" has been proven to show good prognosis. But the criteria of lymphoid stroma in this condition remain vague and not clear. A total of 7 cases of gastric carcinoma with heavy lymphoid stromal response out of 947 surgically resected gastric carcinomas was reviwed with histotopographic analysis. They were all advanced carcinoma, Borrmann type I and II. Histologically, the lymphoid stromal response could be divided into three patterns; nodular (3 cases), diffuse (3 cases) and mixed (1 case). The nodular pattern was characterized by massive lymphoid cell infiltration with many follicle formation and little desmoplastic reaction, while the diffuse pattern showed diffuse permeative type of inflammatory cell infiltration with scarce lymphoid follicle formation and mild desmoplasia. Regional lymph node metastasis was found in 2 cases; one in diffused and another one in mixed pattern. The stromal reaction was not directly related with the depth of tumor invasion. We propoose that the term GCLS should be used in the cases of nodular pattern with complete follicle formation of lymphoid stroma.
Neoplasm Metastasis

Fine needle aspiration cytologic findings of four cases of chondrosarcoma were described. The cases consisted of one primary scapular tumor, two recurrent shoulder masses, and right upper quadrant mass which developed after an A-K amputation for an unknown tumor. The aspirates characteristically revealed cell-rich smears containing clusters and isolated cells having abundant cyanophilic cytoplasm and round to oval or elongated vesicular nuclei. The cytoplasm was occasionally foamy. The nuclei were usually small but prominent. Nuclear atypism and pleomorphism were frequently associated. The last case showed epithelioid sheets of polygonal cells, possibly representing chondroblasts, and a well differentiated chondroid element. The fine needle aspiration could be a good diagnostic tool for primary, recurrent, and metastatic chondrosarcomas.
Neoplasm Metastasis

Fine needle aspiration cytologic findings of four cases of chondrosarcoma were described. The cases consisted of one primary scapular tumor, two recurrent shoulder masses, and right upper quadrant mass which developed after an A-K amputation for an unknown tumor. The aspirates characteristically revealed cell-rich smears containing clusters and isolated cells having abundant cyanophilic cytoplasm and round to oval or elongated vesicular nuclei. The cytoplasm was occasionally foamy. The nuclei were usually small but prominent. Nuclear atypism and pleomorphism were frequently associated. The last case showed epithelioid sheets of polygonal cells, possibly representing chondroblasts, and a well differentiated chondroid element. The fine needle aspiration could be a good diagnostic tool for primary, recurrent, and metastatic chondrosarcomas.
Neoplasm Metastasis

Tumor angiogenesis(TA) refers to the growth of new vessels toward and within a tumor. TA is necessary both at the beginning and at the end of the metastatic cascade of events. Recently, experimental evidence suggests that the growth of a tumor beyond a certain size requires angiogenesis. To investigate how tumor angiogenesis correlates with metastases in breast carcinoma, the microvessels were counted (per 200 / field) in the most active areas of neovas-cularization by two investigators. The microvessels within breast carcinoma were highlighted by in imunohistochemical staining for factor VIII-related antigen. Microvessel count(MVC) in node-positive carcinoma(59.66=35) was significantly higher than in node-negative carcinoma(44.76=17)(p=0.009). MVC was also statistically correlated with tumor size and stage, but not with histologic grading, DNA ploidy, or hormonal receptors(estro-gen and progesterone). MVC in invasive breast carcinoma may be one of many prognostic predictors of node-positive breast carcinoma. Assessment of tumor angiogenesis may therefore be valuable in selecting patients with early breast carcinoma for aggressive therapy.
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