Small cell carcinoma does originate from APUD cells of any parts of the body. Usually the cases discovered in the lung and have poor prognosis. In esophagus only about 100 cases are reported world widely after McKneown reports in 1952 and only 2 cases were reported in Korea. There was a cese of small cell carcinoma developed multiple lesions in esophagus but no reports said that small cell carcinoma developed syncronously in esophagus and other organs. We are to report a case that showed a multiple lesions in esophagus and cardia. The patient 60 yeata old man, has suffered from the substernal discomfort and significant weight loss for one month.
APUD Cells ; Carcinoma, Small Cell* ; Cardia* ; Esophagus* ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung ; Prognosis ; Stomach ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: The neuroendocrine cell (NE cell) is thought to play an important role in the development of hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Survivin is one of the IAPs (inhibitors of apoptosis), and it is expressed in the NE cell and in most of the common cancers, but not in normal tissue. The objective of this study was to investigate the expression pattern of the NE cell and survivin in the prostate of rabbits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 9 rabbits underwent orchiectomy and their prostates were removed at 0 weeks (control), 2 weeks and 6 weeks after orchiectomy. Each of the prostatic tissue specimens was stained with H&E; immunohistochemical staining was done for chromogranin A, synaptophysin and survivin, and the tissue specimens were then examined by microscopy. RESULTS: In the prostate of rabbits, most of the NE cells were located between the epithelial gland and the stroma. NE differentiation occurred 6 weeks after orchiectomy. The location of cells that were positive for survivin was almost same as that of the NE cells. CONCLUSIONS: The main location of NE cells in the prostate of rabbits was between the epithelial gland and the stroma, and NE differentiation occurred 6 weeks after orchiectomy, the same as in a human or a dog. The location of survivin positive cells coincided with that of the NE cells. Therefore, a rabbit seems to be a suitable animal model for the study of the NE cell.
Animals ; APUD Cells ; Chromogranin A ; Dogs ; Humans ; Microscopy ; Models, Animal ; Neuroendocrine Cells* ; Orchiectomy ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Rabbits* ; Synaptophysin

PURPOSE: Neuroendocrine cells, also referred to as amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation (APUD) cells, in the prostate gland are serotonin and peptide containing cells, which are thought to play an important role in the regulation of growth, cellular differentiation and homeostasis. The expressions of neuroendocrine cells in the prostate differ between species and pathological conditions of the prostate. Androgen is believed to be a major effective material toward the prostate, its role in neuroendocrine cells is uncertain. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of blockade of androgen on neuroendocrine cells in the prostate of rats and guinea pigs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats and guinea pigs underwent an orchiectomy, and their prostate glands removed at 0 (control), 2 (2-week group) and 6 (6-week group) weeks after the orchiectomy. Each prostate tissue was examined both microscopically and with immunohistochemistry using synaptophysin, chromogranin A and serotonin. RESULTS: In the rat prostate glands, fewer neuroendocrine cells were stained with chromogranin A compared to the other two monoclonal antibodies. Although some atrophy of the glandular structure was presented grossly and microscopically in the castration groups, there was no difference in the chromogranin A immunoreactivity between the control, 2-week and 6-week groups. In the guinea pig prostate glands, few neuroendocrine cells were stained with either synaptophysin or serotonin. Glandular atrophy presented in the castration groups. There was no difference between the control, 2-week and 6-week groups in the immunoreactivities of the synaptophysin and serotonin monoclonal antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: The immunoreactivities of the neuroendocrine cells of rats and guinea pigs were different from those in humans and from each other. Neuroendocrine cells in the prostate of rats and guinea pigs exist only in small numbers, and seem to be independent of androgen.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; APUD Cells ; Atrophy ; Castration ; Chromogranin A ; Decarboxylation ; Guinea Pigs* ; Guinea* ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neuroendocrine Cells* ; Orchiectomy* ; Prostate* ; Rats* ; Serotonin ; Synaptophysin

PURPOSE: Neuroendocrine cells, also referred to as amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation (APUD) cells, in the prostate gland are serotonin and peptide containing cells, which are thought to play an important role in the regulation of growth, cellular differentiation and homeostasis. The expressions of neuroendocrine cells in the prostate differ between species and pathological conditions of the prostate. Androgen is believed to be a major effective material toward the prostate, its role in neuroendocrine cells is uncertain. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of blockade of androgen on neuroendocrine cells in the prostate of rats and guinea pigs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats and guinea pigs underwent an orchiectomy, and their prostate glands removed at 0 (control), 2 (2-week group) and 6 (6-week group) weeks after the orchiectomy. Each prostate tissue was examined both microscopically and with immunohistochemistry using synaptophysin, chromogranin A and serotonin. RESULTS: In the rat prostate glands, fewer neuroendocrine cells were stained with chromogranin A compared to the other two monoclonal antibodies. Although some atrophy of the glandular structure was presented grossly and microscopically in the castration groups, there was no difference in the chromogranin A immunoreactivity between the control, 2-week and 6-week groups. In the guinea pig prostate glands, few neuroendocrine cells were stained with either synaptophysin or serotonin. Glandular atrophy presented in the castration groups. There was no difference between the control, 2-week and 6-week groups in the immunoreactivities of the synaptophysin and serotonin monoclonal antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: The immunoreactivities of the neuroendocrine cells of rats and guinea pigs were different from those in humans and from each other. Neuroendocrine cells in the prostate of rats and guinea pigs exist only in small numbers, and seem to be independent of androgen.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; APUD Cells ; Atrophy ; Castration ; Chromogranin A ; Decarboxylation ; Guinea Pigs* ; Guinea* ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neuroendocrine Cells* ; Orchiectomy* ; Prostate* ; Rats* ; Serotonin ; Synaptophysin

A 17-years old woman with a combination of unilateral pheochromocytoma and an asymptomatic islet cell tumor of the pancreas is presented. The unusual coincidence of pheochromocytoma and pancreatic islet cell tumor in the patient is of interest as a possible crossover between MEN I and MEN II. It has been suggested that MEN I represents an abnormality of the APUD(amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation) cells of ectodermal origin. However, the possibility of a common progenitor cell in the neural crest for all APUD cells has been suggested by Pearse and Polak(1971). Recent clinical reports suggest that overlap between the two syndroms may occur. The overlapping of elements of the classical endocrine neoplasia should alert clinicians to the possibility of such associations in any particular patients. Since islet cell tumors may occur in association with pheochromocytomas and may be clinically silent, exploration of the pancreas during surgery for pheochromocytomas would seem to be useful.
Adenoma, Islet Cell ; Adolescent ; APUD Cells ; Ectoderm ; Female ; Humans ; Islets of Langerhans* ; Male ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2a ; Neural Crest ; Pancreas ; Pheochromocytoma* ; Pyrus ; Stem Cells