BACKGROUND: Fascin-1 is a globular cross-linking and actin bundling protein that provides mechanical support to cellular protrusions and cell motility. The expression of fascin in epithelial neoplasms has been recently reported, but its exact mechanism in cancer is unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess the expression of fascin and its relationship with the clinicopathologic parameters and the other tumor markers in gastric carcinoma. METHODS: Immunohistochemical stainings for fascin, c-erbB-2, p53 and Ki-67 labeling index were performed in 62 gastric carcinoma specimens. RESULTS: Fascin-1 protein was not expressed in the normal gastric glandular epithelial cells. It had an expression in 35.5% of the gastric adenocarcinomas. The fascin-1 expression in carcinoma was slightly increased in the well to moderately differentiated tumors compared with the poorly differentiated tumors. The fascin-1 expression was correlated with the c-erbB-2 protein expression. There was no significant correlation with the clinicopathologic factors such as tumor size, nodal metastasis, pathologic stage, p53 protein expression and Ki-67 labeling index. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals the possibility that the fascin-1 protein expression in gastric carcinoma may be closely linked with the c-erbB-2 protein expression. However, further study on fascin-1 and c-erbB-2 protein at the cellular level and their clinical relevance is needed.
Actins ; Adenocarcinoma ; Cell Movement ; Epithelial Cells ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial ; Receptor, erbB-2 ; Biomarkers, Tumor

PURPOSE: The increased expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 has been implicated in the development and progression of human cancers. We investigated COX-2 expression in normal, gastric adenomas and adenocarcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: COX-2 protein was assayed in gastrectomy and biopsy specimens, from 68 gastric adenocarcinomas, 40 gastric adenomas and 35 normal gastric tissues, by immunohistochemistry, and 32 specimens of normal and adenocarcinomas by western blot analysis. Correlation between COX-2 expression and various clinicopathological factors were studied in the gastric adenocarcinoma. RESULTS: COX-2 protein expression in epithelial cells was increased in 6/40 (15%) of the adenomas and 55/68 (80.9 %) of the adenocarcinomas, while normal mucosa was not expressed. COX-2 expression was increased in differ-entiated gastric carcinomas compared with those in the undifferentiated group (p<0.05). The expression of COX-2 protein was unrelated to tumor size, depth of tumor invasion and the presence of lymphatic or vascular invasions. Western blot analysis showed the enhanced expression of the COX-2 protein (23 out of 32)(71%) in gastric carcinomas compared to that of normal gastric mucosal epithelium. CONCLUSION: The above results indicated that the expression of COX-2 protein occurs in dysplastic epithelium and gastric carcinomas, which suggests COX-2 expression may contribute to tumor formation.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenoma ; Biopsy ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinogenesis* ; Cyclooxygenase 2* ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mucous Membrane ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Stomach Neoplasms

In this immunohistochemical study we applied a monoclonal antibody(mAb) to evaluate the expression pattern of lymphocyte functionassociated antigen 3(LFA-3) in rabbit`s corneas before and after intracorneal injection of Candida albicans. Ten right eyes were induced to get immunocompromized cornea with subconjunctival injection of 2mg of dexamethasone once a day for 3 days(group I), and 10 left eyes had normal cornea without subconjunctival injection of dexamethazone(group II). Each 2 corneas in both group I and II were resected at 3, 12, 24 and 72 hours after intracorneal injection of C. albicans. Each 2 corneas without intracorneal injection of C. albicans in both groups were used as a control. The results were as follows: LFA-3 was expressed weakly on corneal epithlium in control of group I and group II. Expression of LFA-3 on vascular endothelium of group II was somewhat stronger than that of group I, LFA-3 was expressed moderately on vascular endothelium, and was detected on corneal stroma at 3 hors after intracorneal injection in both groups. Expression of LFA-3 on corneal stroma was slightly increased in both group II, and markedly increased in group I at 12 hours after intracorneal injection. Group II showed slightly increased LFA-3 expression on corneal and II to be expressed on corneal endothelium and inflammatory cells at 24 hours after injection. Its expression on corneal epithelium, stroma and endothelium was more increased in group II than in group I at that time. Group I showed moderate LFA-3 expression on corneal epithelium, corneal endothelium and inflammatory cells, and strong expression on corneal stroma and vascular endothelium at 72 hours after infection. Otherwise, LFA-3 expression in group II was weak to moderate n corneal epithelium, corneal endothelium and inflammatory cell, and moderate on corneal stroma and vascular endothelium. In this study, it was found that expression of LFA-3 in group I was weaker than that in group II in control and at 3 hours after intracorneal injection of C. albicans, but group I showed more strong LFA-3 expression than group II after 12 hours of intracorneal injection.
Antigens, CD58 ; Candida albicans* ; Candida* ; Cornea ; Corneal Stroma ; Dexamethasone ; Endothelium ; Endothelium, Corneal ; Endothelium, Vascular ; Epithelium, Corneal ; Lymphocytes ; Rabbits*

Ovarian fibroma is one of the sex cord-stromal tumor, and accounts for about 5 percent of all ovarian tumors surgically removed. This tumor is almost always unilateral and appears to affect the left ovary more often (75%) than the right. Calcification is one of the secondary changes that can take place in a fibroma of ovary. The occurrence of ossification in these calcified fibromas is rare. We experienced a case of an ovarian calcified fibroma with ossification occurring in a 19 year old, unmarried woman with a brief review of literature.
Female ; Fibroma* ; Humans ; Osteoma* ; Ovary ; Sex Cord-Gonadal Stromal Tumors ; Single Person ; Young Adult

Primary sarcomas of the vulva constitute an unusual groups of neoplasm. Peripheral nerve sheath tumor (Schwannoma) is arising from schwann cell of the neuroectodermal origin. This tumor arises on the cranial and spinal nerve roots, as well as on the course of the peripheral nerves rarely. In most cases this tumor is solitary but be multiple in Von Recklinghausen's disease. This initial treatment of this unusual tumor should be radical excision of the primary. Regional lymphadenectomy probably is not useful, since metastases are generally hematogenous rather than lymphatics. Radiation is ineffective as primary therapy
Lymph Node Excision ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neural Plate ; Neurofibromatosis 1 ; Peripheral Nerves* ; Sarcoma ; Spinal Nerve Roots ; Vulva*

BACKGROUND: The trefoil factor 1 protein (pS2/TFF1) is a candidate tumor-suppressor protein, and it is a pleiotropic factor involved in the organization and homeostasis of the gastrointestinal tract and various inflammatory or neoplastic diseases. The purpose of this study was to assess the expression of pS2/TFF1 and its clinicopathologic relationship, including the p53 and Ki-67 labeling index, in colorectal carcinogenesis. METHODS: The expression of pS2/TFF1 protein was evaluated immunohistochemically in 45 samples of normal colonic mucosa, 43 samples of adenoma and 186 samples of colorectal carcinoma. RESULTS: pS2/TFF1 protein was expressed weakly in 37.8% of normal colonic mucosa samples, and it had a weak to strong expression in 48.8% of adenomas and 28% of colorectal adenocarcinomas. pS2/TFF1 expression in carcinoma was slightly increased in the poorly differentiated group compared with the well to moderately differentiated group (p=0.059). Interestingly, mucinous carcinoma (4/4) and signet ring cell carcinoma (2/3) showed significant increase of pS2/TFF1 expression. pS2/TFF1 expression was inversely correlated with the p53 protein expression and the Ki-67 labelling index (p<0.05). There was no significant correlation with the tumor size, metastasis or pathologic staging. CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of pS2/TFF1 expression in colorectal adenocarcinoma was inversely correlated with the Ki-67 labelling index and the p53 expression in cancer. These results suggest that pS2/TFF1 protein may contribute as tumor suppressor factor in colorectal adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Adenoma* ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell ; Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Homeostasis ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lotus ; Mucous Membrane* ; Neoplasm Metastasis

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis is an uncommon condition characterized by the presence of multiple gas-filled cysts within the gastrointestinal wall. This lesion occurs in association with a large variety of gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal conditions. Herein, we describe a case of pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis of the small intestine that developed in a 31-year-old man with a history of duodenal ulcer and pyloric stenosis. Emergency exploro-laparotomy was done due to a suspicion of ulcer perforation. Primary closure for duodenal ulcer perforation and segmental resection of ileum were done. Resected ileum showed diffuse sponge-like changes in the wall. Microscopically, variable-sized cystic lesions, lined by flat or multinucleated giant cells, were noted throughout the intestinal wall.
Adult* ; Duodenal Ulcer ; Emergencies ; Giant Cells ; Humans ; Ileum* ; Intestine, Small ; Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis* ; Pyloric Stenosis ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND: Apoptosis, also known as programmed cell death, is under genetic control and is mediated by apoptosis-specific genes, certain oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Caspase 3, a group of cystein proteases, is involved in the induction of apoptosis and has been considered to be correlated with apoptosis. Therefore, we tried to define whether caspase 3 is expressed in gastric adenoma and carcinoma, and correlated with apoptosis. METHODS: The apoptotic index and caspase 3 and Ki-67 immunoreactivity were observed in 25 gastric adenomas, 31 early gastric carcinomas (EGC) and 64 advanced gastric carcinomas (AGC) by in situ labelling and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The mean number of apoptotic bodies and caspase 3 immunoreactivity were significantly increased from adenoma through EGC to AGC. Ki-67 immunoreactivity was more increased in AGC than in adenoma and EGC. And the number of apoptotic bodies were positively correlated with caspase 3 and Ki-67 immunoreactivity, and caspase 3 immunoreactivity was negatively correlated with Ki-67 immunoreactivity even though they were statistically insignificant. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that caspase 3 activation is important for inducing apoptosis, and both caspase 3 and apoptosis are increased along the tumor progression.
Adenoma* ; Apoptosis* ; Caspase 3* ; Caspases ; Cell Death ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Immunohistochemistry ; Ki-67 Antigen ; Oncogenes ; Peptide Hydrolases ; Stomach

The alteration of the mucin profile have been known to play a role in colorectal carcinogenesis. MUC1 is up-regulated and MUC2 is down-regulated in colorectalcarcinomas. Overexpression of p53 is frequently noted in colorectal carcinomas with deep invasion or lymph node metastasis. However, there have been few reports about the association between MUC1, MUC2, and p53 expression with respect to the metastatic potential. This study was aimed to investigate the relationship of MUC1, MUC2, and protein p53 expressions with clinicopathological factors in colorectal carcinomas. Expressions of MUC1, MUC2, and p53 protein were examined immunohistochemically. Of total 97 cancers, 44 (45%) were MUC1 positive, 39 (40%) were MUC2 positive and 58 (59%) showed a p53 overexpression. Coexpression of MUC1 with p53 and dual expression of MUC1 with MUC2 were associated with a higher frequency of lymph node metastasis (p<0.05). The right colon showed a higher MUC1 positivity and frequent lymph node metastasis than the left colon (p<0.05). These results suggest that the coexpression of MUC 1 with p53 or MUC2 are involved in regional lymph node metastasis in colorectal carcinomas. The high expression of MUC1 in the right colon cancer was revealed to relate with lymph node metastasis.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colorectal Neoplasms/*metabolism/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucin-1/*biosynthesis ; Mucin-2 ; Mucins/*biosynthesis ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/*biosynthesis

PURPOSE: The increased expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 has been implicated in the development and progression of human cancer. This study investigated the COX-2 expression in colorectal cancer, and its relationships with tumor angiogenesis and the clinicopathological factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression of the COX-2 protein and microvessel density were evaluated, using immunohistochemical methods, in 21 normal colonic mucosa and 190 human colorectal carcinomas. Correlations between COX-2 expression and microvessel density, as well as various clinicopathological factors, were studied in colorectal carcinomas. RESULTS: The COX-2 protein expression in epithelial cells was increased in 169 of the 190 adenocarcinoma cases (88.9%), but in only 1 of the 21 (4.8%) normal mucosa cases. The COX-2 expression was significantly increased in the differentiated compared with the undifferentiated colorectal carcinomas (p<0.05), and significantly correlated with the depth of invasion and microvessel density (p<0.05). Rectal cancers had more COX-2 positive cases than the colon cancers (p<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the tumor size and the presence of lymphatic or vascular invasion. CONCLUSION: The overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 in colorectal carcinomas seems to play a role in the invasion and angiogenesis of the tumors, so may be a useful marker of the prognosis. The prominent expression was also demonstrated in differentiated colorectal cancers.
Adenocarcinoma ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Cyclooxygenase 2* ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Microvessels* ; Mucous Membrane ; Prognosis ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Rectal Neoplasms