No abstract

Telomerase activity is considered to be a diagnostic marker of malignancy since most malignant cells express this activity and most somatic cells do not. However, the detection of telomerase activity is rather complicated and is affected by many factors. Recently, human telomerase components were cloned and found to consist of 3 subunits. We assessed which component of telomerase best correlates with malignancy in order to study the possibilities for developing a new diagnostic marker. Telomerase activity was measured by a telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay, and the telomerase components hTR, hTRT‐mRNA and TP1‐mRNA were detected by the reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). Twenty‐five of 26 oral malignant lesions, 9 of 22 benign lesions and none of 19 normal control tissues exhibited distinct telomerase activity. hTR and TP1‐mRNA expression levels were detected in all malignant lesions and normal control tissues and had no significant correlation with the telomerase activity results. In contrast, hTRT‐mRNA expression was closely associated with telomerase activity. All lesions expressing hTRT were telomerase positive. In addition, some samples of dysplastic lesions, benign tumors, lichen planus and normal mucosa exhibiting poor telomerase activity revealed weak expression of hTRT. Expression levels of hTRT‐mRNA positively correlated with clinical and pathological findings. Detection of hTRT‐mRNA by RT‐PCR appeared to be more sensitive for telomerase than measurement of telomerase activity by the TRAP assay. Detection of hTRT‐mRNA may provide information useful in the diagnosis of oral malignancies. Int. J. Cancer 80:1–4, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

PurposeWe investigated whether serum interleukin (IL)-8 reflects the tumor microenvironment and has prognostic value in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).Experimental DesignFifty OSCC patients who received radical resection of their tumor(s) were enrolled. Preoperative sera were measured for IL-8 by ELISA. Expression of IL-8 and the infiltration of immune cells in tumor tissues were analyzed by an immunohistochemical staining of surgical specimens.ResultsWe found that disease-free survival (DFS) was significantly longer in the Stage I/II OSCC patients with low serum IL-8 levels compared to those with high levels (p = 0.001). The tumor expression of IL-8, i.e., IL-8(T) and the density of CD163-positive cells in the tumor invasive front, i.e., CD163(IF) were correlated with the serum IL-8 level (p = 0.033 and p = 0.038, respectively), and they were associated with poor clinical outcome (p = 0.007 and p = 0.002, respectively, in DFS) in all patients. A multivariate analysis revealed that N status, IL-8(T) and CD163(IF) significantly affected the DFS of the patients. Further analysis suggested that combination of N status with serum IL-8, IL-8(T) or CD163(IF) may be a new criterion for discriminating between OSCC patients at high and low risk for tumor relapse. Interestingly, the in vitro experiments demonstrated that IL-8 enhanced generation of CD163-positive M2 macrophages from peripheral blood monocytes, and that the cells produced IL-10.ConclusionsThese findings indicate that IL-8 may be involved in poor clinical outcomes via generation of CD163-positive M2 macrophages, and that these factors in addition to N status may have prognostic value in patients with resectable OSCSS.

DNG inhibited angiogenesis of the ectopic endometrium, with confirmed structural changes in the microvessels.

To determine whether p53 alterations, which are frequent in human breast cancers, are also common in rat mammary tumors, we examined 40 tumors from 24 rats treated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) and 34 tumors from 14 rats treated with N-nitroso-N-methylurea (NMU) (an N-nitroso compound). DMBA and NMU are known genotoxic mutagens. The entire coding regions of the p53 and Ha-ras genes were examined for mutations by polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis and by direct sequencing. One of the 40 DMBA-induced mammary tumors had a p53 mutation, a single-base substitution (AGC-->GGC) at codon 307, resulting in an amino-acid change from Ser to Gly. No mutations were found in NMU-induced tumors. The incidence of Ha-ras gene mutation was 79% (27 of 34) at codon 12 in the NMU group and 23% (nine of 40) at codon 61 in the DMBA group. Thus, p53 mutation, in contrast to Ha-ras mutation, did not seem to be a prerequisite for carcinogenesis in chemically induced rat mammary tumors.

Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein complex intimately associated with cell immortalization and neoplastic transformation. In almost all types of cancer this enzyme is reactivated and stabilizes telomere length. It may be necessary for continuous cell proliferation. In this study we used a non‐radioactive polymerase chain reaction assay to analyze telomerase activity in various tissue specimens taken from the oral cavity. Four of 4 (100%) squamous cell carcinoma cell lines, 28 of 29 (96%) malignant tumors, 10 of 28 (36%) benign lesions, and none of the 14 (0%) oral control tissues possessed telomerase activity. Moreover, 4 of 15 (27%) oral rinses and 3 of 3 (100%) samples of ascites and pleural effusion taken from patients with oral malignancy were telomerase positive. These findings indicate that the evaluation of telomerase activity in tissue and body fluid specimens may provide information useful in the diagnosis of oral malignancy.

"Soft pancreas" has often been reported as a predictive factor for postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) after pancreatectomy. However, pancreatic stiffness is judged subjectively by surgeons, without objective criteria. In the present study, pancreatic stiffness was quantified using intraoperative ultrasound elastography, and its relevance to POPF and histopathology was investigated. Forty-one patients (pancreatoduodenectomy, 30; distal pancreatectomy, 11) who underwent intraoperative elastography during pancreatectomy were included. The elastic ratio was determined at the pancreatic resection site (just above the portal vein) and at the remnant pancreas (head or tail). Correlations between the incidence of POPF and patient characteristics, operative variables, and the elastic ratio were examined. In addition, the relationship between the elastic ratio and the percentage of the exocrine gland at the resection stump was investigated. For pancreatoduodenectomy patients, main pancreatic duct diameter < 3.2 mm and elastic ratio < 2.09 were significant risk factors for POPF. In addition, the elastic ratio, but not main pancreatic duct diameter, was significantly associated with the percentage of exocrine gland area at the pancreatic resection stump. Pancreatic stiffness can be quantified using intraoperative elastography. Elastography can be used to diagnose "soft pancreas" and may thus be useful in predicting the occurrence of POPF.

Diagnosis of endometriosis needs invasive maneuvers. New serum marker that possesses both high sensitivity and high specificity has long been desired. To establish novel serum marker for endometriosis, serum autoantibodies (autoAbs) were investigated using proteomic approach. AutoAbs in sera of endometriotic patients and healthy controls were analyzed using a mesothelial cell line, 2-DE and Western blotting. Proteins in reacted spots were identified using MALDI TOF-MS with MASCOT analysis. ELISAs were established using recombinant proteins and autoAb-titers were estimated in sera of endometriotic patients, disease and healthy controls. Several autoAbs were identified. Anti-α-enolase (Eno1)-autoAb levels in endometriotic patients were significantly elevated compared with both healthy and disease controls. Sensitivity and specificity of serum anti-Eno1-autoAb was nearly comparable to serum CA125. When anti-Eno1-autoAb and CA125 assays were combined, diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy improved. Serum anti-Eno1-autoAb can be a new serum endometriotic marker and it is useful as a supplement assay for CA125. This study validates further clinical evaluation of this novel marker.