From the files of the Scottish Melanoma Group, we have identified 100 cases of subungual malignant melanoma (melanoma arising in the nailbed), and this represents 2.8% of the total melanomas registered during the period 1979-1989. Almost equal numbers arose on the foot as on the hand, with the thumb and big toe as the commonest digit affected. More than 80% were greater than 1.5 mm, with the mean Breslow depth 4.7 mm, and 70% were Clark level IV or V. Approximately half of the cases were of acral lentiginous type. At 5-year follow-up (54 cases), 26 have died of melanoma, six have died of an unrelated disease, four are alive with recurrence and 18 are alive and well. Features related to clinical outcome at 3 years were Breslow depth, mitotic count and the presence of vascular invasion.
Frozen sections of 52 human solid tumours (38 malignant and 14 benign) of varied histogenesis were immunohistochemically stained with well characterised monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to human interleukin 2 (IL-2) and the alpha and beta chains of its receptor (R). In all malignant specimens, the tumour cells expressed the IL-2R beta subunit (p75) but not the IL-2R alpha subunit (CD25). In 36 of 38 malignant tumours examined, there was conspicuous staining for IL-2 in the tumour cell nuclei/nucleoli and perinuclear cytoplasm. In the human solid tumour cell lines G361 (melanoma), A549 (lung), MCF-7 (breast) and WiDR (colorectal), both subunits of the IL-2R appeared to be expressed, although the alpha subunit only weakly. Exogenous addition of human recombinant (r) interleukin 2 altered cell numbers in 3 of the 4 cell lines (WiDR was refractory). When grown in the absence of exogenously added rIL-2, IL-2 staining was observed in all cell lines. The pattern of distribution was similar to that exhibited by the tumour cells in situ (i.e., a nuclear/nucleolar localisation). In G361 melanoma cells, this IL-2 staining was present in proliferating cells but disappeared as the cultures approached confluence. Addition of an IL-2R beta subunit blocking antibody to growing G361 cultures (grown in the absence of rIL-2) resulted in a significant reduction in cell numbers. We propose, therefore, that the presence of immunoreactive IL-2 and IL-2R expression is characteristic of human malignant cells and that IL-2 may play a role in the autocrine stimulation of proliferation of malignant cells, such as G361 melanoma cells.
Aims-To characterise further the proliferative compartment of the normal cervix and to document its alteration, if any, in the various grades of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), particularly changes to the basal epithelial layer; to hypothesise as to the diagnostic and biological significance of any observed differences. (7 Clin Pathol 1996;49:667-671)
To investigate whether Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection of the uterine cervix plays a significant role in cervical carcinogenesis, 30 preinvasive squamous lesions were subjected to in situ hybridization for (EBER-1,-2, and BHLF1) EBV transcripts which are expressed in latent and lytic infection, respectively. Twenty cases were known to contain EBV sequences by previous polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Irrespective of EBV PCR status or histological grade, none of the 30 cases demonstrated EBV transcripts in squamous epithelial cells. Two cases showed very occasional EBER-positive stromal cells, most probably representing resident cervical lymphocytes. These findings suggest that EBV plays no part in early cervical carcinogenesis.
Atrophoderma of Pasini and Pierini (APP) is a rare and distinctive form of dermal atrophy of uncertain origin. In only one previous report have immunopathologic methods been used to study a case of atrophoderma of Pasini and Pierini, and on the basis of the results obtained it was concluded that immunologic mechanisms were relevant to the pathogenesis of the condition. A detailed investigation of a case of atrophoderma of Pasini and Pierini was conducted using immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase techniques. The epidermal Langerhans cells were abundant and expressed polyclonal immunoglobulin M on the cell-surface membrane. Biopsy of the same lesion was repeated 6 months later and revealed staining for immunoglobulins A and M and also for C3. This pattern of staining could not be reproduced in a range of other atrophic or scarring cutaneous lesions. Immunophenotypic analysis of the mild perivascular mononuclear cell infiltrate revealed an aberrant T-cell phenotype of uncertain significance.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.