Co-inoculation of tumorigenic rat prostate mesenchymal cells with non-tumorigenic epithelial cells results in the development of carcinosarcoma in syngeneic and athymic animals

Co-inoculation of NbF-I and NbE-I s.c. into either adult male syngeneic rats or athymic nude mice induced the development of tumors that resembled carcinosarcoma on histopathologic evaluation. These tumors were composed of a mixture of adenocarcinoma and fibrosarcoma and were induced by the mixtures of NbF-I and NbE-I cells at a ratio ranging from 0.001 to 3.2; inoculation of NbF-I alone resulted in the development of fibrosarcoma. Flow-cytometric analysis showed that the epithelial cells subcloned from the carcinosarcoma had a DNA profile like that of their parental cell line and remained non-tumorigenic. When co-inoculated with the tumorigenic fibroblasts in syngeneic hosts, however, the subcloned epithelial cells again formed carcinosarcomas. Our results indicate that cell fusion between epithelial cells and fibroblasts is an unlikely explanation for tumorigenicity. We propose that prostatic fibroblasts exert a directive influence on their adjacent epithelial cells through a paracrine mechanism that determines epithelial growth and tumorigenicity in vivo.

Unusual renal pelvic tumor containing transitional cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and sarcomatoid elements (so-called sarcomatoid carcinoma of the renal pelvis). A case report and review of the literature

A case of sarcomatoid carcinoma of the renal pelvis in a 66-year-old male is reported. The patient underwent left nephroureterectomy because of renal pelvic tumor and hydronephrosis. Left renal calcification and atrophy had been diagnosed in the patient about thirty years previously. The tumor showed a polypoid configuration and occupied the renal calyces. Histologically, not only solid nests of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) and adenocarcinomatous glands but also large spindle-shaped cells with bizarre nuclei simulating sarcoma were identified. Immunoreactive keratin and epithelial-membranous antigen (EMA) were demonstrated in the sarcomatoid cells, indicating that they were of epithelial origin. So far, only 10 cases of so-called sarcomatoid carcinoma or carcinosarcoma of the renal pelvis have been reported in the world. In this report, we summarize the pathological findings of previously reported cases and discuss the histogenesis of this rare tumor.

Possibility of inducing glandular stomach cancer in rats exposed to asbestos

The possibility of glandular stomach cancer being induced was studied in 75 random bred white rats exposed to chrysotile asbestos. A perforated polyethylene capsule containing 100 mg asbestos and filler (beef fat and natural wax mixture 1:1) was introduced in an artificial bag placed on the greater curvature of the stomach. A capsule containing filler only was introduced in a similar way in 40 control rats. In the following 25 months, 18 tumors of the stomach and abdominal cavity were found in the rats treated with asbestos (eight adenomas, two adenocarcinomas, one carcinosarcoma, one forestomach cancer, one intestinal adenocarcinoma, two peritoneal mesotheliomas, and three abdominal lymphoreticulosarcomas.) Among the control rats no such tumors were found. The results of the experiment are discussed in connection with epidemiological data on stomach cancer in asbestos workers.

[Immunohistological demonstration of the intermediate filaments in a laryngeal carcinosarcoma: considerations on its histogenesis]

A carcinosarcoma of the larynx was analysed by means of a light microscope and by immunohistological staining technique using antibodies against various intermediate filament proteins. Whereas tumour areas of an epithelial character reacted with antibodies against keratin, the spindle cells demonstrated a positive immunofluorescence with vimentin antibodies. Inside some tumour cells a coexpression of keratin and vimentin (intermediate filaments of mesenchymal cells) could be demonstrated. It is likely that these double stained cells represent the primitive stem cell of the carcinosarcoma, differentiating during further development either into epithelial or mesenchymal tumour cells.

Extra-uterine müllerian carcinosarcoma

Carcinosarcoma of the Müllerian system is an uncommon tumor. We report here a case of extra-uterine carcinosarcoma from pelvic wall, presenting 11 years after hysterectomy. Accidental surgical implantation of endometrioid cells is suggested as the pathogenic mechanism in this case.

Carcinosarcoma of ileum in regional enteritis

A biphasic malignant neoplasm, carcinosarcoma, arose in a segment of ileum involved with regional enteritis. The tumor spread throughout the abdomen, and the patient died nine months after diagnosis. The spectrum of intraepithelial dysplasia, carcinoma with varying degrees of differentiation, and sarcomatous-appearing elements suggests that the histogenesis of this tumor is epithelial. This report provides further documentation of the relationship between regional enteritis and unusual neoplasms of the intestine.

The influence of phenacetin or mechanical perforation on the development of renal pelvic and urinary bladder tumors in FANFT-induced urinary tract carcinogenesis

The influence of 0.535% phenacetin in the diet or mechanical perforation of the renal pelvis and urinary bladder of male Sprague-Dawley rats in FANFT-induced urinary tract carcinogenesis was studied. The 151 rats were divided into 5 experimental and one control group. The rats were followed for up to 80 weeks. FANFT administered at 0.2% in the diet for 11 weeks resulted in a high incidence of urinary tract tumors particularly of the renal pelvis. Similar results were obtained by administration of 0.2% FANFT for 6 weeks followed by 0.535% phenacetin while FANFT for 6 weeks preceded or followed by mechanical perforation of the renal pelvis resulted in a significantly lower incidence of renal pelvic tumors. Phenacetin appeared to enhance the development of renal pelvic tumors in FANFT-induced urinary tract carcinogenesis. In contrast no effect of phenacetin on the urinary bladder could be detected.

Endometrial cancers occurring 10 or more years after pelvic irradiation for carcinoma

Fifteen patients who developed cancer of the endometrium 10 or more years after pelvic irradiation for carcinoma were selected for study from a group of 64 cases of postirradiation malignant pelvic tumors diagnosed during a 48-year span. The average interval between radiotherapy and diagnosis of the subsequent endometrial cancer was 17.2 years. Irradiation initially had been done for squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix in 13 cases (87%) and for ovarian tumors in two instances. Almost all patients had received megavoltage external radiation combined with radium implants. Two-thirds of the tumors were adenocarcinomas and one-third were carcinosarcomas (either homologous or heterologous). Although the risk of second primary malignant tumors following therapeutic irradiation for pelvic tumors probably is very low, the emergence of new genital tract cancers in long-term survivors must be anticipated, regardless of whether the postirradiation cancers are spontaneous or radiation-induced.

Carcinosarcoma of the bladder

We present 2 cases of carcinosarcoma of the bladder. These tumors are considered as true admixtures of epithelial and mesenchymal neoplastic cells rather than 2 separate neoplasms that touch or marginally invade each other. Although the etiology of this tumor is unclear it tends to be aggressive and probably requires an early radical operation with adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Carcinosarcoma of the fallopian tube: a case report and review of the literature

A patient with a carcinosarcoma of the Fallopian tube is presented. She is the first reported from the United Kingdom and the 23rd in the literature. The clinical and pathological features, pathogenesis and management are discussed.

C-type virus particles in urethan-induced pulmonary and renal carcinomas, in cell-graft-transmitted carcinosarcomas, and in filtrate-induced lymphomas in mice

Repeated injections of urethan into suckling BALB/c mice induced multiple papillary adenocarcinomas in the lungs and kidneys. When the pulmonary tumors were transplanted i.p. by cell graft into 6 suckling BALB/c mice, they induced disseminated carcinosarcomas within the peritoneal cavity in all inoculated animals. Tumors resulting from the transplantation of tumor cells were used for preparation of filtered extracts. The filtrates were inoculated into 6 suckling BALB/c mice and induced generalized malignant lymphomas in all animals. The primary urethan-induced pulmonary and renal tumors, the carcinosarcomas that resulted from i.p. cell transfer, and also the generalized malignant lymphomas induced by inoculation of filtered extracts contained C-type virus particles. Theoretically, it could be assumed that both the primary urethan-induced pulmonary and renal tumors, as well as the cell-graft-induced peritoneal carcinosarcomas, contained the C-type virus particles as passengers, not necessarily related etiologically to the tumors in which they were found. It is quite likely, however, that these virus particles were etiologically related to the filtrate-induced malignant lymphomas in which they were also found.

The possible carcinogenic effects of radiations on the uterus

The carcinogenic effects of radium and X-rays on the rat uterus have been investigated. Malignant endometrial tumours, usually adenocarcinomas, were produced in a small proportion of treated rats. One rat treated with X-rays developed an adeno-sarcoma (possibly carcino-sarcoma) of the endometrium. Benign mixed polypoidal endometrial tumours occurred also in radium and X-ray treated rats and in non-radiated controls; radiation increased the incidence of these tumours and may have induced malignant transformation in some. The incidence of lymphosarcomas and mammary tumours in the strain of rat used appeared to be influenced by radiation treatment.Review of the literature of human cases of mixed uterine tumours showed that in women over 40 years, more than one-fifth of the reported cases had a history of previous pelvic radiation; with other kinds of uterine malignancy a history of prior radiation treatment was considerably less. The results of our experiments enhance the suspicion that radiations are one factor in the causation of uterine cancer, especially mixed tumours.