Intermediate filament expression in normal parotid glands and pleomorphic adenomas

A comparative immunohistochemical study of intermediate filament expression in normal parotid glands and pleomorphic adenomas (PA) was performed using material fixed in a modified methacarn fixative. The normal myoepithelial cells of acini stained only with monoclonal antibodies 312C8-1 (cytokeratin (CK) 14) and 4.62 (CK 19) while myoepithelial/basal cells of ducts also reacted with antibodies 8.12 (CK 13, 16), 8.60 (CK 10, 11, +/- 1), and PKK1 (CK 7, 8, 17, 18). Normal duct luminal cells showed a different CK profile, reacting consistently with ECK, a polyclonal antibody to epidermal prekeratin (CK 3,6), and monoclonal antibodies 4.62, PKK1 and 8.60. In PA, tumour cells at the periphery of ducts, in solid areas, and at the edge of myxoid regions all had CK profiles similar to normal myoepithelial/basal cells except that antibody 4.62 was generally negative. Vimentin and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were uniformly negative in normal parotids but showed variable (often strong) reactivity with some cells in chondroid, myxoid and solid areas of PA. A surprising feature of most PA was the variability of CK subtype expression not only from one case to another but also within morphologically similar areas of the same specimen. These results suggest that the morphology of PA is the result of diversity of tumour cell differentiation rather than the processes implicit in a reserve cell histogenetic model.

Lymphocyte glucocorticoid receptors in cancer patients

Glucocorticoid receptor concentration was determined in circulating lymphocytes of patients with benign and malignant tumors. It was not different from control values in case of benign tumors. However, it was increased significantly in case of operable colorectal adenocarcinoma and decreased, sometimes to very low levels, when the tumor (gastric or colorectal adenocarcinoma) was inoperable.

Comparison of CEA distribution in lesions and tumors of salivary glands as determined with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies

Immunohistochemical localization of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) with conventional antibody to CEA (anti-CEA), nonspecific crossreacting antigen (NCA)-absorbed polyclonal antibody to CEA (NCAa-CEA), and monoclonal antibody to CEA (Mono-CEA) have been compared in obstructive lesions and salivary gland tumors. Normal salivary glands gave strong staining of the luminal borders of acinar cells with anti-CEA, whereas no staining occurred with Mono-CEA. Obstructive lesions showed occasionally marked staining with anti-CEA in some acinar cells, but there was no reaction with Mono-CEA. Of 69 pleomorphic adenomas examined, 34 were positively stained with anti-CEA, 18 with NCAa-CEA and 8 with Mono-CEA along the luminal borders of the tumor cells. The frequency of positive staining of material within tubular lumina was similar with all three immunoreagents. Neoplastic cells were positive with Mono-CEA in only three cases, while eight cases were positive with NCAa-CEA and 11 cases with anti-CEA. In salivary gland tumors true CEA is be found mainly at the border of tumor cells, but the frequency of positive reactions is low.

Distribution of growth hormone and prolactin in secretory granules of the normal and neoplastic human adenohypophysis

Growth hormone [GH] and prolactin [PRL] can be demonstrated simultaneously in electron micrographs by means of the double immunocytochemical labeling technique using colloidal gold particles of two different sizes. This method was used to study biopsy specimens obtained from 15 patients suffering from acromegaly, 11 patients suffering from prolactinomas, and eight biopsy specimens obtained during adenomectomy from the normal, paraadenomatous pituitary tissue. Four granule populations with different immunoreactions were found: (1) granules containing GH only, (2) granules containing PRL only, (3) mixed granules containing GH and PRL, and (4) granules displaying no immunoreactivity. The existence of mixed granules indicated that the two hormones are synthesized by the same cell and in communicating compartments of the cells; i.e., the rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum. The number of GH-containing granules (pure GH granules and mixed GH-PRL granules) was greater than that of PRL-containing granules (pure PRL granules and mixed PRL-GH granules) in adenomas causing acromegaly and in the normal pituitary tissue, whereas the opposite was true for prolactinomas. The number of PRL-containing granules was larger in biopsy specimens from patients who had acromegaly and hyperprolactinemia than in patients with acromegaly and normal serum PRL levels.

Identification of corticotrophs in the human pituitary with mAB lu-5, a novel immunocytochemical marker

The presence of mAB lu-5, a panepithelial, monoclonal antibody was studied in human adenohypophyses and pituitary adenomas by immunohistochemistry using the avidinbiotin-peroxidase complex technique. In nontumorous adenohypophyses, only corticotrophs showed strong immunoreactivity, whereas other adenohypophysial cell types exhibited little or no staining. Positive immunostaining was observed in corticotrophs spreading to the posterior lobe, in cells of squamous nests located in the pars tuberalis and several cells lining pars intermedia cavities. The Crooke's hyaline material in the cytoplasm of corticotrophs was immunopositive. In adenomatous corticotrophs and cytoplasmic fibrous bodies of sparsely granulated adenomatous somatotrophs, distinct mAB lu-5 immunoreactivity was evident. GH-, PRL-, TSH-, FSH-, LH-, alpha-subunit-producing adenomas, null cell adenomas and oncocytomas showed no convincing staining. Immunopositivity in corticotroph adenomas was diffusely distributed in the cytoplasm and was not located in secretory granules, indicating that mAB lu-5 did not stain ACTH. Immunoreactivity with mAB lu-5 was not specific for pituitary corticotrophs, since the antibody stained nontumorous epithelial cells and epithelial tumor cells in other organs as well. It can be concluded that mAB lu-5 is a valuable immunocytochemical marker in pituitary related studies, especially in those pituitary adenomas in which immunostaining for ACTH is weak or equivocal; in these cases, it can confirm the diagnosis of corticotroph adenoma. The antibody yields similar results as keratin antisera. In our experience, however, it gives a stronger, more distinct immunopositivity with less nonspecific background staining.

Light microscopical morphometry, immunocytochemistry, and clinical correlations of pituitary adenomas at various stages of oncocytic transformation

In a series of 124 pituitary adenomas displaying oncocytic alterations, we studied the degree of oncocytic transformation by light microcopical and morphometrical means for semiquantitative analysis. We established three groups with different percentages of oncocytically transformed cells for comparison of clinical and immunocytochemical data. Of the patients, 32.3% exposed adenomas with less than 50% oncocytic alterations (group I), whereas 22.6% showed tumours with oncocytic transformations between 51% and 75% (group II). Oncocytic parts consisting of more than 75% of the tumour cells were found in 41.1% of the patients (group III). All three groups differed in the rate of immunocytochemically positive cases, but not in sex distribution, tumour size, and rate of recurrency. Immunocytochemical analyses for PRL and GH (81 vs 78 adenomas) showed a decline of immunohistochemically positive adenomas with increasing proportions of oncocytic transformation for both hormones. Whereas in group I 38% of the adenomas were PRL-positive and 15% GH-positive, group III displayed only 9% PRL-positive and 3% GH-positive adenomas. The results display the correlation between the increasing volume of oncocytic transformation and its effect on decreasing hormone content in pituitary adenomas.

Dysplasia in colorectal adenomas related to the presence of O-acylated sialic mucin and to morphometric measurements

In a study of 41 surgically removed colorectal adenomas of unselected size, the dysplasia was graded as mild in 9, as moderate in 22, and severe in 10 cases. Twenty-four of the lesions were classified as tubular adenomas and 17 as tubulo-villous. The presence of O-acylated sialic mucin was for each of the adenomas assessed as normal (19 cases), intermediate (13 cases) or absent (9 cases). The absence of O-acylated mucin was in the present study found to be highly predictive for severe dysplasia (89%). The morphometric measurements of epithelial structures showed that nuclear shape factor and nuclear stratification index were most significantly related to the grades of dysplasia. In a multivariate analysis, the grading of O-cylated sialic mucin most significantly contributed to the grade of dysplasia, and to a lesser degree, nuclear shape factor and nuclear stratification index. The presence of villous elements and the size of the adenomas had no independent influence on the grade of dysplasia in this statistical analysis.

Estrogen receptors in normal salivary gland and salivary gland carcinoma

To access for possible hormone dependence, 19 samples of normal salivary gland tissue and 14 samples of salivary gland carcinoma were quantitatively analyzed for estrogen receptor (ER) content. A receptor protein content of greater than or equal to 1 fmol/mg of cytosol protein was considered positive. Ten (77%) of 13 histologically normal samples, and four (80%) of five tumor samples obtained from male patients contained ER by this criterion, as did five (83%) of six normal samples and eight (88%) of nine tumor samples obtained from female patients. Mean ER concentrations plus or minus SE in male-derived samples were 2.02 +/- .42 fmol/mg of cytosol protein for normal tissue and 4.35 +/- 1.5 fmol/mg of cytosol protein for tumor tissue; mean ER concentrations in female-derived samples were 3.48 +/- 1.1 fmol/mg of cytosol protein for normal tissue and 12.64 +/- 6.4 fmol/mg of cytosol protein for tumor tissue. Four of eight tumors in women had levels considered to be "hormonally dependent" in breast carcinoma. These findings indicate that salivary gland carcinomas may be hormone-dependent.

Distinctive features of prolactin secretion in acromegalic patients with hyperprolactinaemia

We have investigated the relationship between the plasma PRL concentrations of 98 untreated acromegalic patients and the GH levels during basal and dynamic conditions. Hyperprolactinaemia was present in 27 patients. In patients with marked hyperprolactinaemia (PRL greater than 80 ng/ml or greater than 1600 mU/l), basal plasma PRL and the TRH-induced response correlated with basal plasma GH (correlation coefficients of 0.9, P less than 0.001 and 0.74, P less than 0.02, respectively). The PRL response to TRH also correlated with GH response to TRH (r = 0.38, P less than 0.01). In contrast, in patients with moderately elevated PRL (20 to 80 ng/ml), and in those with normal plasma PRL (less than 20 ng/ml or less than 400 mU/l), no such correlations were found. Immunostaining for PRL was positive in 24 out of 25 adenomas of patients with hyperprolactinaemia, while no PRL was found in the tumour tissue of 10 normoprolactinaemic patients. In conclusion, our data suggest the existence of two populations of acromegalic patients with hyperprolactinaemia, one group with correlations between GH and PRL secretion, and the other without.

Immunohistochemical localization of metallothionein in human thyroid tumors

High levels of metallothionein (MT) are present in the developing mammalian liver; however, a remarkable decrease is observed during postnatal life after weaning. This developmental profile is similar to that of certain oncofetal gene products such as alpha-fetoprotein, which is used as a tumor marker. This study deals with the reexpression of MT genes in thyroid tumors. With an immunohistochemical method, the presence of MT was investigated in tissue sections of normal and neoplastic human thyroid glands. Tissue sections of 34 thyroid tumors and 10 normal human thyroid glands were studied by means of the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method. MT was localized in 31 of the thyroid gland tumors. MT was also present in two of the normal thyroid glands. These findings indicate that although high levels of MT are mainly found in the fetal liver, it may also be expressed actively in certain human thyroid neoplastic tissues, and occasionally in normal thyroid tissue.

Identification of human growth hormone messenger ribonucleic acid in pituitary adenoma cells by in situ hybridization

The technique of in situ hybridization was used to examine human GH gene expression in human GH-secreting pituitary adenoma cells. Five somatotroph adenoma specimens obtained at surgery were dispersed into single cell suspensions. Hybridization experiments were performed on cells immediately after dispersal or on cells cultured for 48-72 h in a defined serum-free medium. Tritiated GH cDNA was used to probe fixed cells, and hybridization was determined by liquid autoradiography. Of the freshly dispersed adenoma cells probed with GH cDNA, more than 70% contained GH mRNA, as determined by counting silver grains per cell. Significant cellular grain counts were obtained for GH cDNA-probed cells from all five tumors, while negative controls showed negligible silver grain counts. In cultured cells derived from three of five tumors, an average of 40% contained detectable GH mRNA. Therefore, quantitative in situ hybridization is a useful technique to demonstrate the expression of GH mRNA in human pituitary adenoma cells.

Immunohistochemical localization of placental proteins and tumor-associated antigens in endometrial cancer and endometrial hyperplasia

As to endometrial cancer and endometrial hyperplasia, this study represents the localizations of the placental proteins and the tumor-associated antigens by both immunohistochemical light microscopy (ILM) and immunoelectron microscopy (IEM). The reagents examined include human placental lactogen (HPL), placental alkaline phosphatase (PAP), pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A), pregnancy-specific beta 1-glycoprotein (SP1), alpha 1-anti-trypsin (alpha-AT), and tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA). The tumor cells stained for HPL are localized and the SP1-positive cancer cells are almost entirely restricted to an infiltrating front. alpha-AT is shown in both tumor cells with marked cellular atypism and ones in deeply infiltrating foci. The immunoreactive frequency for the above six reagents in endometrial cancer is higher than that in endometrial hyperplasia. In endometrial cancer, the high frequency of an immunoreaction is confirmed in TPA (p less than 0.05). The combined stainings, i.e. either for TPA and SP1 or for TPA and PAPP-A, are efficient immunohistochemical screening methods to use in diagnosing endometrial cancer in the biopsied specimens (p less than 0.05).

Diagnostic value of flow cytometric DNA determination combined with fine needle aspiration biopsy in thyroid tumors

The nuclear DNA content and the numbers of cells in the S and G2M phases of the cell cycle were determined by flow cytometry (FCM) in fine needle aspirates of 187 thyroid tumors to evaluate the diagnostic value of nuclear DNA content determination in combination with aspiration cytology. DNA aneuploidy was present in 4 of 5 follicular carcinomas, 2 of 3 anaplastic carcinomas, 5 of 15 excised follicular adenomas and 2 of 20 excised adenomatous goiters; all 7 papillary carcinomas and 4 lymphomas were diploid in the aspirate. Aneuploid carcinomas had easily distinguishable S and/or G2M phases, unlike the benign aneuploid tumors. None of the histologically benign tumors or the nonexcised tumors had greater than 6% S-phase cells, and only one benign tumor had greater than 9% G2M-phase cells. In contrast, all lymphomas had greater than 10% S-phase cells and four of seven papillary carcinomas had greater than 9% G2M-phase cells. The use of FCM determination in combination with fine needle aspiration biopsy cytology improved the diagnostic potential of the latter technique.

Characteristics of colorectal epithelia and adenomas as revealed by DNA cytofluorometry

Human colorectal normal epithelia and tubular adenomas were studied by DNA-cytofluorometry using free cell nuclei isolated from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded specimens. All the normal epithelia (30 cases) showed low proliferative activity, no polyploid cells and no aneuploid cell clones at any age in either sex. The mean diploid G1/G0 fraction (DF) of the normal epithelia was 95.9%. The adenomas, on the other hand, showed increased proliferative activity usually in accordance with the grade of atypia. The mean DF values of the adenomas with mild atypia (31 lesions) and moderate atypia (21 lesions) were 89.4% and 85.6%, respectively. The adenomas, irrespective of their grade of atypia, occasionally showed low proliferative activity, while in the adenomas adjacent to a carcinoma, the proliferative activity was relatively high even though their atypia was mild. Neither polyploid cells nor aneuploid cell clones were found in the adenomas. Therefore, polyploid and aneuploid cell populations are characteristics of carcinoma of the colon and rectum, and this criterion should be useful in investigations of the genesis of carcinoma in the human colorectal mucosa.

DNA in situ sensitivity to denaturation: a new parameter for flow cytometry of normal human colonic epithelium and colon carcinoma

Modal DNA (ploidy) and sensitivity of DNA in situ to denaturation by acid have been analyzed by flow cytometry of 10 colorectal adenomas and 35 adenocarcinomas; 39 normal mucosa samples served as controls. A new method was developed to denature DNA in chromatin of the freshly isolated, intact, and unfixed individual cell nuclei from surgically resected material. The sensitivity of DNA denaturation (T alpha) was assayed by metachromatic staining with acridine orange and calculated as a ratio of the alpha t index of the tumor sample to the alpha t index of normal mucosa; the alpha t index is that fraction of DNA, following treatment at pH 1.4, that stains metachromatically with acridine orange at pH 2.6. All adenomas were diploid and in nine of 10 the T alpha value was close to 1.00, indicating no difference from control specimens in DNA sensitivity to denaturation. Forty-nine% of adenocarcinomas were aneuploid. Forty-six% of adenocarcinomas differed from normal in sensitivity of DNA to denaturation; the T alpha value was lower than 0.90 indicating that chromatin of the tumor cells was more resistant to denaturation than control cells. There was no correlation between sensitivity to denaturation of DNA and incidence of aneuploidy. However, there was a correlation between T alpha and the pathologically determined stage of disease. There was increased resistance to denaturation in 58% of tumors classified as Dukes' C/D stage, in 36% of tumors classified as Dukes' B, and in 20% classified as Dukes' A stage of the disease. Statistical analysis of these results revealed significant differences between distributions of T alpha in noninvasive (Adenomas and Dukes' A) versus invasive (Dukes' B and C/D) tumors with level of significance at P = 0.02. The data suggest that acid denaturation of DNA in situ may be a valuable adjunct in assessing the biology of colon cancer. The molecular basis for this phenomenon is discussed.

Detection of multiple PRL- and GH-like proteins in human pituitary by Western blot analysis

Surgically removed normal and tumorous pituitary tissues from a prolactinoma patient were analyzed by Western blot techniques for PRL and GH variants. Criteria for identification were the Rf of the bands within the gel, immunologic crossreactivity to specific antisera, and structural verification by tyrosine peptide-mapping of individual bands from the gel. The authors found the tumor-tissue to be characterized by the presence of a PRL band greater in concentration than in the normal tissue and the virtual absence of a GH band. Immunoblotting of the electrophoretically resolved proteins form both types of tissues revealed several new bands crossreactive with human PRL and GH antibodies. Some of the new bands were of Mr greater than the monomeric PRL and GH and others were of lower Mr. Relative of two of the low mobility Mr PRL-immunoreactive bands designated as 16K and 8K corresponded to the Rf of the two fragments of cleaved PRL, which suggested that cleaved PRL occurred naturally in the human pituitary gland. The most conspicuous of the new PRL-immunoreactive bands, a 25,000 Mr protein migrating slightly behind PRL, displayed strong crossreactivity to hPRL antibodies and was present in greater concentration in the prolactinoma tissue than in the normal tissue. These properties suggested that it was related to hPRL and perhaps represented its glycosylated variant. However, its tyrosine peptide map did not resemble that of hPRL. Thus, it is not clear whether it represented G-hPRL or a new pituitary protein that cross-reacts with hPRL antibodies. In addition, two other bands of low Mr, designated as unknown 1 and unknown 2, reacted with hPRL antibodies. Immunostaining with hGH antibodies revealed the 20K-hGH variant, the F1 fragment of cleaved hGH, and a pair of new bands immediately behind GH that could represent glycosylated hGH--possibly a product of Seeburg's variant hGH gene. Both PRL and GH antibodies elicited numerous bands of high Mr by the technique employed, far more than ever observed by Sephadex chromatography. The nature of the high Mr bands remains unknown. Further characterization of these new PRL- and GH-immunoreactive proteins might help in the understanding of the multiple physiologic functions of PRL and GH in man.

Gastrin in pituitary tumours

Twelve of 87 pituitary adenomas from patients with acromegaly, Cushing's syndrome. Nelson's syndrome, hyperprolactinaemia and without symptoms of hormone hypersecretion contained gastrin in concentrations from 0.5 to 166 pmol/g. Only ACTH-producing tumours contained gastrin, which occurred in forms smaller than those present in the normal adenohypophysis. The results indicate that corticotropic tumours may synthesize gastrin in moderate amounts.

[Steroid hormone receptors in struma]

Oestradiol and progesterone receptors occur in different hormonally dependent tissues. The presence and number of steroid receptors in malignant breast tumours is well known. Endocrine treatment is effective. An attempt was made to quantify the oestradiol and progesterone receptors in human goitre. The behaviour of steroid receptors was studied in the cytosol of tissue samples from 33 surgically-treated patients. Neither oestradiol nor progesterone receptors were found in human goitre tissue.

Expression of intermediate filament proteins in subtypes of renal cell carcinomas and in renal oncocytomas. Distinction of two classes of renal cell tumors

We examined the expression of the diverse cytokeratin (CK) polypeptides as well as vimentin in human renal cell carcinomas of various subtypes and in renal oncocytomas by applying both two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunocytochemistry by using polypeptide-specific monoclonal antibodies. The tumors were classified according to the guidelines of the World Health Organization, with some modifications based primarily on recently proposed cytomorphological criteria. All clear cell carcinomas (G I, G II; N = 20) co-expressed CKs nos. 8 and 18, and vimentin, with CK no. 19 being present in 13 of the 20 cases and exhibiting a heterogeneous distribution. Dedifferentiated carcinomas (G III; N = 8) also co-expressed CKs nos. 8 and 18 as well as vimentin, but in addition, exhibited CK no. 19 and, in many cases, CK no. 7; in 1 case, only vimentin was expressed. Both eosinophilic-granular (N = 3) and basophilic (small cell cuboidal; N = 6) carcinomas contained CKs nos. 8 and 18, and the co-expression of vimentin was a consistent feature of these tumors; CK no. 19 was found in all of these cases, while CK no. 7 was present in the majority. In chromophobe cell carcinomas (N = 8), in contrast to all of the other carcinoma types, no vimentin was detected in the tumor cells, with only CKs nos. 8, 18, and to a variable extent 7, being present. Similarly, oncocytomas (N = 8) lacked vimentin and exhibited only CKs nos. 8 and 18. Conspicuous scattered CK no. 19-positive cells were found in these two last tumor types. No CK polypeptides other than simple-epithelium-type CKs (nos. 7, 8, 18, and 19) were detected in any of the tumors studied. These results indicate that, in renal cell tumors, the expression of intermediate-filament proteins is strikingly correlated with the specific morphologic appearance. While the co-expression of CKs nos. 8 and 18 and vimentin was a surprisingly consistent feature of the most common subtypes of renal cell carcinomas, CK no. 19 exhibited remarkable heterogeneity of expression both within individual tumors and between different tumors, the expression patterns of this CK being correlated to the tumor subtypes. The consistent absence of vimentin in chromophobe cell carcinomas and oncocytomas makes it possible to define these as a separate class of renal cell tumors. This finding supports the view that chromophobe cell carcinomas represent a distinct tumor entity and points to their close phenotypic relationship to benign oncocytomas as well as to normal renal tubules.

On-line transmission electron microscopic image analysis of chromatin texture for differentiation of thyroid gland tumors

Nuclei of the cells from the thyroid gland were analyzed in a transmission electron microscope by direct TV scanning and on-line image processing. The method uses the advantages of a visual-perception model to detect structures in noisy and low-contrast images. The features analyzed include area, a form factor and texture parameters from the second derivative stage. Three tumor-free thyroid tissues, three follicular adenomas, three follicular carcinomas and three papillary carcinomas were studied. The computer-aided cytophotometric method showed that the most significant differences were the statistics of the chromatin texture features of homogeneity and regularity. These findings document the possibility of an automated differentiation of tumors at the ultrastructural level.

Pituitary tumors containing cholecystokinin

We found small amounts of cholecystokinin in the normal human adenohypophysis and therefore examined pituitary tumors from 87 patients with acromegaly, Cushing's disease, Nelson's syndrome, prolactinoma, or inactive pituitary adenomas. Five adenomas associated with Nelson's syndrome contained increased amounts of cholecystokinin, the concentrations being extremely high in two: 8281 and 13,453 pmol per gram as compared with less than 30 pmol per gram in normal pituitary glands. The cholecystokinin concentrations were moderately increased in adenomas from another 12 patients, of whom 5 had Cushing's disease and 7 acromegaly with adenomas containing ACTH. The cholecystokinin peptides from the tumors were smaller and less sulfated than cholecystokinin from normal pituitary glands. We conclude that ACTH-producing pituitary cells may also produce an altered form of cholecystokinin.