Induction of supermelanin synthesis and morphological changes in interspecific reconstituted cells and its reversal by tumor promoter

Chloramphenicol-resistant (CAPr) reconstituted cells and cybrids were isolated by fusion of karyoplasts (or intact cells) of mouse amelanotic melanoma B16 cells with cytoplasts of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) -deficient, CAPr rat myoblastic cells, L6TG.CAPr, and double selection in HAT medium containing CAP. Reconstituted cells or cybrids exhibited unique cellular arrangement, and about one third of the isolated clones expressed high tyrosinase activity and marked melanin synthesis, although the parental mouse cells expressed low tyrosinase activity and the parental rat cells did not express tyrosinase activity. These phenotypic changes have been stable for more than a year. The phenotypic reversions of these clonal cells were induced by treatment with a tumor promoter. There were changes in the morphology of the treated cells to that of the mouse B16 cells and extinction of tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis in pigmented clonal cells. These phenotypic changes and reversions induced by a promoter were repeatedly reversible.

Immunohistochemical demonstration of S100 protein in malignant melanoma and pigmented nevus, and its diagnostic application

The presence of nervous tissue specific S100 protein was studied immunohistochemically in 47 cases of malignant melanoma and 25 pigmented nevi of various types of peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunoenzyme method on routine paraffin sections of the surgical specimens. Of 47 cases of malignant melanoma, 44 were positively stained for S100 protein. The intensity of S100 protein immunostaining was suggested to be inversely proportional to the amount of melanin pigment. In ten cases of 12 amelanotic melanomas, the immunoreaction for S100 protein in tumor cells was stronger than that of normal Bergmann glial cell in human cerebellum. Intradermal nevi and juvenile melanomas were strongly positive for S100 protein, but blue nevi contained little or no S100 protein. Our results suggest that S100 protein is widely distributed among melanotic tumors and is also a very useful diagnostic indicator for malignant melanoma, especially of the amelanotic type.

A case of pituitary adenoma with possible simultaneous secretion of thyrotropin and follicle-stimulating hormone

A TSH- and FSH-screening pituitary adenoma was demonstrated in a 23-yr-old man who presented with bitemporal hemianopsia, but without clinical or laboratory evidences of hyper- or hypothyroidism or hypogonadism. Basal TSH (29-45 microunits/ml) and FSH (44-63 mIU/ml) were moderately elevated. GH and ACTH secretion were impaired, and basal PRL and testosterone were normal. TRH and LRH elicited a significant increase in TSH and FSH, respectively. The plasma glycoprotein alpha-subunit concentration was normal, and its response to simultaneous administration of TRH and LRH was low. Plasma TSH was not suppressed completely by exogenous T3. After operation and radiotherapy, elevated TSH and FSH as well as failure of T3 to suppress TSH were corrected. No significant changes in thyroid hormone concentration in the blood were detected in spite of the reduction of TSH. TSH and FSH concentrations in the tumor extract were lower than those in normal pituitaries. Histologically, the tumor was very vascular and consisted mostly of a single type of cell. The tumor cells were positively stained for FSH beta-subunit by immunohistochemical study, but for none of other pituitary hormones or subunits examined. Electron microscopic examination revealed relatively abundant single type secretory granules of high electron density. It is possible that the tumor simultaneously secreted TSH and FSH, the former possibly being immunologically active, but biologically inactive.

Production of alpha-fetoprotein, normal serum proteins, and human chorionic gonadotropin in stomach cancer: histologic and immunohistochemical analyses of 35 cases

By immunoperoxidase histochemical staining of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections, the production of alpha-fetoprotein(AFP), albumin(ALB), transferrin(TF), alpha-1-antitrypsin(AAT), and human chorionic gonadotropin(HCG) was examined in 35 operatively resected stomach cancers with elevated serum AFP levels (higher than 20 ng/ml as determined by radioimmunoassay). Cells positive for AFP were found in 19 cases (54%). In 29 cases (83%), some tumor cells contained normal serum proteins (ALB, TF, or AAT). All 19 tumors with AFP-positive cells also stained positively for two or three kinds of normal serum proteins. In some cases, AFP and normal serum proteins were localized in the same cells. There were two cases in which metastatic tumors produced AFP, whereas the primary sites did not. In nine cases (26%), HCG was present in tumor cells and HCG- and AFP-positive cells were coexistent in six tumors. Histologic examination of AFP-producing stomach tumors revealed medullary or papillotubular arrangements with marked nuclear atypia and eosinophilic granular or clear cytoplasms containing no glycogen or mucin. Some tumors with medullary patterns resembled liver cell carcinomas. Concordant phenotypic expression of AFP and normal serum protein production appears to be a general feature of AFP-producing tumors such as liver cell carcinoma, yolk sac tumor, and stomach cancer.

Production of alpha-fetoprotein, normal serum proteins, and human chorionic gonadotropin in stomach cancer: histologic and immunohistochemical analyses of 35 cases

By immunoperoxidase histochemical staining of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections, the production of alpha-fetoprotein(AFP), albumin(ALB), transferrin(TF), alpha-1-antitrypsin(AAT), and human chorionic gonadotropin(HCG) was examined in 35 operatively resected stomach cancers with elevated serum AFP levels (higher than 20 ng/ml as determined by radioimmunoassay). Cells positive for AFP were found in 19 cases (54%). In 29 cases (83%), some tumor cells contained normal serum proteins (ALB, TF, or AAT). All 19 tumors with AFP-positive cells also stained positively for two or three kinds of normal serum proteins. In some cases, AFP and normal serum proteins were localized in the same cells. There were two cases in which metastatic tumors produced AFP, whereas the primary sites did not. In nine cases (26%), HCG was present in tumor cells and HCG- and AFP-positive cells were coexistent in six tumors. Histologic examination of AFP-producing stomach tumors revealed medullary or papillotubular arrangements with marked nuclear atypia and eosinophilic granular or clear cytoplasms containing no glycogen or mucin. Some tumors with medullary patterns resembled liver cell carcinomas. Concordant phenotypic expression of AFP and normal serum protein production appears to be a general feature of AFP-producing tumors such as liver cell carcinoma, yolk sac tumor, and stomach cancer.

Light and electron microscopic analysis of intranuclear inclusions in papillary adenocarcinoma of the lung

The incidence and nature of intranuclear inclusions found in tumor cells of preoperative and postoperative cytologic, histologic and electron microscopic (EM) specimens were studied in 38 cases of papillary adenocarcinoma of the lung in order to assess the cytodiagnostic significance of these inclusions. The overall incidence of the intranuclear inclusions was 34%; the incidence was higher in the well-differentiated type of adenocarcinoma (48%). Four smear and four EM types of inclusions were recognized. Cytoplasmic invaginations (pseudoinclusions), single-membrane-bound inclusions, aggregates of 50-nm tubules and any combination of the above could be distinguished by EM. There was some correlation between the smear and EM types of inclusions. EM analysis suggests that intranuclear inclusions, except for pseudoinclusions, may be derived from the inner nuclear membrane. In routine cytology, the intranuclear inclusion is a good diagnostic marker for papillary adenocarcinoma of the lung.

Elevation of glycoprotein galactosyltransferase activity in human lung cancer related to histological types

Uridine diphosphogalactose:glycoprotein galactosyltransferases were examined in human lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The galactosyltransferase activities in tissue homogenates from both carcinomas were higher than in adjacent normal control with asialoagalactofetuin as a substrate. This activity in adenocarcinoma (27 cases) was two times higher than that in squamous cell carcinoma (19 cases) with statistical significance (p less than 0.001). Using Triton-solubilized enzymes from a particulate fraction, similar differences in the activity were observed with ovalbumin, asialoagalactofetuin, and its beta-eliminated derivative as acceptors but not with bovine submaxillary mucin. These observations mean that the higher activity of galactosyltransferase(s) in lung carcinomas (especially in adenocarcinoma) is mainly responsible for galactosylation of carbohydrate chains in N-glycoside-type but not O-glycoside-type glycoproteins.

Arylsulfatases of human-lung tumors transplanted into athymic mice. Cancer-associated modification of arylsulfatase B variant

The activities and properties of arylsulfatase A and B from human lung carcinoma transplanted into athymic mice were demonstrated. The activities of arylsulfatase A and B from transplanted carcinomas with four histological types were more than twofold higher as compared to those from surgical tumors, except for arylsulfatase A activity in blastoma. Arylsulfatase B in transplanted tumors was almost completely replaced, except for blastoma, by an anionic B variant (B1) which was a minor component of arylsulfatase B in surgical lung tumor and absent in normal human lung. The properties of arylsulfatases A and B from transplanted tumors were essentially identical, respectively, with those from normal lung or surgical tumors in respect of molecular weight, heat stability, pH optimum, isoelectric point (pI), Km, time course profile and substrate specificity. Arylsulfatase B1 showed the properties similar to B enzyme except for net charge. The cause of the negative charge of tumor B1 enzyme was investigated. By the action of phosphatase, which was added exogenously or had been persistently included in the partially purified enzyme preparation, B1 enzyme (pI 7.5) shifted to about pI 8.2. Treatment of B1 enzyme with neuraminidase, concomitant with the endogenous phosphatase, resulted in marked increase (pI 9.5) of the isoelectric point, identical to that of arylsulfatase B. Thus, it is most probable that tumor B1 enzyme is modified by additional sialic acid and phosphate bound to arylsulfate B.

Characterization of amylases produced by tumors

Amylases were purified and characterized from three amylase-producing human tumors. The relative molecular mass of the amylases was estimated to be 54 000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, different from human salivary amylase (61 000 and 64 000) and human pancreatic amylase (60 000). The tumor amylases had completely identical antigenicities with human salivary and pancreatic amylases against antibody to human salivary amylase, while the intensity of the tumor amylases was less than 20% of that of human salivary and pancreatic amylases on single radial immunodiffusion. On isoelectric focusing, two of the three tumor amylases showed a major peak at pH 6.4, which corresponded to a major peak of human salivary amylase, the other showed a major peak at pH 6.4, which corresponded to a minor peak of human salivary amylase. The three tumor amylases showed similar amino acid composition, different from those of human salivary and pancreatic amylases. These findings suggest that tumor amylases have a tertiary structure similar to that of normal human amylases, but differ from them in amino acid composition.

Characterization of amylases produced by tumors

Amylases were purified and characterized from three amylase-producing human tumors. The relative molecular mass of the amylases was estimated to be 54 000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, different from human salivary amylase (61 000 and 64 000) and human pancreatic amylase (60 000). The tumor amylases had completely identical antigenicities with human salivary and pancreatic amylases against antibody to human salivary amylase, while the intensity of the tumor amylases was less than 20% of that of human salivary and pancreatic amylases on single radial immunodiffusion. On isoelectric focusing, two of the three tumor amylases showed a major peak at pH 6.4, which corresponded to a major peak of human salivary amylase, the other showed a major peak at pH 6.4, which corresponded to a minor peak of human salivary amylase. The three tumor amylases showed similar amino acid composition, different from those of human salivary and pancreatic amylases. These findings suggest that tumor amylases have a tertiary structure similar to that of normal human amylases, but differ from them in amino acid composition.

Clinical and hormonal aspects of the watery diarrhea-hypokalemia-achlorhydria (WDHA) syndrome due to vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-producing tumor

Three patients with the watery diarrhea-hypokalemia-achlorhydria (WDHA) syndrome were studied. All had watery diarrhea, hypokalemia and hypercalcemia. Plasma vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) levels determined by radioimmunoassay were markedly elevated in these patients, indicating that they had VIP-producing tumors. Plasma VIP levels determined serially after the operation indicate that its determination is useful in estimating the effect of a treatment. As for multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1), two out of the three cases belonged to this category. Patient 1 had a brother with insulinoma, and in case 2, even though there was no family history, the autopsy revealed not only multiple tumors of the pancreas but also pituitary adenomas, chief cell hyperplasia of the parathyroid glands, thyroid adenomas and adrenocortical adenomas. VIP and other hormones in the tumors as well as in the plasma were examined extensively in these cases. In case 1, VIP, gastrin and calcitonin were produced in the tumor and only plasma VIP levels were elevated. In case 2, with multiple tumors, tumor 1 produced VIP, glucagon pancreatic polypeptide, gastrin and calcitonin, and tumor 2, VIP, pancreatic polypeptide, gastrin and beta-melanocyte stimulating hormone. In this case, plasma VIP, pancreatic polypeptide and glucagon levels were elevated. In case 3, VIP and calcitonin were produced in the tumor, and plasma VIP and calcitonin levels were elevated. These results indicate that (1) VIP is a good tumor marker for the WDHA syndrome due to VIP-producing tumors; (2) patients with the WDHA syndrome are sometimes associated with MEN1; and (3) VIP-producing tumors are multiple hormone-producing tumors, and VIP predominantly elevated in the plasma results in the WDHA syndrome, although other hormones such as pancreatic polypeptide, glucagon and calcitonin are sometimes found to be elevated in plasma without contributing to the clinical features.

Elevated activities and properties of arylsulfatases A and B and B-variant in human lung tumors

The activities of arylsulfatases A and B were determined in human primary and secondary tumor tissues (total, 53 cases) of various histological types. Significantly higher activities of these sulfatases were found in almost all the primary lung carcinomas as compared to their corresponding uninvolved tissues. No significant correlation was demonstrated between the enzyme activities and histological figures (stroma amounts, etc.). Lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma showed the presence of an additional arylsulfatase component (B1) which was not detected in normal human lung. The tumor arylsulfatase B1 had an isoelectric point (pI) of 6.7 and was clearly distinguished from arylsulfatase A (pI 4.9) and arylsulfatase B (pI 9.1 to 9.2) in normal lung and lung tumor. The tumor B1 enzyme was demonstrated to be most probably an isoenzyme of arylsulfatase B, since this unusual enzyme was indistinguishable from arylsulfatase B in terms of Ag+ inhibition; its kinetic parameters of Km for p-nitrocatechol sulfate, which was 2.9 mM with B1; optimum pH of 6.3 for B1; heat stability; and substrate specificity for three synthetic and two physiological substrates.

Pulmonary blastoma. An ultrastructural study of a case and its transplanted tumor in athymic nude mice

A pulmonary blastoma in a 52-year-old Japanese man was serially transplanted into athymic nude mice. This report emphasizes the characteristics of the neoplasm seen on light and electron microscopic examination. The original tumor consisted of branching tubular structures and primitive mesenchymal components with a few smooth-muscle cell bundles, and resembled fetal lung tissue. Electron microscopic examination revealed that the immature stromal cells resembled epithelial cells. After serial passages in nude mice, the stromal element of the tumor disappeared, and the epithelial element showed squamous metaplasia and occasional mucus production. Endocrine-type granules were observed in a few tumor cells. Histogenetic considerations, including a suggestion that the tumor was derived from entodermal cells, are presented.

Prognostic implications of fibrotic focus (scar) in small peripheral lung cancers

Peripheral lung cancers frequently possess a fibrotic focus or scar in their center or beneath the pleura. We reexamined 58 cases of peripheral lung cancer of less than 3 cm in diameter (48 adenocarcinomas, two large cell carcinomas and eight squamous cell carcinomas) which were removed surgically between June 1962 and July 1973. Analyses of the cases revealed that in adenocarcinoma with increased collagenization or hyalinization in the fibrotic focus, the degree of pleural invasion and incidence of lymph node metastasis and blood vessel invasion were greater and thus the prognosis of the patient was poorer than in cases with no or slight collagenization. The results also indicate that the characteristics of the central fibrotic focus are probably more important than the size of the tumor for estimating the prognosis of patients with peripheral adenocarcinoma of less than 3 cm in diameter. The same might be said of peripheral large-cell carcinoma. However, the prognostic importance of the fibrotic focus was not confirmed in cases of peripheral squamous-cell carcinoma. Although the central or subpleural scar has long been the basis of the scar cancer concept, alternate explanations were considered, namely, that scar formation occurred along with tumor development, rather than before, in the case of adenocarcinomas.

Induction of squamous cell carcinoma in human bronchi transplanted into nude mice

Segments of surgically resected human adult bronchi were xenotransplanted into the subcutaneous tissue of 35 BALB/c genetic background athymic nude mice with 3-methylcholanthrene placed in their lumina. Bronchial segments were removed 8 to 20 weeks after transplantation and preservation of the bronchial mucosa was confirmed in 26 segments. The most frequent change observed in the mucosa was goblet cell hyperplasia, followed by squamous metaplasia and dysplasia. Severe dysplasia or questionable squamous cell carcinoma in situ was noted at the site of the bronchial gland in a segment removed 8 weeks after transplantation, and invasive squamous cell carcinoma in a segment removed 15 weeks after transplantation. A difficulty in this work was the frequent earlier development of malignant tumors of mouse origin.

Ultrastructure, immunohistochemistry and hormone release of pituitary adenomas in relation to prolactin production

Fifteen cases of pituitary adenoma, 14 of which were associated with hyperprolactinemia, were studied by observation and granule morphometry of electron micrographs, immunohistochemistry and sequential observation of in vitro release with regard to hormone production, storage and secretion. Adenoma cells of 6 cases with marked elevation of plasma prolactin were sparsely granulated, showed characteristic ultrastructures including the presence of small secretory granules, well developed Golgi and rough membranes, misplaced exocytosis, and positive or negative immunostaining for prolactin. These adenomas also showed vigorous release of the hormone into the circulation and/or culture medium. In vitro studies showed that negative immunostaining of adenoma cells did not preclude the production and secretion of the hormone. One densely granulated adenoma containing cells with numerous lactotroph type granules showed moderate release of prolactin into the circulation. In an acromegalic case associated with both high plasma growth hormone and prolactin, some cells were shown by immunohistochemistry to store both hormones There were 4 adenomas which could not be shown to produce, store and secrete prolactin by any method available.

Cell incohesiveness and pattern of extension in a rare case of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma

A unique case of adenocarcinoma of the lung that showed aerogenous extension is presented. Although the primary focus was the usual invasive bronchioloalveolar carcinoma, the tumor cells were dissociated, floating and filling the alveolar spaces, the bronchioli, and the small bronchi at the periphery of the primary tumor and in every involved area in other lobes of the lung. Massive tumor cells were expectorated in coincidence with the appearance of abnormal densities on chest X-ray films. Ultrastructurally the dissociated tumor cells had numerous microvilli on the cell surface and rarely showed intercellular junctions. The tumor cells also contained well-developed rough and smooth endoplasmic membranes, crista-vesicular-type mitochondria, electron-dense granules, and granules with myelinlike figures. No mucous granules and no Clara-cell-type secretory granules nor lamellar bodies of the type seen in normal granular pneumocytes were seen. From these findings, it was concluded that the tumor cells in this case were rather poorly differentiated but somewhat resembled the hyperplastic cuboidal alveolar cells seen in the damaged lung and that they proliferated freely in airways, presenting aerogenous metastases. The biologic behavior of this tumor might be partly explained by the incohesive nature of the tumor cells.

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the paranasal sinus: a morphological and endocrinological study

Four cases of small cell carcinoma of the paranasal sinuses were studied histologically, ultrastructurally, and endocrinologically. All tumors showed features of undifferentiated carcinoma with alveolar patterns but without acinar or squamous differentiation and contained cells possessing endocrine-type small secretory granules, which were indistinguishable from non-neoplastic neurosecretory granules. The three cases also possessed a small number of microtubules, and in one of these fine cytoplasmic filaments were observed. One case showed elevated plasma levels of cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone associated with adrenocortical hyperplasia and Crooke's changes of the pituitary gland. Another case showed hypercalcemia with bone metastasis, hypercalcitonemia with a high content of calcitonin in the tumor tissue, calcitonin-positive tumor cells, and C-cell hyperplasia of the thyroid. It was concluded that all four cases should be called neuroendocrine carcinoma, which might be related to neoplasms derived from amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation cell series rarely encountered in the paranasal sinuses.

Cell kinetic study of human cancers transplanted to nude mice

Using 3H-TdR pulse labelling, the cell kinetics of four, serially transplantable, human tumors were studied in athymic nude mice. Squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, tongue and esophagus showed relatively similar cell kinetic parameters. The growth of an oat-cell carcinoma was initially very slow in mice and its growth fraction was unexpectedly small with a relatively low labelling index. Its postmitotic phase was very short. It was concluded that the nude mice/human tumor system may be useful for cell kinetic studies of human tumors from the standpoint of tumor biology and therapy.

Human endodermal sinus tumour in nude mice and its markers for diagnosis and management

Two human endodermal sinus tumours (yolk sac tumours) were transplanted successfully into nude mice. The transplanted tumours maintained not only morphological characters, such as Schiller-Duval bodies, but also the ability to synthesise alpha-fetoprotein, lactic dehydrogenase 1, liver and bone type alkaline phosphatase, and some human serum proteins. Since these tumours produced lactic dehydrogenase 1 but not the other four isozymes of lactic dehydrogenase, this isozyme, like alpha-fetoprotein, seems to be a good marker for the diagnosis and management of cases of endodermal sinus tumour. One of the two tumours produced another fetal antigen or carcinoembryonic antigen in addition to alpha-fetoprotein. These two endodermal sinus tumours, with their various markers in nude mice, will be useful in studies on diagnostic markers.

Multiple-hormone producing lung carcinoma

Endocrine and immunohistochemical studies were performed in a patient with lung cancer associated with gynecomastia. Elevated level of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in plasma and mild hyperadrenocorticism were demonstrated by hormone assays. Postmortem examination proved the existence of anaplastic small cell carcinoma of the lung mixed with a feature of chorioepithelioma. The presence of significant amounts of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), beta-melanocyte stimulating hormone (beta-MSH), calcitonin, gastrin, hCG, hCG-alpha, hCG-beta and human chorionic somatomammotropin (hCS) in tumor tissues was demonstrated by radioimmunoassays, bioassay and immunohistochemical techniques. We present here a unique case of multiple hormones producing tumor elaborating both hormones of amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation (APUD) series (ACTH, beta-MSH, calcitonin and gastrin) and of placental origin (hCG, hCG-alpha, hCG-beta and hCS).

Leukemic distribution of a human acute lymphocytic leukemia cell line (Ichikawa strain) in nude mice conditioned with whole-body irradiation

Induction of leukemia in nude mice (BALB/c nu/nu) was attempted by inoculation with a human acute lymphocytic leukemia cell line (Ichikawa strain, maintained in an ascitic form in our institute). Inoculation of the cells i.v. in normal nude mice failed to produce leukemia. However, conditioning with whole-body irradiation (500 rads) resulted in induction of leukemia after i.v. inoculation, especially when such inocluation was performed 3 days after irradiation. The correlation of survival to inoculum size (10(5) to 10(5)) was inversely exponential. Leukemic infiltration was noted in the spleen, lymph nodes, bone marrow, meninges, liver, kidneys, etc., as seen in human leukemia. These cells retained their original cytological characteristics, ultrastructural features, and surface markers and revealed high terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase activity as T-derived cells. Chromosome analysis revealed aneuploidy in a hypotetraploid range with a mode of 88 chromosomes.

Enzyme histochemical and electron microscopic study of a virilizing adrenocortical adenoma

Enzyme histochemical and ultrastructural studies of a "dexamethasone-suppressed" virilizing adrenocortical adenoma and the attached cortex revealed that tumor cells showed little activities of some lysosomal enzymes and scarcity of lipofuscins and dense bodies of lysosomal type, forming a marked contrast to the cells of zona reticularis and the virilizing adenomas previously reported. The other findings of tumor cells, such as a pattern of activities of dehydrogenases including 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and the morphology of mitochondria, were those of reticularis cells. The findings showed that scantiness of lipofuscins did not rule out the possibility of adenoma producing adrenal androgen, dehydroepiandrosterone. Most of the tumor cells as well as reticularis cells were positive for alkaline phosphatase, the activity of which was interpreted as the effect of ACTH stimulation.

Chemotherapy of human choriocarcinoma transplanted to nude mice

Two human choriocarcinomas serially transplanted to athymic nude mice (BALB/c, nu/nu) were treated with intraperitoneal injections of methotrexate (MTX), actinomycin D (ACTD), and vinblastine (VLB) with doses per injection slightly smaller than LD10 in mice. Both ACTD and VLB significantly suppressed the growth of one tumor strain (SCH) but MTX did not. The growth of another tumor strain (CC-1) was not inhibited by either ACTD or VLB. In strain SCH, plasma HCG of tumor-bearing animals increased approximately in parallel with the growth of tumors in control and MTX-, ACTD-, and VLB-treated groups but the suppression of the hormone release was more marked in the ACTD-treated group. The results indicate that these two transplantable human tumors are useful models for the study of choriocarcinoma, particularly for therapeutic experiments.

Immunohistochemical identification of actomyosin-containing (myoepithelial) cells in non-neoplastic and neoplastic tissues

Actomyosin-containing cells in both non-neoplastic and neoplastic tissues of the salivary gland, lung, breast and some other organs were studied by immunofluorescent microscopy using antiactomyosin rabbit serum. In the breast, myoepithelial-like cells with positive immunofluorescence in the cytoplasm were observed not only in sclerosing adenosis and fibroadenoma but also in scirrhous and medullary-tubular duct carcinomas. No positive cells were observed in medullary carcinomas with lymphoid infiltration. The actomyosin positive cells were also seen at the outer layer of tubules of "mixed tumors" and of cell nests in adenoid cystic carcinoma and in myoepithelioma of the salivary gland, but not in the metaplastic squamous cells or in the cells of myxomatous and chondroid areas of "mixed tumor". In carcinoma of the lung, actomyosin-positive cells were observed in adenoid cystic carcinomas and adenocarcinoma of the bronchial gland type, but they were not seen in squamous cell carcinomas or papillary adenocarcinomas. It was concluded that the actomysoin-containing cells with structural appearances of myoepithelial cells in a variety of tumors were neoplastic myoepithelial cells.

[HCG proved by enzyme labelled antibody technique in a suprasellar tumour--an autopsy case report (author's transl)]

An 11-year-old female case of suprasellar tumour was reported. She presented consciousness disorder without precocious puberty. Microscopically, two cell pattern pinealoma and choriocarcinoma with no metastasis were revealed. By means of enzyme-labelled antibody technique, the authors proved HCG in syncytial cells of the tumour.

Development of exocrine cells of the pancreas and parotid gland in rats. Relation between morphological and biochemical changes

Electron microphotographs showed that pancreatic acinar cells contain many dense zymogen granules in the fetal stage (day 21 of gestation), both dense and less dense granules in the infant stage (day 10 after birth) and again only dense granules in the adult stage. Injection of dexamethasone in the infant stage greatly increased the number of dense granules, and slightly increased the total number of granules, whereas its injection in the weanling stage (day 24 after birth) did not increase the total number of zymogen granules or their density. Parotid acinar cells contain many zymogen granules of low density in the weanling stage (day 24 after birth), and granules of low density with dense spots in the adult stage. Injection of dexamethasone in the weanling stage increased the number of adult-type zymogen granules, but did not increase the total number of granules. The developmental change in amylase activity was parallel with the change in the high-density areas in zymogen granules, and the latter seemed to be influenced by the serum glucocorticoid level.

Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural analysis of medullary carcinoma of the thyroid in relation to hormone production

Eighteen cases of medullary carcinoma of the thyroid were analyzed immunohistochemically for calcitonin- and ACTH-containing cells, and tumor cells in 8 cases were examined by an electron microscope and analyzed by manual and computer procedures with particular attention paid to the size and quality of secretory granules. Calcitonin- and ACTH-containing cells were found singly or in clusters in 14 and 11 tumors, respectively. In 4 cases, calcitonin-positive cell clusters and an increase in number of singly scattered C cells were seen apart from the main tumor, suggesting a multicentric nature of certain medullary carcinomas. Some ACTH-containing cells were apparently also positive for calcitonin. In a case of familial Sipple disease, follicular lining cells were replaced in areas with ACTH-containing cells. Three to five frequency distribution curves of the size of secretory granules were obtained in all of 6 cases analyzed, and at least two different types of granule matrix were identified.

Production of calcitonin, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and beta-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in tumors derived from amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation cells

The tumor production of human calcitonin (CT) was examined by radioimmunoassay, and it was found that 50 of 85 (59%) tumor tissues collected at random contained immunoreactive CT. These tumors were grouped as to whether they were derived from the amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation (APUD) series. The group that was derived from APUD cells showed appreciable amounts of CT in 30 of 31 (97%) of these tumors or in 20 of 21 (95%) when the medullary carcinomas of the thyroid were excluded. However, of the non-APUD group of tumors only 20 of 54 (37%) were found to contain CT, so that the difference between these two groups was highly significant (p less than 0.001). Of the tumors with ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone-melanocyte-stimulating hormone production, 12 of 14 were shown to contain CT. These data indicate that CT is a common product of the APUD tumors and that tumor production of CT is often associated with that of adrenocorticotropic hormone and beta-melanocyte-stimulating hormone.

Hormone dependency of a serially transplantable human breast cancer (Br-10) in nude mice

The human breast cancer (Br-10) serially transplanted to nude mice (BALB/c-nu/nu) grew well in female mice but very slowly or not at all in untreated male mice and female mice treated with 1 mg of testosterone i.m. twice a week. The growth in female mice was arrested by ovariectomy, and that in male mice was accelerated by 0.1 mg of estradiol i.m. once a week. Tumors in female and estrogenized male mice retained the original histology of duct carcinoma. Tumors in ovariectomized female, androgenized female, and male mice consisted of cells with smaller and more uniform nuclei, forming markedly dilated lumina in the first group and arranged in lobular patterns in the latter two groups. High-affinity 8 S and 4 S estrogen receptors were present in tumors transplanted to female nude mice, but no progesterone receptors were detected. These results provide experimental evidence for the hormone dependency of a human breast cancer in vivo and strongly suggest the important role of estrogen and androgen in the growth regulation of some estrogen receptor-positive human breast cancers.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the thymus. An analysis of eight cases

Eight cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the anterior mediastinum, most likely derived from the thymus, are presented. Seven were male and one female ranging in age from 39 to 65 years; the average was 55.5 years. There were no cases associated with any paraneoplastic syndromes. They possessed common morphological characteristics. Grossly, the tumors resembled malignant thymoma. Invasion of the lung and metastases to regional lymph nodes were frequent. Often observed microscopically were foci of sharply defined keratinization resembling Hassall's corpuscles, no radial arrangement of tumor cells at the periphery of nests, and broad, fibrotic, or hyalinized stroma. Admixture of a few lymphoid cells and some features transitional to thymoma were also observed in some parts of tumors. However, undoubtedly carcinomatous areas were present in some or large parts of all the tumors, where individual cells possessed a vesicular nucleus and a prominent round nucleolus. These features were distinct from those of bronchogenic squamous cell carcinoma and other thymic tumors, although they appeared to be related to thymoma. Treatment of choice is radical surgery and postoperative radiotherapy, because of relatively high radiosensitivity. Prognosis of patients was relatively good. From analyses of cases it is concluded that squamous cell carcinoma of the thymus should be separated from ordinary thymoma of the epithelial type, and that squamous cell carcinoma involving both the thymus and lungs should be carefully examined for the primary site of growth.

Ultrastructural, histochemical, and biochemical studies of two cases with amylase, ACTH, and beta-MSH producing tumor

Two cases of intrathoracic tumor, different in histology and accompanied by hyperamylasemia, were studied ultrastructurally, histochemically, and biochemically. The ultrastructure of the tumor cell cytoplasm showed many zymogen granules in case 1 and smaller cored granules in addition to zymogen granules in case 2. Both tumors contained not only a large amount of amylase, which was electrophoretically of saliva type with three components, but also significant amounts of immunoreactive ACTH and beta-MSH. Starch film and immunofluorescence showed that the tumor cells stored amylase. It was concluded from these findings that the tumor cells ectopically producing amylase, which showed differentiation toward the cells with zymogen production, could differentiate toward the cells of ACTH-MSH system at the same time.

Transplantation of human tumors in nude mice

Ninety-one human tumors, including various common carcinomas, low-grade malignant tumors, and benign tumors, were transplanted into athymic nude mice. Tumor take was confirmed histologically for 22 neoplasms at the initial transplantation, and 14 serially transplantable tumors were established, including some hitherto unestablished or unreported, such as lung and hepatic cell carcinomas. Among the 91 tumors were 21, 14, and 13 carcinomas of the lung, stomach, and breast, respectively. Transplantability was highest in lung carcinomas (10/21), followed by gastric carcinomas (2/14) and breast carcinomas (1/13). Morphology of original tumors was retained well in most transplanted tumors, but desmoplastic or scirrhous tumors, such as gastric and breast carcinomas, tended to become medullary with a decrease in amount of tumor stroma. The ability to produce mucin in gastric carcinomas or melanin in malignant melanoma was maintained in serially transplantable tumors. In addition, ectopic production of adrenocorticotropin and beta melanocyte-stimulating hormone continued in a transplanted small cell carcinoma of the lung. Preliminary results were obtained on hormone dependency of the transplantable breast carcinoma and on alpha1-fetoprotein in the transplantable hepatic cell carcinoma.

Human gastric choriocarcinoma serially transplanted in nude mice

A gastric choriocarcinoma cell line capable of producing human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) was studied by sc transplantation and serial passages into nude mice fed under specific pathogen-free (SPF) conditions. The tumor-take rate at the serial heterotransplantation in SPF mice was high (greater than 95%), in contrast with a low rate in coventional animals (35%). The restoration of morphology and function of the original neoplasm were exclusively verified in SPF mice. Multiple lung metastases were found in 2 animals. The production, storage, and excretion of HCG by tumor cells were confirmed by its high content in serum and cystic fluid in tumors and by its intracellular localization. The tumor cells also contained a specific placental alkaline phosphatase in their membranes. The cells were various trophoblastic types ranging from primitive cytotrophoblasts to typical syncytial cells. The hormone effects of the tumor on sex organs of tumor-bearing animals were evident.