Expression of PCNA and bcl-2 in basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx: a controlled study

We investigated the difference in the biologic nature of typical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basaloid SCC (BSCC) of the larynx by studying proliferation and antiapoptotic markers. We performed an immunohistochemical analysis of the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and bcl-2 protein in 15 patients with laryngeal BSCC and 15 stage- and site-matched controls with typical laryngeal SCC. We found no significant difference between the two groups in the PCNA index or the frequency of bcl-2 overexpression, nor did we find any significant difference in survival. Our findings indicate that the biologic nature of typical laryngeal SCC and laryngeal BSCC is similar. In addition, our follow-up data suggest that the clinical course of laryngeal BSCC is no worse than that of typical laryngeal SCC.

The pathomorphology of a human xenotransplanted basaloid squamous cell carcinoma

To elucidate some factors related to the malignant phenotype of an oral tumor with mixed cell population the question has been raised whether the biological behavior of the basaloid or the squamous cells show any difference in an immunosuppressed host organism. Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) surgically removed from sublingual location was xenotransplanted either subcutaneously or in the oral submucosa and the histology, ultrastructures, LDH isoenzyme pattern were investigated. The epithelial origin of the established tumor line (HTB-1) could be recognized according to the characteristic epithelial ultrastructures, while the type of the LDH isoenzymes proved its human origin. The squamous cell population dominating the parent surgical specimen of BSCC regressed during xenotransplantation in the subcutan location, on the contrary the basaloid cells grew and maintained the tumor. Interestingly the basaloid cells transplanted from the subcutis to the oral submucosa generated a squamous cell population with an infiltrative growth pattern. The xenografted BSCC offer a promising model to investigate the contribution of each cell populations in the malignant phenotype. The presented data indicate that the basaloid cells are responsible for maintaining the tumor cell population, but certain malignant features (i.e. infiltrative growth) is associated to the squamous cells which are generated from the basaloid cells only under specific circumstances. Thus this particular model system showed that different malignant features could be associated to the basaloid and to the squamous cell component.

[Basal cell and basosquamous carcinomas of the external ear. Immunohistochemical study]

Malignant neoplasms of the external ear are difficult diseases of the cervical-facial area to study clinically and therapeutically. The most frequent malignant histological patterns are spinocellular and basocellular carcinomas. Melanomas, basosquamous or "metatypical" carcinomas are less frequent. The latter have a transition histological pattern halfway between a basocellular and spinocellular carcinoma. In our experience, some external ear neoplasms, diagnosed as basocellular, were clinically more invasive (aggressive). Therefore we studied the immunohistochemistry of operative specimens with monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) with the purpose of revaluating the diagnosis after follow-up, and of detecting unrecognized basosquamous carcinomas. We studied 4 patients (2 male and 2 female) aged between 58 and 78, examined in the period 1990-92 an a diagnosed as having an external ear basocellular carcinoma. The immunohistochemical study was carried out using anti-CEA (carcinoembryonal antigen) monoclonal antibodies, high molecular weight acid anticytokeratins (anti-AE3) and low molecular weight basic anticytokeratins (anti-AE1). Appendage origin of the neoplasms was excluded after carrying out MoAb anti-CEA tests, negative in all patients. Epithelial origin of the neoplasms were confirmed after carrying out MoAb anti-AE3 tests, positive in all patients. After carrying out MoAb anti-AE1 tests, positive in 3 patients out of 4, we reviewed the classification of 2 basocellular carcinomas out of 4. These tumors evidenced an atypical dyskeratosis and a positivity for intracellular keratinization. These aspects were not evidenced in the previous histological examinations using routine stains and could be an index of unfavourable clinical evolution of these two cases from a basocellular carcinoma toward a more aggressive basosquamous carcinoma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Basaloid-squamous carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract and so-called adenoid cystic carcinoma of the oesophagus: the same tumour type?

Basaloid-squamous carcinoma of the larynx, pharynx and base of tongue and the so-called adenoid cystic carcinoma of the oesophagus are rare but distinctive tumours associated with a grave prognosis. They occur most commonly in elderly males and present at an advanced stage. Our study of four such laryngeal tumours and five such oesophageal tumours shows that they are histologically and immunohistochemically identical, providing support for the idea that they are the same tumour type. They show a biphasic pattern in which basaloid tumour is intimately associated with a neoplastic squamous component which can be invasive or in situ. The basaloid component is in the form of invasive lobules with frequent comedo-necrosis and hyalinization. The constituent cells possess pale pleomorphic nuclei with frequent mitoses. Immunoreactivity for cytokeratin in the basaloid component is remarkable for its absence or weak and focal nature. Review of the literature shows that only a few cases of 'adenoid cystic carcinoma' of the oesophagus are bona fide examples of adenoid cystic carcinoma as it occurs in the salivary glands, while the others are identical to basaloid-squamous carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract. Their distinction is important because genuine adenoid cystic carcinoma is much less aggressive than basaloid-squamous carcinoma.

Discontinuity of the basement membrane in fibrosing basocellular carcinomas and basosquamous carcinomas of the skin: an immunohistochemical study with human laminin and type IV collagen antibodies

Thirteen basocellular carcinomas (BCC) of different histologic types and 5 basosquamous carcinomas (BSC) of the skin were stained for laminin and type IV collagen with rabbit antibodies against the human basement membrane (BM) proteins, using an immunoperoxidase technique. The BM around the tumor aggregates contained both laminin and type IV collagen, and was continuous and distinct in all the nonfibrosing BCCs but indistinct or interrupted in the fibrosing BCCs and BSCs. The BM was not influenced by the focal adnexal differentiation of the BCC cells. The disintegrity of the BM in the fibrosing BCCs and BSCs may reflect some kind of disturbance in the interaction between the neoplastic epithelium and the connective tissue stroma, and be connected with the more aggressive nature of these tumors compared with ordinary BCCs. Thus local aggressive behavior seems to be accompanied by defects in the BM.

Identification of a colon-specific antigen (CSA) in normal and neoplastic tissues

An antigen has been isolated from a human signet-ring cell carcinoma serially growing in hamsters, GW-39, by saline, PCA, or phenol extraction, and has been found immunologically identical to a similarly extracted substance in normal human or hamster colon. No other hamster or human tissues or cells were found to contain this antigen, for which reason we have termed it colon-specific antigen, or CSA. CSA has been found to be distinct from the major blood group-specific antigens and from othercolon tumor-associated antigens, such as CEA, CCA-II, and CCA-III. It thus seems that a colon organ-specific antigen can be synthesized by this particular human tumor system. Hamsters immunized with CSA could reject cheek pouch grafts of GW-39 tumors, and tumor rejection by these animals correlated with their anti-CSA antibody titers. Preliminary characterization of CSA suggested that it is a glycoprotein on the cell surface having a molecular size of 30,000 to 50,000 daltons. It is proposed that CSA may play a role in the diagnosis of mucin-producing adenocarcinoma of the colon and in ulcerative colitis.

Antigenic constituents in pregnancy plasma which are undetectable in normal non-pregnant female or male plasma

Up to four antigenic constituents have been found in the plasma of pregnant women which are not detectable in specimens from normal untreated non-pregnant women, or from men. They are visualized by immunodiffusion methods with hyperimmune rabbit antiserum to pregnancy plasma, after exhaustive absorption with lyophilized normal untreated non-pregnant female plasma. These constituents are distinct from each other as judged by their differing electrophoretic mobilites. It is unlikely that they represent any of the known normal plasma proteins visualized by gel diffusion because of the absorption methods used. In addition, it has been shown that none of them represent human chorionic gonadotropin, human placental lactogen, oxytocin, C-reactive protein, oxytocinase (cystine-amino-peptidase), alkaline phosphatase or esterase, and they are unrelated to bovine prolactin. Preliminary data revealed that one of these pregnancy-associated plasma constituents is synthesized during the course of oral hormone contraception.