Verrucous carcinoma of the foot associated with human papillomavirus type 16

BACKGROUND

We present 2 patients with verrucous carcinoma (VC) of the foot, a malignancy of unknown origin.

OBJECTIVE

Molecular studies from the VCs were undertaken to determine the presence, type, and physical state of human papillomavirus (HPV) as well as the expression levels of certain oncogenes and antioncogenes.

METHODS

Synthetic consensus and type-specific primers were used to determine the HPV type from both VCs via polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Verification of fragments was accomplished by means of specific isotope-labeled oligonucleotide probes. The physical state of HPV DNA was determined by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Quantitative oncogene and antioncogene expression studies were performed with the use of reverse transcriptase PCR.

RESULTS

HPV type 16 was identified in episomal and integrated forms in both tumors. Expression studies revealed increased messenger RNA levels of c-Ki-ras oncogene and the p53 antioncogene and decreased messenger RNA levels of the Rb antioncogene in both VCs.

CONCLUSION

Episomal and integrated forms of HPV-16 DNA were found in VCs of the foot, along with alterations of c-Ki-ras, p53, and Rb genes.

Human papillomavirus type 11 in multiple squamous cell carcinomas in a patient with subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a rare complication of cutaneous lupus erythematosus (LE). Aside from the documented role of ultraviolet light, SCC may arise in areas of chronic scarring, such as in lesions of discoid LE. Iatrogenic immunosuppression associated with organ transplantation also results in a predisposition to SCC, often with multiple tumors. A role for certain human papillomaviruses (HPV) in the development of squamous cell carcinoma has been documented; specifically, HPV types 5 and 8 are detected in SCCs in patients with epidermodysplasia verruciformis and in recipients of organ transplants. HPV-11 is generally found in benign genital condylomata or laryngeal papillomas, but has not yet been associated with malignancy. We describe a patient with non-scarring cutaneous LE who was treated with azathioprine and prednisone and developed multiple SCCs. HPV-11 DNA and the target oncogenes neu and Ki-ras were detected in tumor tissue with the polymerase chain reaction. The HPV may have been involved in tumor induction and the azathioprine may have been involved in tumor promotion.

Effect of dimethylnitrosamine upon carbamoyl phosphate and ornithine utilization in rat liver

Newborn CFY rats were intraperitoneally treated with a single dose of dimethylnitrosamine. Changes in the activity of carbamoyl-phosphate synthase I and II, ornithine carbamoyltransferase, aspartate carbamoyltransferase and dihydroorotase, i.e. utilization of ornithine and carbamoyl-phosphate pools were followed for 300 days. One or two months after treatment the activity of enzymes which utilize ornithine and carbamoyl-phosphate was enhanced in the cytosol, whereas the activity of the intramitochondrial enzymes in urea synthesis was decreased. Changes in the utilization of ornithine and carbamoyl-phosphate pools, characteristic of proliferating tissues, appeared to be irreversible.

Maturation of the fetal lung II. Effect of hyperoxia on phosphatidic acid phosphatase, pyruvate kinase and superoxide dismutase activity in the newborn rat lung

Oxygen-induced lung toxicity was studied in newborn rats. Three-day-old rats were exposed to 85-90% oxygen or air for 48 h. The activity of pulmonary antioxidant defenses, as measured by the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), showed a progressive increase in activity. The activity of phosphatidic acid phosphatase (PAPase) showed a statistically significant decrease in the oxygen-poisoned lung. In the activity of pulmonary pyruvate kinase no significant change occurred. After two days of oxygen exposure (FiO2 085-0.9) marked histological changes appeared including an increased number of interstitial cells, atelectasis, pulmonary oedema, diminution of lamellar content, loose lamellar bodies and increasing tubular myelin in the alveolar space.

Effect of dimethylnitrosamine on ornithine decarboxylase in rat liver and kidney

Changes in ornithine decarboxylase activity were followed in the liver and kidneys of female rats at various pre- and postnatal ages. During normal development the basal ornithine decarboxylase activity was higher in both organs up to the age of one month than in the adults. When newborn animals were treated with a single dose (30 mg/kg i.p.) of dimethylnitrosamine after birth, the normal developmental pattern of ornithine decarboxylase was perturbed both in the liver and kidney. The carcinogen induced more pronounced responses in ornithine decarboxylase activity of the left kidney than that of the right one.

Effect of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate on polyamine metabolism in mice sensitive and resistant to lung-adenoma

Ornithine decarboxylase activity and polyamine concentrations were determined in the lungs of mice from 0 to 20 h after treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (17.7 nmol in 0.2 ml acetone/mouse). In CFLP mice, which responded to carcinogen with development of lung-adenomas, a single topical application of TPA to hairless mouse skin increased ornithine decarboxylase activity in the lung. In contrast, in C3H/He-mg mouse strain, which were resistant to lung-adenoma production, TPA application did not increase ODC activity of the lungs.

Effect of dimethylnitrosamine on the concentration of polyamines in rat liver and kidney

Newborn female rats were injected once with dimethylnitrosamine. The polyamine content of the liver and kidneys was measured and compared to the respective controls. Both liver and kidney polyamine concentrations were found to decrease in both organs up to one month of age. The polyamine concentrations then increased in the carcinogen treated animals, whereas the control levels remained unchanged. The concentration of polyamines was greater in the left kidney than in the right one. A close correlation was found between the concentration of polyamines and histological findings during tumour development.

Transplacental effects of carcinogens and non-carcinogens on activities of pyruvate kinase and lactate dehydrogenase as well as isozymic pattern of LDH in mouse lung

The carcinogens, urethane (URTH), 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA) and dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) given to pregnant mice enhanced permanently the activities of pyruvate kinase (PK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the lungs of offspring even well before the appearance of lung tumours. The noncarcinogenic analogues phenylurethane (PHUR) and pyrene (PYR), had no effect on PK or LDH activity. The non-carcinogenic pulmonary toxicant Paraquat (PAR) elicited only a temporary elevation in the activities of the enzymes tested. The H:M ratio of LDH sub-units in the lung tissue was permanently decreased by URTH administered transplacentally. PAR caused only a temporary decrease in the H:M ratio, while PHUR had no effect on the isozymic pattern of LDH.

Regulation of glycolysis and oxygen consumption in lymph-node cells of normal and leukaemic mice

Lymph-node cells of (AKR X C3H) F1 leukaemic mice showed a considerable increase of glycolytic activity and O2 consumption. The glycolytic enzymes phosphofructokinase, pyruvate kinase, aldolase and lactic acid dehydrogenase showed increased activities in leukaemic conditions. Studies on permeabilized leukaemic and normal lymph-node cells, and assays on partially purified phosphofructokinase and pyruvate kinase enzymes, revealed that the enhanced glycolysis of the tumour cells was due to the predominance of glycolytic isoenzymes relatively insensitive to the natural metabolic inhibitors. The glycolytic enzyme hexokinase showed decreased activity in leukaemic conditions, owing to a subcellular translocation of its bulk from the cytosol to the mitochondrial fraction. Association of hexokinase with the mitochondria accounted for an ATPase-like stimulatory action on cell respiration which can explain the increased O2 uptake of leukaemic cells.

Activity of pyruvate kinase and lactic acid dehydrogenase in mouse lung after transplacental exposure to carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic chemicals

The carcinogenic urethane (URTH), dimethylnitrosamine (DMN), 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA), benzo[a]pyrene (BP), 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) and aflatoxin B1 (B1) administered to pregnant CFLP mice increased the activity of pyruvate kinase (PK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and decreased the ratio of LDH H and M subunits in the lungs of offsprings. However, under the same conditions, the non-carcinogenic phenylurethane (PHUR), ethylformate (EF), chrysene (CHRY), perylene (PER) and pyrene (PYR), as well as the toxic Paraquat (PAR), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and cadmium chloride (CdCl2), did not influence the activities of the enzymes tested.

Experimental model of leukemic infiltrative pericarditis reflecting a human disease

In human leukemias, pericarditis may be associated with leukemic pericardial infiltration. In order to obtain more information about the pathogenesis of the leukemic involvement of the pericardium, sterile talc-induced pericarditis was produced in acute lymphoid leukemic male hybrid mice. The animals invariable showed leukemic pericardial infiltration within 14 days. In leukemic mice without any treatment or with intrapericardial physiological NaCl injection (instead of talc), leukemic involvement of the pericardium did not occur.

Effect of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic chemicals on the activities of four glycolytic enzymes in mouse lung

The activities of four glycolytic enzymes were measured in the lung homogenate of CFLP mice treated with a variety of carcinogens and non-carcinogens for mouse lung. The carcinogenic urethane, dimethylnitrosamine (DMNA), 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA), benzo[a]pyrene (BP), 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) and aflatoxin B1 enhanced the activity of hexokinase (HK), phosphofructokinase (PFK), pyruvate kinase (PK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) 28 days after a single intraperitoneal administration. These carcinogens also altered the ratio of LDH H and M subunits. In contrast, under the same conditions the non-carcinogenic phenylurethane, ethylformate, chrysene, perylene and pyrene, as well as the pulmonarily toxic Paraquat, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and cadmium chloride (CdCl2), did not influence either the activities of the enzymes tested or the isozyme pattern of LDH.

Activities of four glycolytic enzymes (HK, PFK, PK, and LDH) and isozymic pattern of LDH in mouse lung tumor induced by urethan

In the lungs of CFLP mice the activities of glycolytic key enzymes (HK, PFK, PK) and LDH as well as LDH isozymic pattern change in the course of life. The activities of these glycolytic enzymes in the lung tumors induced by urethan in CFLP mice are significantly higher than those in the normal adult lung and they are similar to those in the normal fetal lung. The isozymic pattern of LDH of pulmonary adenomas resembles that of the normal fetal lung, too.