Expression of Bcl-2 and amplification of c-myc are frequent in basaloid squamous cell carcinomas of the esophagus. (1/23)

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) of the esophagus is a rare, poorly differentiated variant of typical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) characterized by high proliferative activity and frequent spontaneous apoptoses. In the present study, we investigated the expression of the apoptosis-suppressing protein Bcl-2 in 23 BSCC of the esophagus and 23 stage-matched typical esophageal SCC by means of immunohistochemistry. In addition, amplification of the apoptosis- and proliferation-inducing gene c-myc was determined by means of differential polymerase chain reaction. Bcl-2 expression was found significantly more often in BSCC than in SCC (86.9% vs. 17.4%, P < 0.0001). Amplification of c-myc was nearly twice as common in BSCC as in SCC (47.8% vs. 26.1%, not significant). Bcl-2 protein expression together with c-myc amplification was detected in 43.5% of the BSCC but in none of the typical SCC (P < 0.0001). Taken together, our findings indicate that the molecular pathogenesis of esophageal BSCC differs from that of typical SCC and frequently involves coactivation of c-myc and Bcl-2.  (+info)

Detection of circulating anti-p53 antibodies in esophageal cancer patients. (2/23)

It has been reported that circulating anti-p53 antibodies (p53-Ab) in the serum are detected in some cancers. To investigate the usefulness of detecting p53-Ab, we measured the circulating p53-Ab in comparison with squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) in patients with esophageal carcinoma. Serum specimens from 46 esophageal cancer patients (42 squamous cell carcinomas, 3 mucoepidermoid carcinomas and 1 basaloid squamous carcinoma) and 13 healthy subjects were studied. Serum p53-Ab was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Surgically resected specimens from 43 patients were immunohistochemically stained for p53. Serum SCC-Ag was measured by a radioimmunoassay. The results were analyzed with the clinical data and outcome. Serum p53-Ab was detected in 13 (28%) of the 46 patients, but not in any of the healthy subjects. The positive rate was 0% (0/6) in stage I, 60% (3/5) in stage IIA, 30% (3/10) in stage IIB, 29% (7/24) in stage III and 0% (0/1) in stage IV. There was no difference in the outcome between the p53-Ab-positive and p53-Ab-negative patients. Immunohistochemically, 30 (70%) of the 43 specimens stained positively for p53. Serum p53-Ab was detected in 43% (13/30) of the patients with tumors which stained positively for p53. There was a close correlation between positivity for p53 immunostaining and positivity for p53-Ab (p<0.01). An elevated level of SCC-Ag was found in only 13%of the patients, and most patients positive for SCC-Ag already had advanced disease with lymph node metastasis and invasion to the adventitia. In conclusion, serum p53-Ab was detected in Japanese esophageal cancer patients at a frequency similar to that reported in Western countries. Serum p53-Ab may be a potentially useful molecular marker for detection and screening of esophageal cancer. Further studies of a large population may be required to elucidate the true diagnostic usefulness of measuring the serum p53-Ab.  (+info)

Delayed hypersensitivity to 5-fluorouracil following topical chemotherapy of cutaneous cancers. (3/23)

Skin tests to various common antigens, dinitrochlorobenzene, and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) were performed on patients being treated for cutaneous neoplasms with topical 5-FU cream. Eleven of 15 patients tested both before and after therapy converted from skin test negative to positive with respect to 5-FU. This conversion correlated with positive dinitrochlorobenzene skin tests and therapeutic cure. The relation between the induction of delayed hypersensitivity reactions to 5-FU following treatment with topical 5-FU and the cure rate for cutaneous neoplasms showed a trend toward correlation.  (+info)

p63 Immunohistochemistry in the distinction of adenoid cystic carcinoma from basaloid squamous cell carcinoma. (4/23)

Morphologic distinction of high-grade adenoid cystic carcinoma from basaloid squamous cell carcinoma can be difficult. Equivocal diagnoses can mislead treatment. We have investigated the possibility that immunohistochemical staining for the presence of p63, a novel epithelial stem-cell regulatory protein, could be a useful means of distinguishing these two neoplasms. Archival, routinely processed slides were subjected to citrate-based antigen retrieval, exposure to anti-p63 monoclonal 4A4, and developed with a streptavidin-biotin kit and diaminobenzidine as chromogen. p63 was detected in 100% of the adenoid cystic carcinomas (n=14) and 100% of basaloid squamous cell carcinomas (n=16). Basaloid squamous cell carcinomas consistently displayed diffuse p63 positivity, with staining of nearly 100% of tumor cells. In contrast, adenoid cystic carcinoma displayed a consistently compartmentalized pattern within tumor nests. Compartmentalization was manifested in two patterns: (1) selective staining of a single peripheral layer of p63-positive cells surrounding centrally located tumor cells that were p63-negative and (2) tumor nests consisting of multiple contiguous glandular/cribriform-like units of p63-positive cells surrounding or interspersed with p63-negative cells. p63 immunostaining constitutes a specific and accurate means of distinguishing adenoid cystic carcinoma from basaloid squamous cell carcinoma. p63 positivity in adenoid cystic carcinoma appears to be homologous to that seen in the basal and/or myoepithelial compartments of salivary gland and other epithelia, and may signify a stem-cell-like role for these peripheral cells. Diffuse p63 positivity in basaloid squamous cell carcinoma suggests dysregulation of p63-positive stem cells in poorly differentiated squamous carcinoma.  (+info)

Basosquamous carcinoma: treatment with Mohs micrographic surgery. (5/23)

BACKGROUND: Basosquamous carcinoma (BSC) is a rare tumor defined as a basal cell carcinoma (BCC) differentiating into squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). It is reported to have a high rate of recurrence with standard wide local excision. The aim of the current study was to report a large series of patients with BSC treated with Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS). METHODS: The prospective, multicenter case series included all patients in Australia treated with MMS for BSC, who were monitored by the Skin and Cancer Foundation Australia between 1993 and 2002. RESULTS: Most of the 178 tumors (95.6%) were located in the head and neck area. Recurrent tumors occurred in 47.8% of patients. The tumors were diagnosed initially as BCC in 87.4% and as SCC in 12.0% of patients. Perineural invasion was recorded in 7.9% of patients with data available. Most of these (69.0%) were previously recurrent tumors. Of 98 patients who completed a 5-year follow-up period after MMS, 4 (4.1%) had disease recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The low 5-year disease recurrence rate of BSC with MMS emphasized the importance of margin-controlled excision using MMS.  (+info)

Histologic subtypes of oral squamous cell carcinoma: prognostic relevance. (6/23)

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most prevalent malignant neoplasm of the oral cavity. The conventional tumour and several histologic subtypes of SCC present morphologic features and specific behaviour when they occur in the oral mucosa. For example, basaloid SCC is an aggressive tumour and verrucous carcinoma has the lowest invasive and metastatic potential; however, the clinical and biologic course of these oral SCC variants has not been completely established. Furthermore, although numerous clinical and histologic features associated with oral SCC have been identified, none shows unequivocal prognostic significance. The purpose of this article is to review the various subtypes of oral SCC, emphasizing problems in their histologic diagnosis and prognosis.  (+info)

Sarcomatoid carcinoma with a predominant basaloid squamous carcinoma component: the first report of an unusual biphasic tumor of the ureter. (7/23)

Malignant tumors of the ureter that display biphasic patterns are very rare; they include carcinosarcomas, sarcomatoid carcinomas and carcinomas with pseudosarcomatous stroma. Although the distinction between carcinosarcomas and sarcomatoid carcinomas has been extensively discussed in the past, the recent World Health Organization classification of urinary tract tumors (2004) does not distinguish the two lesions and use the term sarcomatoid carcinoma to represent these biphasic tumors. The epithelial components of previously reported ureteral biphasic tumors comprise transitional cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, carcinoma in situ, small cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. In this paper, we report the first case of sarcomatoid carcinoma of the ureter with a predominant basaloid squamous carcinoma component. A 63-year-old man who had developed asymptomatic gross hematuria was diagnosed with a right ureteral tumor and underwent a right nephroureterectomy. Macroscopic examination of the excised tumor revealed a polypoid mass. Histopathologic examination exposed a tumor with malignant epithelial and sarcomatous components. The malignant epithelial component was predominantly composed of basaloid squamous carcinoma, and the sarcomatous component was mostly composed of undifferentiated spindle cells. A small focus of a chondrosarcomatous component was present. There were also transitional zones between the two components. In addition, the spindle cells of the sarcomatous component were partially positive for cytokeratin 7. We believe that the findings of this case study will increase the morphological diversity used for diagnosing malignant tumors of the ureter.  (+info)

Outcomes after radiotherapy for basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: a case-control study. (8/23)

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