Cytoplasmic expression of P63 in neoplastic and non neoplastic prostatic tissue

P63 gene, is one of tumor suppressor genes. In normal and benign prostatic glands, it is found only in basal cells, so p63 helps to differentiate prostate cancer from benign mimicker, as it is expressed mainly in the nuclei of cells of normal and benign lesions. We studied the cytoplasmic mislocalization of p63 in different prostatic lesions as it may have a role in prostatic oncogenesis. Groups of 34 malignant, 26 suspicious and 12 benign prostatic tissue cases were retrieved from pathology department in Assiut university hospital and from other private laboratories. All specimens were immunostained for p63 and p504s. P504s was used to confirm diagnosis of malignancy. Prostatic acinar adenocarcinoma cases compared with normal prostatic tissues and benign prostatic lesions, showed statistically highly significant cytoplasmic staining for p63 [p=0.00002]. The intensity of cytoplasmic expression has high significant correlation with Gleason's score [p=0.000]. Additionally cytoplasmic expression was present in 8/10 high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia [HGPIN] foci within the malignant specimen, with faint intensity. Cytoplasmic staining for p63 was also detected in benign glands within or near malignant foci in 42/44 of malignant cases. The aberrant cytoplasmic p63 expression in malignant foci, PIN and normal benign looking glands within malignant cases and its absence in normal and benign prostatic lesions emphasized the oncogenic role of aberrant genetic expression. Also its expression in benign glands surrounding malignancy may be used as an indicator for nearby malignant lesions or premalignant changes

Expression and role of HMSH2 P53 and BCL-2, in human gliomas in upper Egypt

Tumorigenesis involves alterations in the tumor suppressor genes [P53], protooncogenes [Bcl-2] and housekeeping genes [human MutS homologue 2 [hMSH2]. We hypothesized that development of gliomas involves interactions among p53, Bcl-2 and hMSh2 proteins. In Upper Egypt, the clinicopathologic features and genetic changes in these tumors are still unknown. To test our hypothesis and to examine these issues, 60 specimens entailing normal brain tissues, gliosis and gliomas [grade I, II, III, IV] were immunostained for p53, Bcl-2 and hMSH2 protein expression. Gliomas were more common in males than females [2.5:1, p <0.001] with an average age incidence of 36.5 +/- 7.6 years. The tumors were common in the parietal and frontal regions [1.5:1, respectively]. As compared to the normal brain and gliosis, examination of the average weighted scores in gliomas [grade I, II, III, IV, respectively] showed significant upregulation of 1] p.53 proteins [0.0 +/- 0.0; 0.0 +/- 0.0; 0.9 +/- 0.5; 1.6 +/- 0.8; 1.7 +/- 0.5 and 4.1 +/- 0.8, p< 0.0001], 2] hMSH2 [5.3 +/- 1.3; 1.9 +/- 1.1; 1.5 +/- 0.7; 2.2 +/- 0.5; 4.1 +/- 1.5 and 4.7 +/- 1.1, p< 0.0006] and 3] Bcl-2 [0.8 +/- 0.5; 2.0 +/- 0.6; 1.9 +/- 0.6; 1.9 +/- 0.5; 4.4 +/- 1.2, p< 0.001]. Alternatively, downregulation of Bcl-2 immunoreactivity score occurred in grade IV gliomas [0.9 +/- 0.5, p< 0.0001]. There was an insignificant negative correlation between p53 and Bcl-2 [r=-0.07, p>0. 05] and between p53 and phMSH2 [r=-0.08, p>0.05] protein expression. In Upper Egypt: 1] gliomas had similar clinicopathologic features to those in the high risk regions, and 2] alterations of the p53, Bcl-2 and hMSH2 proteins occur during the development of these tumors

Assessment of CD44S and CD44V6 in colorectal carcinoma [immunohistochemical study]

The last few years showed an increase in the incidence of colorectal cancer in our country. From 20% to 50% of patients are susceptible to death within 5 years of diagnosis, usually as a result of metastasis. Tumor growth, invasion and metastasis may be enhanced by alteration in the expression of certain adhesion molecules such as CD44s and CD44 v6. In an effort to detect the difference in the immunohistochemical expression of CD44s and CD44 v6 glycoproteins in colorectal carcinomas and correlating this expression with other clinicopathological parameters, we studied 55 cases of colorectal carcinomas resected from patients who underwent surgery at Assuit university Hospital in the period from 2003 to 2004. Forty five cases were conventional adenocarcinoma and 10 cases were of mucinous carcinoma type. The mean age was [44.9 +/- 2.5] with male predominance in cases of conventional adenocarcinoma, while the mean age was [33.4 +/- 2.67] in mucinous carcinoma with female predominance. Most of the cases were of stage B with only 11 cases of stage C and no cases of stage A. Positive staining for CD44s was detected in 81.8% of cases, in contrast to 69% positive cases for CD44v6. CD44s showed statistically significant higher mean of IRS [immunoreactivity score] in mucinous carcinoma than in adenocarcinoma while the opposite was noticed for CD44v6 but without statistical significance. There was inverse relation between IRS for CD44s and tumor grade, while IRS of CD44v6 showed direct relation with the grade. CD44v6 IRS exhibited upregulation with increasing stage and statistically significant higher level in tumors with infiltrating borders. In conclusion, CD44s had a significant relation to the type of colorectal cancer as its mean of IRS increased in mucinous carcinoma than in conventional adenocarcinoma which may indicate their better prognosis. CD44v6 may be an indicator for the metastatic potential of the tumor as its expression showed upregulation with progression of the stage and grade of the tumor and increased in tumors with infiltrating border

Evaluation of angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma: can CD34 discriminate between benign and malignant hepatic lesions

Capillarization of hepatic sinusoids is a well recognized phenomenon occurring in hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]. The endothelial cell marker CD34 has been used for assessment of sinusoid-like neoangiogenesis in HCC as the normal hepatic sinusoids are CD34 negative. The immunohistochemical staining pattern characteristic for HCC using CD34 was compared with those of other hepatic lesions to determine if this stain can be used as a diagnostic tool especially in small samples of core needle biopsies [CNB]. Thirty excisional specimens [showing: 20HCC, 20 cirrhotic nodules, 11 dysplastic nodules, 2 metastatic nodules and 4 normal liver] and 15 CNB [including 5 problematic cases] were included in the study. An immunohistochemical evaluation was performed by the standard avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method with CD34. The sinusoids of normal liver showed no immunoreactivity. Diffuse and strong staining was observed in the overall HCC whereas, cirrhotic and low grade dysplastic liver tissues showed no or focal immunoreactivity in the periportal sinusoids. An increased immunoreactivity was observed with high grade dysplasia. No staining was noticed in metastatic nodules. The same staining pattern were observed in the 10 CNB studied and this was helpful in the 5 problematic cases. CD34 negative staining aided in the correct diagnosis of non-neoplastic lesion in 2 cases where the diagnosis was between well differentiated HCC and non-neoplastic lesion. The diffuse staining pointed to the diagnosis of HCC in the 3 cases in which metastases could not be ruled out. CD34 diffuse positive staining is a useful ancillary tool to support diagnosis of HCC especially in CNB and to distinguish it from non-neoplastic and metastatic lesions

Immunohistochemical evaluation of P53 exprssion in astrocytomas

Alteration of the P53 tumor suppressor gene is implicated in tumorigenesis and in progression of a wide variety of human cancers, including gliomas. Accumulation of P53 protein is used as indicator of alteration in P53 gene. Less is known about P53 expression in reactive non-neoplastic lesions [gliosis]. This work is done to verify, the presence of P53 in astrocytomas through immunohistochemistry as well as correlating its expression with clinicopathological parameters and to detect its role in differentiating gliosis from low grade astrocytomas. Ninety-one astrocyromas and 24 cases of reactive gliosis were retrospectively collected from Pathology Department in Assiut University Hospital and private laboratories. Astrocytomas were classified and graded according to WHO classification [2000] using H and E stained sections from formalin fixed paraffin embedded blocks. P53 was immunohistochemically evaluated in selected 46 cases of astrocytomas and 12 cases of reactive gliosis. Glioblastoma multiforme [WHO grade IV] was the predominant grade of astrocytomas. The mean age of patients with asirocytomas showed upregulation with grade. There was male sex predilection in all grades of astrocytomas. P53 protein was detected in 58.7% of astrocytomas including all grades. The immunoreactivity score showed gradual upregulation with increasing grade. There was positive insignificant correlation between P53 expression and age, cellularity and mitosis and positive significant correlation between its expression and pleomorphism, microvascular proliferation and necrosis. All cases of ghosts except one showed negative P53 immunoreactivity. In P53 protein alteration is an early event in lumarigenesis and progression of astrocytomas and is a useful diagnostic tool in diagnosis of high grade gliomas. P53 provides just one more procedure in differentiation of glios is from low grade astrocyromas

Immunohistochemical study, in situ hybridization and computerized image analysis of colorectal epithelial progression from adenoma to carcinoma

This work aimed to study formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissues from 60 cases of adenomas and 100 cases of carcinomas from patients who underwent surgery for the removal of colorectal adenoma and/or carcinoma in the VAPHS [Veterans Administration of Pittsburgh Healthcare System] and UPMC [University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre]. These cases included 28 adenomas with a definite evidence of progression to carcinoma. Proliferation and apoptosis in normal colonic mucosa, adenomas and carcinomas were determined and related to the expression of cell cycle and apoptosis associated proteins [Ki-67, bcl-2, bax and p53] using streptavidin biotin, in situ hybridization and computerized image analysis techniques. Bcl-2 expression reached its highest level in adenomas, followed by carcinomas, which displayed a higher level than adjacent normal mucosa in the same specimen. There was a progressive increase in bax, p53, Ki-67 and ApopTag labeling indices along normal-adenoma-carcinoma sequence. It was found that bax LI was significantly higher in large adenomas and p53 LI and Ki67 LI were significantly lower in tubular adenomas

Assessment of chronic gastritis according to the Sydney System and alcian yellow-toluidine blue [leung] stain for helicobacter species

To assess the reliability of a novel alcian yellow-toluidine blue [Leung] stain for Hp, evaluate relationship of Hp to gastric lesions and to assess and revise Sydney system for classification and grading of gastritis, ninety-seven[eighty-seven gastric and ten duodenal] specimens were collected. Paraffin sections from all specimens were prepared and stained with H and E. The specimens were classified into sixty-three chronic gastritis, one lymphocytic gastritis, three gastric ulcers, twenty gastric carcinoma, six duodenitis, three duodenal ulcers and one case of duodenal cancer. According to Sydney system, 63 specimens of gastritis were classified into 40 non- active and 23 active gastritis, 43 Hp +ve and 20 Hp -ve gastritis. A good correlation was observed between the presence of Hp and the activity of gastritis [68.9%], lymphoid follicle formation [78.6%] and intestinal metaplasia [TM] [66.7%]. The organisms were demonstrated more on antral mucosa but in nine cases were more on body mucosa and were also demonstrated on the two included cardiac mucosal biopsies. Hp organisms were detected in one out of three gastric ulcers, eight of twenty gastric carcinoma and in mucus debris on mucosa of one case of duodenal ulcer. Leung stain enhanced the detection time of organisms and compared favorably with Giemsa stain due to the clear contrast between colors of organisms [blue] and of mucus [yellow]. Also, it was the best regarding technologist's time