ABSTRACT
HER-2/neu is a 185 kDa glycoprotein related to the epidermal growth factor receptor. Overexpressed in 25-30% of primary breast carcinomas, HER-2/neu is associated with a poor clinical outcome. Recently the FDA approved an antibody to HER-2/neu, trastuzumab (Herceptin), for the treatment of HER-2/neu overexpressing metastatic breast cancers. Relatively little is known about HER-2/neu status and lung cancers. We reasoned that if HER-2/neu status could be ascertained in non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs), and a clinical correlation can be established, a rationale for the use of Herceptin in this tumor type could be established. Using a FDA-approved standardized diagnostic kit, HercepTest, for detection of HER-2/neu in clinical specimens, we examined the expression of HER-2/neu in NSCLCs in archival paraffin-embedded specimens (N = 81). In normal epithelium, HER-2/neu expression was not detected in a majority of samples (74/81). HER-2/neu overexpression was detected in 27% of the tumors of different histological types including adenocarcinomas, large cell carcinomas, and squamous cell carcinomas. Poor to moderately differentiated, but not well differentiated tumors showed overexpression of HER-2/neu. The specificity of HercepTest was further increased (from 27% to 21%) when the expression in the few normal tissues was subtracted from the tumor score. HER-2/neu may offer an attractive predictive and prognostic factor for NSCLC.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology , Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/chemistry , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Genes, erbB-2 , Immunoenzyme Techniques , Lung Neoplasms/chemistry , Neoplasm Proteins/analysis , Reagent Kits, Diagnostic , Receptor, ErbB-2/analysis , Adenocarcinoma/chemistry , Adenocarcinoma/genetics , Adenocarcinoma/pathology , Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized , Biomarkers, Tumor/biosynthesis , Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics , Biomarkers, Tumor/immunology , Carcinoma, Large Cell/chemistry , Carcinoma, Large Cell/genetics , Carcinoma, Large Cell/pathology , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/genetics , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/chemistry , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/genetics , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/genetics , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Neoplasm Proteins/biosynthesis , Neoplasm Proteins/genetics , Neoplasm Proteins/immunology , Paraffin Embedding , Receptor, ErbB-2/biosynthesis , Receptor, ErbB-2/immunology , Sensitivity and Specificity , TrastuzumabSubject(s)
Abdomen , Adrenal Gland Diseases/complications , Anemia/etiology , Cysts/complications , Pain/etiology , Wounds, Nonpenetrating/complications , Adrenal Gland Diseases/etiology , Adrenal Gland Diseases/pathology , Adrenal Glands/pathology , Adult , Cysts/etiology , Cysts/pathology , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
Eleven cases of first branchial cleft duplication anomalies are classified into types I and II. Type I defects are associated with the first cleft and are duplication anomalies of the membranous external auditory canal. Type II defects are associated with the first cleft and first and second arches, and, as such, are associated with defects of the membranous external auditory canal and cartilaginous elements. Microscopical examination of tissue in type I anomalies shows a cyst lined by skin without adnexal structures and without cartilage. Type II anomalies usually contain all elements. Misdiagnosis, infection, and recurrences are common with these lesions. Clinically, they may drain through the neck and external auditory canal. Surgical excision must be complete or there will be recurrence. The facial nerve must be identified and protected during the excision.
Subject(s)
Branchial Region/abnormalities , Ear Canal/abnormalities , Adolescent , Adult , Branchial Region/pathology , Child , Child, Preschool , Ear Canal/pathology , Female , Humans , Infant , MaleABSTRACT
This report documents the ninth example of a chondroblastoma localized to the metaphysis of a long bone. The tumor appeared as a lytic lesion in the femoral neck of an 18-year-old boy and was associated with a periosteal reaction. When such neoplasms occur in an unusual location with associated periosteal reaction, chondroblastoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis.
Subject(s)
Bone Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Chondroblastoma/diagnostic imaging , Adolescent , Bone Neoplasms/pathology , Chondroblastoma/pathology , Diagnosis, Differential , Femoral Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Femoral Neoplasms/pathology , Femur Neck/diagnostic imaging , Femur Neck/pathology , Humans , Male , RadiographyABSTRACT
The results of a 1974 survey of albumin measurements as performed by more than 1,300 laboratories are presented. The most widely used methods are the dye-binding technics: bromcresol green (BCG) and 2-(4'-hydroxyazobenzene) benzoic acid (HABA). These are followed by electrophoresis and salt fractionation. All methods yielded comparable albumin concentrations except electrophoresis, which manifested a consistent low bias. This close agreement is attributed, in part, to the normal-range concentration of albumin in the test specimen. Type of standardization, i.e., commercial serum, bovine serum albumin, human serum albumin, or pooled serum, did not appear to be a factor in the estimation of albumin in the normal serum submitted for analysis. Surprisingly, interlaboratory variation, from method means, was the lowest for salt fractionation and electrophoretic technics.
