Anogenital squamous cell carcinoma in neglected patient.

Skin squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are arguably the second most common carcinoma of the skin and are responsible for the majority of non-melanoma skin cancer deaths. Gynecologist treated a Caucasian 56-years old female patient for genital wart with podophyllotoxin cream. She did not achieve complete response and therefore she has interrupted the therapy and the collaboration with the gynecologist. At the time of evaluation the lesion had a size of man's palm in anogenital region and showed characteristic features of neoplasm. The regional lymph nodes have produced infiltrated painful bubo. PCR analysis for HPV proved negative. Histopathology revealed well-differentiated squamous cell keratinizing carcinoma from the tumor as well as from the regional lymph node packet. Staging computed tomography scans proved negative and pelvis scans disclosed regional lymphadenopathy underlying the tumor. Palliative radiation therapy (by linear accelerator) was administered for the oversized tumor to the total TD 50.0Gy. The patient died 6 months after diagnostic assessment from cardio-respiratory failure. Staging computed tomography before her death did not disclose distinct metastases in her inner organs. Well-differentiated squamous cell keratinizing carcinoma could be growing endophytically affecting the underlying adipose tissue and musculature, with spreading into the regional lymph nodes. The rate of metastases into inner organs seems to vary according to the aggressiveness and metastatic behavior of each SCC. The case report calls for attention to the importance of collaboration among various specialists assisting in the diagnosis and management of skin neoplasm (Fig. 5, Ref. 12). Full Text in PDF www.elis.sk.

Physical distribution of homoeologous recombination in individual chromosomes of Festuca pratensis in Lolium multiflorum.

Crossing over-based recombination is a powerful tool for generating new allelic combinations during sexual reproduction. It usually occurs between homologous chromosomes. However, under some conditions, homoeologues may also be capable of crossing over. Whether homologous and homoeologous crossovers are equivalent and governed by the same rules has never been established. Here we report on chromosome distribution of homoeologous crossovers in a unique system of Festuca x Lolium hybrids. Unlike in most other hybrids, in these intergeneric hybrids, homoeologous chromosomes are capable of pairing and crossing over with frequencies approaching that of homologues. At the same time, genome divergence makes cytological detection of chromosome recombination feasible. We analyzed the distribution of homoeologous recombination along individual chromosomes in a complete set of intergeneric single chromosome substitutions from F. pratensis into tetraploid L. multiflorum. Homoeologous recombination sites were not evenly distributed along the chromosomes, being concentrated in intercalary regions of the arms and reduced in proximal and distal regions. Several recombination hotspots and cold spots were found along individual chromosomes and the recombination was not affected by the presence of a secondary constriction. Our results indicate that despite the uneven distribution of homoeologous recombination, introgression of any part of the F. pratensis genome into L. multiflorum is feasible.

[Immunologic parameters in patients with malignant melanoma]. / Sledovanie niektorých imunologických parametrov u pacientov s malígnym melanómom.

In an attempt to better define the immunological reactivity of patients with malignant melanoma, the electrophoretic mobility of lymphocytes and their reactivity were studied in poly-L-lysine agglutination and in nucleolar test. Blood samples were examined before treatment and repeatedly after surgical removal of the tumor. A microagglutination test induced by poly-L-lysine was used for the detection of sensitized lymphocytes in peripheral blood of melanoma patients. The number of positive results was increasing with the progression of the disease. After incubation with poly-L-lysine the electrophoretic mobility of lymphocytes was changed in melanoma patients. The nucleolar test was used for the study of quantitative and morphological changes of the nucleoli in lymphocytes. Elevated values of the nucleolar coefficient and an increased number of active nucleoli provided evidence on the higher immunological reactivity of melanoma patients. The decline in the number of lymphocytes with ring-shaped nucleoli, signaling immunologic exhaustion, are of prognostic value. Lymphocytes were assayed also for the presence of receptors for sheep erythrocytes (E active and total rosettes) and C3d component of complement (EAC rosettes). The reported findings may be used to advantage in evaluating the immunological reactivity of melanoma patients.

Rescued human virus (RHV): association with melanoma.

RHV, which is presumably a defective human retrovirus, has been recovered from the human melanoma cell line HMB2. In the presence of Moloney mouse leukemia virus (MLV), used as a helper, RHV is serially transmissible in mouse NIH-3T3 cells and can provide envelope antigens for vesicular stomatitis virus pseudotype--VSV(RHV). This pseudotype is neutralizable with an inhibitor, present in all human sera tested; the inhibitory activity is resistant to heating at 100 degrees C. To detect whether any specific response to RHV is connected with the disease, we isolated IgG from 140 human sera (70 melanoma patients and 70 control group donors) and tested it for neutralization of VSV(RHV) pseudotype in a randomized, blind experiment. Sixteen samples of IgG from the sera of melanoma patients, but only one control IgG, neutralized the pseudotype; this difference was significant (p less than 0.001). RHV thus appears to be in some way associated with melanoma.

Epidemiologic aspects of malignant skin melanoma in Slovakia.

The trends of age-adjusted incidence rates of malignant skin melanoma in Slovakia from 1968 to 1977 showed important increase with an annual increment of 5.8% in males and 3.2% in females. The mortality rates during this period remained lower and their increase was less expressed. The study of geographic patterns of incidence revealed great variation with highest rates in urban districts. A marked predominance of the primary lesions on trunk in males and on lower limbs in females was observed. The differences in anatomic distribution are demonstrated also in age-specific incidence rates of malignant skin melanoma by main subsites. Intermittent overexposures to the sunlight in connection with rising standard of life and leisure seem to be the most suitable explanation for the rise and subsite distribution and dynamics, as well as the geographic patterns and international position of incidence rates of malignant skin melanoma in this country.

T and B lymphocytes in malignant melanoma patients.

The method of formation of spontaneous (E) and immune (EAC) rosettes and the test of lymphocyte survival in short-term cultures with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) have been used as parameters of cellular immunocompetence in 64 patients with malignant melanoma and 33 control donors. Significant changes have been found in the number of T lymphocytes whose values corresponded to the clinical stage as well as to the clinical postoperational course in the patients. A decreased number of T lymphocytes was a sign of progression of the disease, while a normal value indicated remission. Lowered ratios of T lymphocytes were followed by an increased proportion of both the B lymphocytes and the null, nonrosetting cell elements. The results in patients with malignant melanoma permit the relevant parameters to be considered as an effective in vitro correlate of cellular immunity of these patients.

Change in the proportion of T and B lymphocytes in human malignant neoplasia in relation to the clinical stage.

Formation of spontaneous (E--erythrocyte) and immune (EAC--erythrocyte, antibody, complement) rosettes of sheep red blood cells (SRBC) with peripheral blood T and B lymphocytes, respectively, was used for quantitative assessment of these lymphocytes populations in tumor patients and control subjects. Relative counts of T and B lymphocytes have been correlated with lymphocyte survival in short-term cultures using standard subtoxic doses of phytohemagglutinin (PHA). The mean values and SE in normal control subjects for E rosettes (T lymphocytes) were 72.8 +/- 1.2%, for EAC rosettes (B lymphocytes) 23.8 +/- 2.5% of lymphocyte population. The survival of lymphocytes in short-term cultures with PHA in control subjects was 55.3 +/- 1.1%. In tumor patients the counts of E, EAC rosettes and percentage of lymphocyte survival in short-term PHA cultures were dependent upon the clinical stage. In patients with localized tumors the values were similar to controls. In patients where dissemination of the tumorous process could be ascertained a decrease of T lymphocyte counts, an increase of B lymphocyte counts and a higher survival of peripheral blood lymphocytes in short-term cultures with PHA was found.

Occurrence of paraproteins in melanoblastoma.

Besides paraproteins in melanoblastoma, the study also follows the quantitative values of immunoglobulins during the course of the disease. According to the immunoglobulin values, the patients may be divided into two groups: those with a striking decline of IgG and a simultaneous generalization of the process; those without any significant alteration in the immunoglobulin values, but with paraproteins. The presence of the latter, particularly of gM became reflected in a stagnation of the entire process. Immunological results of sera from patients surviving 5 years, bear out this finding.