Androgen receptor status in nontumoral and malignant human colorectal tissues.

Data on androgen receptor (AR) status of nontumoral and malignant human colorectal tissues are compared using ligand binding assay in 22 patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer at the "M. Ascoli" Cancer Hospital Centre in Palermo, Sicily. In nontumoral tissues, ARs were predominantly (67%) positive, with 25% of cases having a 0/+ status. Conversely, malignant tissues showed only 32% of cases with a positive (+/+) AR status, with a proportional increase of 0/+ cases (from 25% to 55%); the extent of AR-negative (0/0) cases remained fairly constant (8-9%). Overall, our evidence indicates that nontumoral colorectal tissues have a predominantly positive (+/+) AR status and that this condition shifts towards a significant decrease of AR-positive cases in cancer tissues. Studies on the relation between status of sex steroid receptors and specific biomolecular markers in human colorectal tumors are currently being carried out in our laboratories.

[Leiomyosarcoma of the small intestine]. / I leiomiosarcomi dell'intestino tenue.

Three cases of leiomyosarcomas of the small bowel, two localized in the jejunum and one in the ileum are reported. In the light of reported data, stress is laid on the anatomicopathological aspects and it is pointed out that the symptomatology is not specific and is comparable to that characterising the other neoplasms of the small bowel. The usefulness of the various diagnostic investigations are analysed and it is maintained that surgery plays a primary role in the treatment of such neoformations. It is maintained, finally, that further studies are needed to pinpoint the factors that may be correlated with the prognosis.