Conditioned medium from MCF-7 cell line induces myofibroblast differentiation, decreased cell proliferation, and increased apoptosis in cultured normal fibroblasts but not in fibroblasts from malignant breast tissue.

We studied the effect of conditioned medium (CM) obtained from cultures of oestrogen-receptor positive breast cancer MCF7 cell line on the differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis patterns of cultured breast fibroblasts from normal interstitial and malignant stromal tissue. Fibroblasts were grown in the presence or absence of CM and examined for the differentiation pattern by immunofluorescence and Western blotting procedures, for proliferation profile by Ki67 expression, and for apoptosis by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling technique. Monoclonal antibodies specific for non-muscle (NM), smooth muscle (SM) lineage and differentiation markers were applied to these cultures. CM is able to induce a SM-like differentiation in interstitial fibroblasts, i.e., essentially myofibroblast formation. Fibroblasts from tumour stroma showed the presence of a small number of smooth muscle cells (SMC) along with a large number of myofibroblasts. Treatment of these cultures with CM was unable to change this pattern. Only normal fibroblasts were responsive to the proliferation/apoptotic-inhibitory effect of the CM. These data suggest that structural and functional differences exist between stromal fibroblasts from normal breast and breast cancer with respect to the responsiveness to soluble factors present in the CM. We hypothesize that the lack of in vitro sensitivity to CM shown by 'tumour' fibroblasts is the result of an in vivo inherent and stable phenotypic change on the fibroblasts surrounding breast tumour cells occurring via a paracrine mechanism.

[Non-operable malignant neoplasm of the esophagus. A case of necessary palliative oncologic surgery]. / Neoplasia maligna inoperabile dell'esofago. Un caso di chirurgia oncologica palliativa di necessita.

The authors examine the clinical evolution of a patient with an oesophageal neoplasm with intraperitoneal liver metastases unnoticed in preoperative phase. Some months after the explorative operation, the patient first underwent a thoracotomy + a cervicostomy with monopolar exclusion of oesophagus because of a mediastinitis caused by a iatrogenic perforation during the attempt to place an oesophageal endoprosthesis; then he underwent a recanalization by presternal subcutaneous oesophago-colonplasty, stimulated by the good result of the surgical operation and by the patient's excellent clinical conditions after the mediastinitis event.

Epidermal growth-factor receptor and erbb2 protein in colorectal tissue - comparison between cancer and normal mucosa.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) and p185neu protein were measured in 55 samples of carcinoma and 55 of normal colorectal mucosa from the same patient, using a ligand binding assay and an ELISA method respectively. The binding characteristics of EGFr were similar in cancer and normal tissue. The concentrations of both EGFr and p185 showed gaussian distribution and were not significantly different between normal and cancer tissue, although a trend toward higher levels of EGFr in normal mucosa was found. Moreover, no significative variations were found in the ratios between cancer and normal tissue after desaturation of the EGFr. No correlations were found between EGFr and p185 and the main clinopathological parameters.

[Indications for the use of latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap in breast reconstruction. Personal experience]. / Indicazioni all'impiego del lembo miocutaneo di gran dorsale nella ricostruzione mammaria. Esperienza personale.

The paper illustrates the results of the application of the latissimus dorsi myo-cutaneous flap in breast reconstruction following mastectomy due to cancer in five patients with three different indications. Following a critical evaluation of the indications and results of breast reconstruction using the rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap, the Authors conclude by confirming the validity of indications given and the positive characteristics of the myo-cutaneous flap used.

[Usefulness of long-term follow-up of gastric ulcer: a case load contribution to the natural history of gastric ulcer in relation to treatment with H2-blockaders]. / Utilità di un follow-up endoscopico a lungo termine nell'ulcera gastrica: contributo casistico alla storia naturale dell'ug in rapporto alla terapia con h2-bloccanti.

Thorough long-term clinical, endoscopic and biopsy follow-up (from 6 months to greater than 8 years; mean follow-up: 3 years 3 months) of a group of 202 cases of apparently benign gastric ulcer has enabled us to evaluate the natural history of gastric ulcer in relation to medical therapy with H2-blockers and to patient compliance when using such drugs. The results confirm the efficacy of H2-antagonist therapy in gastric ulcer healing and in the prevention of relapse. Thorough follow-up, moreover, made it possible to keep surgical operations for non-neoplastic causes down to very low numbers, only 3 patients (1.5%) being operated on for haemorrhagic emergencies and 12 (6%) for non-response to therapy.

[Usefulness of long-term endoscopic follow-up of gastric ulcer. Study of related epithelial dysplasia]. / Utilità di un follow-up endoscopico a lungo termine nell'ulcera gastrica. Studio della displasia epiteliale associata.

Over the period from January 1980 to March 1988 the frequency of dysplastic abnormalities associated wits 202 apparently benign gastric ulcers was determined and their course monitored. The relevant data were then evaluated separately for the various subgroups the ulcers were divided into on the basis of their natural history. No correlation was detected between natural history of gastric ulcer, dysplasia and onset of cancer. Though all dysplastic forms (mild, moderate and severe) may regress, all three showed a possibility of progression to EGC, obviously in increasing percentages: mild dysplasia: 2.53%; moderate dysplasia: 4.76%; severe dysplasia: 14.29%. The last of these three values appears to indicate a greater risk of cancer onset than in simple gastric ulcer and thus proves a useful marker for a more thorough monitoring of such patients.