ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: To determine if angiogenic growth factors including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) are expressed in human paragangliomas. STUDY DESIGN: A histopathologic and molecular examination of paraganglioma specimens obtained from surgical cases or retrieved from the Pathology Department of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. METHODS: Fresh tumor or archival, paraffin-embedded paraganglioma specimens were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and ELISA. RESULTS: Positive immunohistochemical staining for VEGF was observed in five of nine surgical specimens and in six of eight archival specimens (11/17, or 65%). PD-ECGF immunoreactivity was detected in four of five surgical specimens and six of eight archival specimens (10/13, or 77%). The presence of PD-ECGF was confirmed by Western blot assay and ELISA confirmed the presence of VEGF in tumor extract. CONCLUSIONS: Both VEGF and PD-ECGF are expressed in paragangliomas and may contribute to the extreme vascularity of these tumors. Key Words. Vascular endothelial growth factor, platelet-derived, endothelial cell growth factor, hypoxia, tumor vasculature.
Subject(s)
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents/metabolism , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/physiology , Paraganglioma, Extra-Adrenal/genetics , Angiogenesis Inducing Agents/analysis , Aortic Bodies/chemistry , Aortic Bodies/metabolism , Blotting, Western/methods , Carotid Body Tumor/chemistry , Carotid Body Tumor/genetics , Carotid Body Tumor/metabolism , Endothelial Growth Factors/analysis , Endothelial Growth Factors/metabolism , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods , Glomus Jugulare Tumor/chemistry , Glomus Jugulare Tumor/genetics , Glomus Jugulare Tumor/metabolism , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Lymphokines/analysis , Lymphokines/metabolism , Paraganglia, Nonchromaffin/chemistry , Paraganglia, Nonchromaffin/metabolism , Paraganglioma, Extra-Adrenal/chemistry , Paraganglioma, Extra-Adrenal/metabolism , Protein Isoforms , Thymidine Phosphorylase/analysis , Thymidine Phosphorylase/metabolism , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A , Vascular Endothelial Growth FactorsABSTRACT
Extravasation of thorium dioxide after transcervical carotid angiography has resulted in persistent open draining neck wounds. These difficult problems have remained a challenge for the treating head and neck surgeon. Neck dissection has been the mainstay of treatment in the past; however, this has been fraught with complications. The application of doxycycline sclerosis is described in the successful resolution of a large thorotrast granulomatous neck wound. A review of the literature and the management options of Thorotrast granulomas are discussed.
Subject(s)
Carotid Artery Diseases/etiology , Contrast Media/adverse effects , Granuloma/etiology , Thorium Dioxide/adverse effects , Aged , Carotid Artery Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Carotid Artery Diseases/surgery , Granuloma/diagnostic imaging , Granuloma/surgery , Humans , Male , Suspensions , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) for actin was detected in celloidin-embedded archival human temporal bone sections with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Actin mRNA was detected in 10% of sections analyzed. One possible reason for this modest detection incidence is enzymatic degradation of RNA by exogenously introduced ribonucleases (RNases). We have identified steps of the temporal bone processing protocol for archival storage in which exogenous RNases could be introduced to the tissue, and have verified that the bone sections are exposed to these enzymes. We have demonstrated that implementing precautions to minimize exogenous RNase contamination during processing improves recovery of intact RNA. This study indicates that although gene expression analysis of archival human temporal bones may be limited by enzymatic degradation of RNA, simple modification of processing protocol can improve yield of informative data.
