ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are tumor cells that have shed from a primary tumor and circulate in the peripheral blood. Recent experimental and clinical studies show that CTCs can be detected in early-stage disease. CASE PRESENTATION: We report three cases of pituitary adenoma (PA) in which tumor cells with particles were detected in the interstitial vascular compartment by transmission electron microscopy. Tumors were completely resected. Immunohistochemical analysis showed a ß-catenin score of 10.5 ± 1.5 in the three cases with CTCs compared with 2.4 ± 0.5 in 24 control adenomas. The Ki-67 labeling index was 2.1 ± 0.7 in CTCs vs. 0.2 ± 0.3 in control cases (p = 0.043), and the p53 score was 4.33 ± 1.3 vs. 0.31 ± 0.17 (p = 0.000). The E-cadherin score did not differ significantly between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: CTCs can be detected in benign tumors such as PAs and not only in late-stage malignant tumors with apparent distant metastases. The present findings suggest that pituitary carcinomas develop from adenomas.
Subject(s)
Neoplastic Cells, Circulating/pathology , Pituitary Neoplasms/diagnosis , Adult , Biomarkers, Tumor , Biopsy , Cadherins/metabolism , Female , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Ki-67 Antigen/metabolism , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Male , Neoplastic Cells, Circulating/metabolism , Pituitary Neoplasms/metabolism , Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolismABSTRACT
Objective To discuss the expression and mutation of β-catenin gene in breast carcinoma.Methods 119 breast carcinomas, 72 adenosis of breast tissues and 40 normal breast tissues were studied.Using immunohistochemistry studies to detect the expressions of β-catenin, then analyzing their relationship with the clinicopathological features of breast carcinomas. Gene mutation of β-catenin (exon 3) in 44 cases of breast carcinoma were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and then by direct sequencing.ResultsIn 40 cases of normal breast tissues, epithelial cells showed equally strong membranous of β-catenin protein at the cell-cell boundaries. The abnormal rate of β-catenin in breast carcinomas (78.15 %) was much higher than that of adenosis of breast tissues (44.44 %), the significant correlation was found (P＜0.01). The abnormal expression of β-catenin was associated with lymph node metastasis (P=0.031). Mutation of β-catenin gene was not detected in 44 cases of breast carcinoma, while the abnormal rate of β-catenin in 44 cases of breast carcinoma was 77.30 %. Conclusionβ-catenin abnormal expression could be considered as an useful marker for determining metastasis and prognosis of human breast carcinoma and for guiding treatment. β-catenin abnormal expression is not caused by β-catenin gene mutation, maybe by other mechanisms. It needs further study.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography(CEUS) in brain injuries. Methods ① Models of graded brain trauma were created in brains of 10 healthy mongrel dogs after the animals were anesthetized and the cranium were removed. Conventional ultrasonography(US) and CEUS were performed to observe the characteristics of traumatic region. ② Thirteen patients with traumatic brain injuries were collected to perform intraoperative ultrasonography. The location, depth, size, internal echo and boundary of traumatic brain injuries were clearly displayed. Eight injury sites were chosen to undergo CEUS. Results ① Twelve injury sites in brains of 10 dogs were detected,and CEUS were peformed in 10 lessions, of which 1 was diagnosed with cerebral contusion, 1 with cerebral contusion and cerebral hemorrhage, 7 with intracerebral hematoma, 2 with ventricular hematoma, 1 with blood vessels in intracerebral hematoma. ② Fifteen lesions were detected by preoperative CT scan, but 18 lessions were detected by intraoperative ultrasound. During operation epidural hematomas in 4 cases were detected. After CEUS,the area of lessions was clearly revealed to be extended, the hemorrhage area was exempt from enhancement while peripheral normal cerebral tissue was homogenously enhanced. Conclusions Conventional ultrasonography could display brain injuries. In case of accurate intraoperative encephalocele, intraoperative untrasound conduces to discover delayed intracranial hematoma. Different traumatic brain injuries had their special CEUS findings.
