ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Pancreatic endocrine cells are multifunctional, differentiated cells originating from the differentiation of foregut endodermal precursors. Identification and transplantation of endocrine precursor cells appear to be the ultimate solution to diabetes mellitus, which requires lifelong treatment. Knowledge about specific markers that are used in the determination of precursor cells is limited. METHODOLOGY: In this study, the expression of nestin in well-differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (n = 17) was investigated. In addition, developmental characteristics of nestin expression in the fetal (n = 5) and adult pancreas (n = 5) were examined. RESULTS: Findings indicated that nestin is expressed in proliferating and metabolically active cells, such as endothelium, independent of developmental and neoplastic processes, rather than endocrine precursor cells of the pancreas. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, it was concluded that nestin cannot be used as the only marker to identify pancreatic endocrine cell precursors for transplantation.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/metabolism , Fetus/metabolism , Intermediate Filament Proteins/metabolism , Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism , Pancreas/metabolism , Pancreatic Neoplasms/metabolism , Adult , Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/embryology , Cell Differentiation , Endothelial Cells/metabolism , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Nestin , Pancreas/embryology , Pancreatic Neoplasms/embryologyABSTRACT
Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of uterine cervix is a rare variant of cervical carcinoma with features of high aggressiveness. It is difficult to manage these tumors. It is often diagnosed at an advanced stage and its prognosis is generally poor. The present report describes a 65 year old woman who presented with postmenopausal bleeding and had a friable polypoidal growth hanging from the cervix. Microscopic examination of the growth showed features of small cell carcinoma. Neuroendocrine cellular characteristics were assessed by using antibodies against neuron specific enolase. The case is being reported to create awareness of this rare entity
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/diagnosis , Carcinoma, Small Cell/diagnosis , Phosphopyruvate Hydratase/metabolism , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/diagnosis , Aged , Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/embryology , Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/pathology , Carcinoma, Small Cell/enzymology , Carcinoma, Small Cell/pathology , Cervix Uteri/pathology , Female , Humans , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/enzymology , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/pathologyABSTRACT
A 21 cm retroperitoneal cystic mass was excised from a 71 year old woman. The cyst was filled with a hemorrhagic fluid and contained a 5 cm parietal hemorrhagic nodule. On histology, the nodule was composed of a uniform population of round cells arranged in trabeculae and nests. The neoplastic cells were immunoreactive to cytokeratin, EMA, NSE, chromogranin A, pancreatic polypeptide (PP) and Gastrin (G). Ultrastructural observation of neurosecretory granules confirmed the neuroendocrine nature of the tumor. No other lesions were detected and a diagnosis of primary epithelial neuroendocrine tumor was rendered. The histogenesis of the tumor including the possibility of a paraganglionic origin is discussed.
