Expression of insulin-like growth factor II mRNA-binding protein 3 in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck.

BACKGROUND: Insulin-like growth factor II mRNA-binding protein 3 (IMP3) was found overexpressed in various cancer types suggesting its possible role in carcinogenesis. Analysis of IMP3 expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) is rare so that we evaluated it using tissue microarray method. METHOD: Immunohistochemical analysis of IMP3 was performed on samples from over 400 patients. The expression was measured semiquantitative, subsequently divided into four categories (negative, weak, medium, or strong) and correlated with several available clinicopathologic parameters. RESULTS: For HNSCC, positive IMP3 expression was observed in patients with all tumor stages (pT1-4) and nodal stages (pN0-3), showing also significant statistical correlation (P=0.023 and P=0.0013, respectively). No further correlations were found. Separate analysis according to tumor localization (oral cavity, oropharyngeal, and laryngeal) showed a significant correlation of positive IMP3 expression and overall survival (P=0.038) only in patients with tumors of the oral cavity. Multivariate analysis showed IMP3 as an independent predictive marker for oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC). CONCLUSION: Insulin-like growth factor II mRNA-binding protein 3 (IMP3) expression might be used as an independent prognostic factor in the subgroup of OSCC.

Heparinized cadaveric organ donors (HCOD)--a potential source of hematopoietic cells for transplantation and gene therapy.

BACKGROUND: Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) from unrelated HLA-matched heparinized cadaveric organ donors (HCOD) are a new potential source of cells for transplantation and gene therapy. In addition, these cells could also be used as adjuvant therapy to increase microchimerism and graft tolerance after transplantations of various solid organs. Our purpose was to develop an efficient method for harvesting hematopoietic cells from HCODs, METHODS: Bone marrow cells were harvested from pelvic bones and/or vertebral bodies from 50 adult HCODs before or up to 3 hr after disconnecting the donor from the respirator. Subsequently, we evaluated the hematological and gasometric parameters of aspirated marrow samples as well as the proliferative potential, viability, and expression of CD34 and AC133 antigens on these cells. RESULTS: We noticed that up to 2-3 hr after disconnecting the donor from the respirator bone marrow cavities do not clot and remain uninfected and that it is possible to aspirate bone marrow mononuclear cells in quantities sufficient to perform allotransplantation. Nevertheless, due to the developing hypoxia and acidosis of the hematopoietic microenvironment the number and proliferative potential of CD34+ and AC133+ cells gradually decreases. Hence, to obtain viable early hematopoietic cells, bone marrow should be aspirated without delay; optimally before HCOD is disconnected from the respirator or at the very latest 2 hr after organ harvest. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our results show that early hemopoietic cells may be efficiently harvested from HCOD in large quantities and used for research and/or transplantation purposes. We postulate to create an international network of banks in which hemopoietic stem cells from HCODs could be preserved for therapeutic purposes.

Morphological analysis of the bone marrow biopsies derived from heparinized cadaveric organ donors before and after disconnecting from the respirator.

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) from unrelated HLA-matched heparinized cadaveric organ donors (HCOD) are an under-appreciated potential source of stem cells, which could be employed in hematopoietic transplants and/or gene therapy. In addition, these cells could also be transplanted along with solid organs in order to increase microchimerism and graft tolerance after transplantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the morphological changes seen in the bone marrow biopsies derived from HCODs before and after disconnecting the donor from the respirator. The morphological time-kinetic analysis of the bone marrow biopsies along with functional clonogeneic studies performed on isolated cells collectively reveals that hematopoietic cells from HCOD for transplantological purposes should be harvested within 2 h after disconnecting the respirator. In addition, we noticed that an early sign of developing bone marrow hypoxia/necrosis is a decrease in the number of megakaryocytes visible on bone marrow biopsies.

[Isolation of human mononuclear cells from bone marrow, peripheral blood and cord blood using Ficoll-Paque (Pharmacia) and Gradisol L (Polfa). Comparative study]. / Izolacja ludzkich komórek mononuklearnych ze szpiku, krwi obwodowej i pepowinowej za pomoca roztworu Ficoll-Paque (Pharmacia) i Gradisolu L (Polfa). Ocena porównawcza.

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Ficoll-Paque (Pharmacia), and Gradisol L (Polfa) solutions in isolating human mononuclear cells from: bone marrow, peripheral, and cord blood samples. We found employing both FACS analysis, and in vitro clonogenic tests for isolated cells, that both solutions allow to isolate identical cell populations. Therefore Gradisol-L (Polfa). which is much cheaper than Ficoll-Paque should be widely recommended in strategies for isolating hematopoietic mononuclear cells for both clinical and experimental purposes.