[Left adrenocortical cancer with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus--a case report].

An 62-year-old male was admitted to our hospital for an evaluation of high grade fever, body weight loss and lumbago. He was diagnosed as having a left adrenal tumor with intracaval extension and underwent a radical surgery, including resection of the tumor, left kidney, spleen and IVC tumor thrombus. Histopathological diagnosis was adrenocortical carcinoma with tumor thrombus. To our knowledge, our case seems to be the 8th case report of left adrenocortical cancer with tumor thrombus extension into IVC. Average survival of reported cases was about 15 months. At 4 months after surgery, the patient died due to lung metastasis.

Characterization of a newly established cell line derived from human adrenocortical carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: ACT-1, a new cell line of human adrenocortical carcinoma, has been established and successfully maintained in culture. This study examined the biological characteristics of the cells. METHODS: The tumor cells were isolated from a surgical specimen of the tumor thrombus and cultured in monolayer. RESULTS: Histologically, the primary tumor was composed of a solid proliferation of large polygonal cells. A part of the atrophic adrenal cortex remained at the periphery of the tumor. The cultured ACT-1 cells were spindle-shaped in morphology and grew exponentially with an approximate population doubling time of 24 h. A chromosomal analysis revealed a modal number of 61 with consistent structural abnormalities of add(3)(q11), add(9)(p11), and add(16)(ql1). The expression of 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was observed in the ACT-1 cells as well as in normal human adrenal glands. CONCLUSIONS: The ACT-1 cell line provides a reproducible model system which gives good insight into the oncogenesis of adrenocortical carcinoma.

Effects of quercetin on the heat-induced cytotoxicity of prostate cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: It has been demonstrated that prostate cancer cells are relatively sensitive to heat stress. We have reported that heat treatment at 43 degrees C increases the expression of heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) in prostate cancer cells, leading to apoptosis. Hsp70 is a protein that protects cells against heat damage. Cells with lower levels of hsp70 have been shown to have a higher sensitivity to heat stress. Therefore, downregulation of hsp70 is expected to enhance heat-induced inhibitory effects on cell growth. Quercetin has been reported to be an agent that inhibits hsp70 expression. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of quercetin and/or heat on the growth of prostate cancer cells in vitro. METHODS: Three human prostate cancer cell lines were used: Lncap; PC-3; and JCA-1. The cells were treated with quercetin and/or heat. Alterations in the cell cycle and hsp70 expression were examined by means of flow cytometry (FCM). The apoptotic cells were detected by FCM using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) labeled annexin V. RESULTS: Treatment with quercetin alone resulted in an apparent decrease of hsp70-positive cells and an increase of subG1 cells in JCA-1 and LNcap cells. Quercetin inhibited an increase of hsp70 expression after heat treatment and increased the number of subG1 cells with lower levels of hsp70 in JCA-1 and LNcap cells. Quercetin was found to enhance heat-induced inhibitory effects on cell growth and heat-induced apoptosis in both JCA-1 and LNcap cells. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that quercetin may enhance heat-induced cytotoxicity in prostate cancer cell lines through the inhibition of hsp70 production.

Hypercalcemia in a patient with renal cell carcinoma producing parathyroid hormone-related protein and interleukin-6.

A patient with renal cell carcinoma who developed humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy is reported. A 52-year-old male patient was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma and multiple lung metastases. A cell line isolated from the surgical specimen exhibited continuous production of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) in vitro. The production of PTHrP from the cancer cells was confirmed by RT-PCR and immunoradiometric assay. The serum calcium level was not enhanced, whereas the lung lesion was developing and producing interleukin-6, a possible modulator of osteoclastic resorption. Hypercalcemia was induced when the PTHrP concentration increased up to 3.3 pmol/L.

Simultaneous production of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and parathyroid hormone-related protein in bladder cancer.

A case of bladder cancer with simultaneous production of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) is reported. An 81-year-old male patient was admitted to the Saitama Medical School for treatment of gross hematuria, leukocytosis and hypercalcemia and diagnosed as having advanced bladder cancer. Immediately after a cystectomy was carried out, his white cell count and serum calcium levels returned to normal. However, the tumors recurred locally and the recurrence was accompanied by an increase in the serum G-CSF and PTHrP levels with a recurrent elevation of white cell count and the serum calcium level. The production of G-CSF and PTHrP in the tumor cells was confirmed by immunohistochemistry.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors reduce bcl-2 expression and induce apoptosis in androgen-dependent cells.

The signal transduction pathway showing how androgen withdrawal induces apoptosis in androgen-dependent cells has not been clearly understood. In these studies, we focused on the behavior of tyrosine kinases in androgen-dependent cells and investigated its correlation with apoptosis and bcl-2 expression. We used SC2G, an androgen-dependent mouse mammary carcinoma cell line, which had been cloned from Shionogi Carcinoma 115 (SC115). When SC2G cells were cultured with herbimycin A (HMA), a potent tyrosine kinase inhibitor, the number of viable cells decreased significantly after 24 h. Terminal deoxyribonucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling and flow cytometric analysis of annexin V staining showed that HMA induced apoptosis of SC2G cells. The level of bcl-2 mRNA in SC2G cells was suppressed by HMA in a dose-dependent manner on RT-PCR. Preincubation with caspase inhibitors protected HMA-induced apoptosis of SC2G cells. When a human bcl-2 gene was transfected in SC2G cells and overexpressed, SC2G cells seemed to acquire tolerance for HMA. These data indicate that HMA-sensitive tyrosine kinase(s) can regulate apoptosis and inhibit bcl-2 expression in SC2G mouse androgen-dependent cells. Tyrosine kinase(s) seemed to be a member of signal transduction between androgen receptor activation and bcl-2 expression.

Laparoscopic treatment of retroperitoneal benign schwannoma.

PURPOSE/METHODS: We report on a case of retroperitoneal benign schwannoma treated by laparoscopic surgery. RESULTS/DISCUSSION: The difficulties of diagnosis and the advantages of laparoscopic management are discussed.

Suppression of default apoptosis in androgen-dependent cells by testosterone-mediated bcl-2 expression.

BACKGROUND: The significance of apoptosis with regard to the development and progression of androgen-dependent cells has not been clearly understood. In the present study we investigated the expression of the bcl-2 proto-oncogene after androgen deprivation and its role in cell growth in an androgen-dependent cell line. METHODS: We used SC2G, an androgen-dependent mouse mammary carcinoma cell line cloned from Shionogi carcinoma 115 (SC115). The expression of bcl-2 mRNA and protein in SC2G cells was measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively. We also investigated the effects of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) complementary to strategic sites in the mouse bcl-2 gene in SC2G cells. RESULTS: When SC2G cells were cultured in serum-free medium, the number of viable cells was significantly larger among cells with testosterone than those without testosterone after 3 days. Apoptosis was demonstrated in approximately 30% of positive-staining nuclei in SC2G cells cultured in testosterone-free medium. The levels of bcl-2 mRNA and protein in SC2G cells started to decrease after testosterone withdrawal. The cell density of SC2G cells decreased after 4 days culture with antisense ODN when compared with cells cultured in the presence of sense control. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that bcl-2 proto-oncogene inhibits the self-programmed apoptosis of androgen-dependent cells, suggesting the possibility of an antisense therapy for hormone-refractory prostate cancer, which is reported to express high levels of Bcl-2 protein.

[Anti-proliferative effects of heating on the human prostatic carcinoma cells in culture].

Prostatic cancers are well-known to be sensitive to heat stress. However, the mechanism by which the cancer cells are killed by high temperature remains poorly understood. The present study was undertaken to determine the anti-proliferative effects of heat stress on the prostatic cancer cells in culture. Heat shock at 43 degrees C inhibited the cell growth of three different prostatic cell lines. Flow cytometrical analysis using BrdU and PI showed a decrease in the proportion of cells in an S phase, accompanied by cell accumulation in G1 and G2, in both JCA-1 and PC-3 but not in LNcap. Both JCA-1 and PC-3 presented a strong expression of hsp70 at 37 degrees C. The heat shock caused apparent enhancement of the expression of hsp70 through the cell cycle. A treatment at 43 degrees C for 8 hours resulted in not only an apparent increment of positive hsp70 cells, but cells with subdiploid DNA content in LNcap. Flow cytometrical analysis by FITC-labeled Annexin V showed increment of apoptotic cells at 43 degrees C for 8 hours in LNcap cells. The results suggest that apoptosis is an important pathway of heat-induced killing of these cells. In conclusion, the cell growth of prostatic cancers may be affected by the temperature through relationship of the cell cycle and hsp70.

[Retinoic acid-induced cell growth inhibition and differentiation in testicular carcinoma cells in culture].

Testicular germ tumor cells could be differentiated spontaneously or by some chemotherapeutic compounds. However, the mechanism by which the cells are differentiating from the stem cell remains unclear. The KU-MT cells, which were newly established from lung metastasis of testicular carcinoma, have been continuously producing alpha fetoprotein (AFP). Retinoic acids are well-known to induce cellular differentiation in culture and have already been applied for a clinical usage against leukemia. In the present study, all-trans-retionic acid (ATRA) elevated the level of AFP and inhibited the growth of KU-MT cells in vitro. ATRA also arrested the cell cycle in G1 and reduced the percentage of the S phase cell in terms of wild type p53, leading to apoptosis in part. Retinoids, especially retinoic acid receptor (RAR)-alpha specific agonists induced laminin production, a marker of endodermal differentiation; whereas arotinoid, a retinoid not bound to RAR-alpha, did not affect laminin expression. In summary, retinoic acids could mediate cell growth and differentiation of testicular tumor through RAR-alpha.

[Primary urethral carcinoma in a female: report of a case].

An 74-year-old female patient with urethral carcinoma is reported. A mass at the urethral meatus was seen and diagnosed as transitional cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma by biopsy of the lesion and urine cytology. Total cystectomy and urethrectomy were performed. Adjuvant therapy was not performed, but recurrence has not been seen 36 months after operation.

Immunohistological analysis of tumour infiltrating lymphocytes in seminoma using monoclonal antibodies.

Immunological characterization of tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) by immunohistological techniques was carried out in 20 cases of stage I seminoma. Routine pathological examination of these surgical specimens showed typical seminoma in 20 cases. Eighteen cases showed obvious TIL and immunohistological staining on frozen specimens was performed in 12. TIL in seminomas were predominantly T-cells but B-cells were also identified. T-cells were distributed diffusely with predominance of the CD8+ phenotype judged semiquantitatively. In contrast to the distribution of T-cells, B-cells tended to accumulate and occasionally formed lymphoid follicles. In such follicles the phenotypic pattern of B-cell antigens was comparable with secondary lymphoid follicles in lymphoid organs. There is an immunologically complex response to seminoma by the host with a predominant infiltration of cytotoxic/suppressor T-cells and functional maturation of B-cells.

[Long-term bioeffects of extracorporeal shock waves on renal tissue and blood pressure in normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats].

In order to examine chronic effects of shock waves on renal structure and blood pressure, normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were uninephrectomized and shock waves were given on the lower half of the residual kidney by Piezolith with the focus pressure of 1020 bar. In the first experiment, 36 WKY were divided into 6 groups; Group 1 served as control, Group 2, 4 and 6 received a single session of 1250, 2500 and 5000 shocks, respectively, whereas the animals in Group 3 and 5 received repeated dose of 1250 or 2500 shocks within 3 days after the first session. All the animals in Group 6 died within 48 hours due to remarkable renal hemorrhage, leaving only 5 Groups for the evaluation of long-term study. The blood pressure, measured by tail-cuff method 60 days after shock wave administration, was not significantly different between the control and shock-waved WKY. Neither was there any remarkable difference between the blood pressures measured prior to and 60 days after the intervention in each Group. At 16th week after the shock wave administration, the animals were sacrificed. There was a slight but statistically significant increase in serum creatinine level in Groups 2, 4 and 5, as compared to the level of control animals in Group 1. On light microscopic sections, there was no remarkable histological change in the kidney of Group 2, however, the renal parenchyma was frequently replaced with interstitial fibrosis in Groups 3, 4 and 5.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Clinical evaluation on differential quantitation of human chorionic gonadotropin in testicular cancer].

In 113 patients with testicular germ cell tumor, the authors determined human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and the free beta subunit levels in sera by differential quantitation using homologous hCG-beta radioimmunoassay (RIA) and hCG enzyme immunoassay (EIA), respectively. In 59 patients with seminoma, intact hCG was positive in 6 patients (10.1%), whereas free hCG-beta was positive in 23 patients (39.0%). Syncytiotrophoblastic giant cells were detected in 4 cases out of 6 patients with positive intact hCG seminoma. Seventeen cases (28.8%) revealed positive free hCG-beta only without elevation of intact hCG. In 54 patients with nonseminoma, both intact hCG and free hCG-beta were positive in 36 cases (66%). In some cases, hCG-beta/hCG ratio increased up to 275% when recurrence of tumor developed. Molecular heterogeneity of hCG is closely related to proliferation and differentiation of hCG producing cells. The differential quantitation of intact hCG and hCG-beta using these two assays is valuable for clinical detection of molecular heterogeneity of hCG in testicular tumor.