Molecular and biomarker analyses of salivary duct carcinomas: comparison with mammary duct carcinoma.

Salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) is a rare high-grade aggressive neoplasm that manifests close histologic features with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast (IDC). In contrast to SDC, extensive molecular studies have been performed on IDC and led to the identification of certain biological markers. To investigate the underlying molecular and biologic characteristics of SDC, we performed molecular analyses using microsatellite markers on chromosomal arms 6q, 16q, 17p, and 17q, DNA flow cytometry and immunohistochemical staining for androgen receptor (AR) and p53 expression on 28 examples of these tumors in comparison to 24 IDC cases. Our results show that generally similar allelic alterations, elevated p53 and androgen receptor expressions, and high frequency of DNA aneuploidy are manifested in both SDCs and IDCs. Differences at certain markers on 6q, 17p and 17q chromosomal loci, however, were observed between the two entities. Certain loci on 6q were more frequently altered in SDC than IDC which loci on chromosomes 17p and q arms were more seen in IDCs than SDCs. The majority of SDCs had high AR expression while most of IDCs were AR negative. Our study indicates that: i) SDC may share some genetic alterations with IDC, ii) high AR expression in SDC may play a role in tumor progression, and iii) p53 overexpression and DNA aneuploidy in both entities reflect their aggressive behavior.

Differential expression of galectin-1 and galectin-3 in benign and malignant salivary gland neoplasms.

Galectins are a family of non-integrin beta-galactosidase-binding lectins. Altered expression of galectins has been associated with neoplastic transformation and progression in several human tumors. In this study, we examined the distribution patterns of galectin-1 and galectin-3 in normal (n=45), benign (n=16), and malignant (n=49) salivary gland specimens using immunohistochemistry to determine their diagnostic and/or biological implications in salivary gland tumorigenesis. In normal salivary glands, galectin-3 expression was limited to ductal cells, and galectin-1 was usually faintly detected in ductal cells and strongly positive in myoepithelial cells. In benign tumors, galectin-3 maintained the ductal localization, but galectin-1 showed variable expression in ductal and myoepithelial cells. In malignant tumors, most of the polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinomas and carcinoma ex-pleomorphic adenomas expressed both galectins, whereas adenoid cystic and acinic cell carcinomas showed dramatically reduced galectin-3 expression and heterogeneous galactin-1 staining. Our data demonstrated altered localization and expression of galectin-3, and to lesser extent, galectin-1 in salivary gland carcinomas. These findings may assist in the differential diagnosis of some salivary gland malignancies, especially when using small and limited fine-needle aspiration materials.

[An ovarian sex cord tumor with annular tubules secreting prolactin. Reality or fortunate coincidence?]. / Tumeur ovarienne des cordons sexuels avec tubes annelés productrice de prolactine. Réalité ou coïncidence fortuite?

In a 13-year old girl, an ovarian tumor was suspected of being responsible for causing amenorrhea-galatorrhea. In the absence of any abnormality of the medial umbilical folds, hormonal assessment indicated a high level of prolactin, which was restored to normal after exeresis of the mass. This was an ovarian tumor of the sexual cords with annelated tubules (SCTAT de Scully).

[Changes in autopsies in cancer in Navarra from 1980 to 1988]. / Modificaciones de la autopsia por cáncer en Navarra desde 1980 hasta 1988.

BACKGROUND: Autopsies may be used to know the causes of death in population. In Navarra, the number of patients who died by cancer and were autopsied has increased. A similar pattern appeared in other communities. METHODS: We reviewed 2,643 autopsies performed in the main hospitals of Navarra. In each autopsy, age, sex, existence of primary malignant tumor, and its histologic type and localization were analyzed. The results were compared to the statistics of mortality of the Tumoral Register of Navarra. The modifications from 1980 to 1988 were studied. RESULTS: There is a significant increase of autopsy and mortality by cancer in Navarra. In autopsy cases, there is a high incidence of colon carcinoma and hepato-biliary carcinoma. The incidence in all cancer dead patients is similar being greater in hepato-biliary carcinoma and pancreas carcinoma. The percentage of autopsies in patients over 60 years of age is decreased, but it has increased in all cancer dead patients of the same group of age in the community of Navarra. In the autopsies of patients over 60 years of age there has been a rise in breast carcinoma, while there has been a general increase in all dead patients. In all deaths of people under 60 years of age, there has been a decrease, but in autopsy cases there has been an increase of colon carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: In autopsy series from 1980 to 1988, cancer deaths increased significantly. There is not relationship between cancer dead patients and autopsy cases in the studied data. In hepato-biliary carcinoma, there is an increase in autopsy cases and cancer dead patients. Discrepancies between the number of deaths of cancer patients and autopsy patients revealed that the performance of autopsy depends of multiple causes.