Long-term survival in breast cancer related to overexpression of the c-erbB-2 oncoprotein: an immunohistochemical study using monoclonal antibody NCL-CB11
Article Abstract:
Oncogenes are genes that make proteins that can cause cancer. These proteins, called oncoproteins, can induce normal cells to grow faster than usual, to grow in clumps, and to form tumors. It is not known how these proteins transform normal cells into tumor cells. Previous studies have shown that some breast tumors contain an oncogene called c-erbB-2. The amount of protein that is made by this oncogene is thought to be related to breast cancer. Several studies have indicated that the presence of this oncogene in breast tumors is associated with a poor prognosis. To determine the relationship between this oncogene and breast cancer, samples of tumor tissue from 187 patients with breast cancer were examined. The samples were screened for the c-erbB-2 oncogene. The presence and activity of this oncogene can be determined by measuring the amount of protein that it makes. This is done using a stain with antibodies (an immunohistochemical stain) that stain only the protein made by the oncogene. When all of the tissue samples were tested, 22 percent contained the c-erbB-2 protein. Of the samples that had this protein, 14 percent had large amounts of this protein. The survival time for each patient was obtained from the medical records, and was used to determine the relationship between the presence and amount of c-erbB-2 protein and patient survival. The patients with breast tumors that did not contain this protein had significantly longer survival times than the patients with breast tumors having the c-erbB-2 protein. However, in patients with the tumor spread to the lymph nodes, the survival time was equally reduced, regardless of whether the protein was present or not. Routine testing of breast cancers for the presence of this protein may be useful for determining the prognosis. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journal of Pathology
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0022-3417
Year: 1991
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Immunohistochemical and quantitative study of interstitial and intratubular Leydig cells in normal men, cryptorchidism, and Klinefelter's syndrome
Article Abstract:
Cells from the testes of normal men, men with cryptorchidism (CR), and Klinefelter's syndrome (KS) were examined for the presence of testosterone, the hormone associated with maleness. CR is the failure of one or both of the testicles to descend into the scrotum during fetal development. KS is an inherited syndrome affecting the male genital system. Leydig cells are cells of the testes that produce testosterone. Leydig cells can be classified into three groups based on morphology (structure): normal, multivacuolated (containing many vacuoles), and pleomorphic (varied). In normal testes, normal and multivacuolated Leydig cells were found. Testes from CR patients had a decreased number of normal Leydig cells and an increased number of multivacuolated Leydig cells. Testes from KS patients had decreased numbers of normal cells, but increased numbers of multivacuolated and pleomorphic Leydig cells. The number of Leydig cells that contained testosterone was decreased in patients with CR and KS. Multivacuolated Leydig cells contained lower levels of testosterone, compared with normal cells. Pleomorphic Leydig cells did not contain testosterone. Decreased numbers of cells containing testosterone indicate that the cells are not functioning properly. Leydig cells are normally found in the interstitial spaces of the testes. In CR and KS, Leydig cells were also found in the tubules of the testes; these cells contained less testosterone than those in the interstitial spaces. The location of Leydig cells in the tubules indicates that these cells are not functioning properly. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journal of Pathology
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0022-3417
Year: 1991
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Immunohistochemical demonstration of altered intracellular localization of the c-myc oncogene product in human colorectal neoplasms
Article Abstract:
Oncogenes are viral genes that can transform normal cells into cancer cells. The oncogene 'c-myc' produces a protein in the cell nucleus called p62. The function of this protein is not well known, but increased levels have been identified in colorectal carcinomas. The cellular distribution of p62 in 50 colorectal carcinomas was determined using immunohistochemistry with a specific antibody that binds to p62 and allows it to be visualized. In all of the carcinoma samples examined, the cell cytoplasm was stained, indicating the presence of p62, while the nucleus remained free of stain. In noncancerous tissue, used as a control, only the nucleus was stained. Tissue from adenomas (benign tumors) showed a mixed staining pattern, with more cytoplasmic staining than the noncancerous tissue, but less than the carcinoma. These results indicate that colorectal carcinoma cells are associated with increased levels of p62 in the cytoplasm, while in normal cells, p62 is found mainly in the nucleus. These findings show a distinct alteration in the cellular distribution of the c-myc oncogene product p62 in colorectal carcinoma tissue. The clinical significance of these findings will become more clear once a better understanding of the cellular function of p62 is obtained. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journal of Pathology
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0022-3417
Year: 1990
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