Sabato 27 ottobre 2012 - Pacini Editore

COmuNiCaziONi ORali
Results. Expression analysis of FX mRNA in BPH and PCa tissues.
Amplification of cDNA carried out in presence of human
FX primers revealed the presence of fucosidasis transcript in
both BPH and PCa tissues analysed. The average of mRNA FX
normalized levels in PCa tissues resulted almost twice higher
than in BPH tissues [1.833±0.66 vs 0.931±0.5 (t = -3.458;
P = 0.003)].
Expression analysis of FX protein in BPH and PCa tissues.
The presence of an immunoreactive band corresponding to FX
revealed the presence of the protein in both the PCa and BPH
tissues analyzed. Results of optical densitometry indicated that
the average OD ratio of FX protein is higher in PCa tissues
than in BPH tissues (0.644±0.100 vs 0.130±0.017), showing a
consistent increase of FX protein expression in tumoral tissues
(P < 0.001).
Immunohistochemistry. Among the 74 biopsy specimens from
cancer patient, 22 were diagnosed Gleason score 6, 20 Gleason
score 7, 24 Gleason score 8, and 8 Gleason score 9. Therefore
they were classified as low grade (n = 42) and high-grade
(n = 32) adenocarcinoma. The 50 cancer-free biopsies showed
basal cell hyperplasia (n = 12), acute and chronic inflammation
(n = 18) and atrophy (n = 20). FX expression was observed
only in the cytoplasm. Low levels (HSCORE 1) of FX expression
were found in 8 out of 12 cases of basal cell hyperplasia.
High-grade PIN areas adjacent to adenocarcinoma did not show
FX immunostaining. Higher FX expression (HSCORE 3) was
observed more frequently in Gleason high grade cases in comparison
with Gleason low grade cases [χ 2 = 62.954; degrees of
freedom (df) = 2; p < 0.001). Higher fucosidasis immunostaining
(HSCORE 3) occurred more frequently in tumors with an
higher Gleason score in comparison with low-grade tumors
(χ 2 = 40.759; df = 2; p < 0.001).
Discussion. These findings suggest that alterations of fucosylation
are involved in prostate cancer aggressiveness, resulting in
high levels of FX and activation of de novo pathway for GDP-
L-fucose synthesis in high grade adenocarcinoma, in which we
found the stronger expression of FX that is probably related to
a more dedifferentiated tumoral phenotype. Moreover, the observation
that FX staining is also present in benign human basal
cells confirm the hypothesis that basal cells include cells of
origin of prostate cancer. Nonetheless, the role of fucosylation
in prostatic carcinogenesis should be adequately considered
and confirmed by further studies. Deregulation of FX might
be used as a novel promising molecular target for therapy and
FX immunostaining may increase our ability to identify those
tumors with worse prognosis that may require a more aggressive
treatment.
references
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Fukushima K, Satoh T, Baba Set al. alpha1,2-Fucosylated and beta-
N-acetylgalactosaminylated prostate-specific antigen as an efficient
marker of prostatic cancer. Glycobiology 2010 ;20:452-60.
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309
neuroblastoma in situ in a case of fetal hydrops
and death in utero
F.M. Bosisio1 , V. Lucchini2 , A. Vanzati1 , F. Moltrasio1 , M. Basciu1
, G. Cattoretti1 , M.S. Cuttin2 1 Università di Milano-Bicocca, Scuola di specialità aggregata Milano-
Milano Bicocca-Brescia, Monza; 2 AO San Gerardo, UO di Anatomia Patologica,
Monza
Introduction. Neuroblastoma is the most common malignant
perinatal tumour in the fetus but is unusual to see in neonates
because the tumour can regress spontaneously. In many cases,
neuroblastoma resulted associated with fetal hydrops. Here we
present a case of a stillbirth fetus with hydrops in which we found
an otherwise occult neuroblastoma in situ.
Matherials and methods. Autopsy was performed. Samples
taken from all of the viscera were formalin-fixed and paraffinembedded.
Routine slides were obtained from the paraffin blocks
and stained with Hematoxilin-Eosin. Immunohistochemical analysis
was performed utilizing authomatic immunostaining system.
Results: Case Report. On the 24th gestational week of an otherwise
normal pregnancy (no maternal infections, ematological diseases
nor tossiemia), on the routine ultrasonography was detected
fetal hydrops. The long bone length was at the 5° percentile.
At the autopsy, the fetus was a male weighting 2044 g, with a
total length of 36 cm, a crown-rump length of 25 cm, a cranial
circumference of 30 cm and a foot length of 5,8 cm. Biometric
measurements recollected the gestational age at the 30th week, but
they were not applicable in this case to estimate the true gestational
age because of the very important fetal hydrops. Moderate
maceration phenomena were present at external examination,
corresponding to a Potter Grade 2 (Fig. 1).
At the internal examination no malformation of the viscera was
present, but viscera were dislocated due to an important ascitic
effusion (ca 200cc).
Microscopic examination revealed lungs in the saccular phase,
with a LW/BW = 0,0058 and a RAC of 4. The gonade proved to
be differentiated in testicular tissue. The spleen was congested
Fig. 1. the fetus presented important fetal hydrops and a maceration
estimated as a grade 2 of Potter
Fig. 2 aggregates of neuroblasts in the medulla of the adrenal gland. Small blu cells organized in
nodular aggregates and cords. they resulted NSE+.