ISSN:1010-4283    

DOI:10.1159/000217891

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Antigens, antibodies and immune complexes seem to play a major role in the course of malignant melanoma, in detection of the disease progression, in treatment planning and monitoring. Of particular interest are cell and matrix adhesion molecules, growth factors and cytokines, proteases, gan-gliosides and major histocompatibility complex class I and II molecules. Antigens expressed on melanoma cells, but not on mature melanocytes, may be used as markers for the degree of the differentiation of the melanoma cells. The more the melanoma cells are dedifferentiated, the smaller is the antigenic similarity to normal melanocytes. Also, different antigens may be identified in various stages of the disease and may be used as tumor markers for disease recurrence or progression. Certain melanoma-associated antigens (MAA) such as epidermal growth factor receptor and adhesium molecules can be modulated by cytokines. Early melanoma evokes an antigen-derived T cell response, which becomes attenuated with the progression of the disease. A variety of cell adhesion molecules present on melanoma cell surfaces may play a role in regulation of cellular cytotox-icity. Free antimelanoma antibodies are usually not detectable in the sera of patients with melanoma, possibly due to their binding to shed antigens and formation of immune complexes or to tissue antigens. When bound to normal melanocytes, they cause the appearance of associated hypopigmentation. The identification of melanoma surface antigens led to generation of monoclonal antimelanoma antibodies (MAb) by laboratories. Strategies utilizing MAb based on immunologic approaches have been developed. MAb to tumor-associated antigens of melanoma cells may be used for therapeutic purposes in man. Sera of patients with vitiligo were capable of causing regression of melanoma metastases in mice due to the presence of a high titer of naturally occurring antimelanoma antibodies. Immunization of melanoma patients with vaccines containing treated melanoma cells or specific melanoma antigens or anti-idiotypic antibodies resulted in an increasing titer of antimelanoma antibodies and regression of the tumor to some extent. The appearance of hypopigmentation in patients with melanoma serves as proof for the activity of antimelanoma antibodies, although its association with the prognosis is still not clear. The thorough investigation in the field of MAA and related antibodies is aimed at improving specific antimelanoma immunotherapy, such as antigenic targeting or enhancement of production of autoantibodies, as well as better understanding of the process of metastasis and the melanoma-immune system interaction.

ISSN:1010-4283    

DOI:10.1159/000217892

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The aim of the study was to demonstrate the localization of placental protein 4 (PP4) in different nontumorous and tumorous tissues originating from the female genital tract. PP4 immunoreactivity was demonstrated using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunohistochemical technique. Tissue samples were obtained from the cervix and body of the uterus, ovary, vulva and from gestational trophoblastic tumors. PP4-positive cells were present in nontumorous tissues with various pathologic findings, and in many but not all benign gynecological tumors. Similar numbers of PP4-positive cells were located in malignant and benign gynecological tumors; however, PP4 staining intensity was greater in the malignant lesions. PP4-positive cells were found in hydatidiform moles and in choriocarcinoma. PP4 was distributed mainly in the cytoplasm, but it was also bound to the cell membrane. We conclude from these studies that PP4 is located in a variety of benign and malignant cells of the female genital tract and that these cells may be the source of plasma PP4 found in patients with these conditions.

ISSN:1010-4283    

DOI:10.1159/000217893

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Recently, a new ‘specific tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA)’ test was introduced and designated tissue polypeptide-specific antigen (TPS); it is based on the monoclonal antibody (MAb) anti-TPS, M3. We have tested the specificity of this antibody by immunocyto- and immunohistochemistry, gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. MAb M3 bound to intermediate filaments of epithelial cells and revealed a staining pattern identical to cytokeratin (CK) 18-specific MAb (DE-K18) on tissue sections of various human tissues. On immunoblots of proteins extracted from various epithelial cell lines, M3 reacted with a 45-kD protein corresponding to CK18, and on immunoblots of proteins isolated from MCF-7 culture fluid M3 stained three bands, 45, 33 and 29 kD. The same bands were stained with CK18-specific MAb, indicating that they represent CK18 and its degradation products. TPA, used as a tumor marker in clinical diagnoses and follow-up, was shown to be a degradation product of CK 8, 18 and 19. In contrast to TPA, MAb M3 did not stain CK8 and CK19 present on immunobl

ISSN:1010-4283    

DOI:10.1159/000217894

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The expression of p53 protein and overexpression of c-erbB-2 oncoprotein was examined immunohistochemically and compared on frozen tissue sections and cyst fluid cells in patients with epithelial malignant and benign ovarian neoplasms. p53 was detected in 52.6% of carcinomas and c- erbB-2 expression was identified in 47.3% of cases. The relationship between p53 and c-erbB-2 overexpression in tissue sections and detached cyst fluid cells was evident. Moreover, a significant association between the presence of p53 and overexpression of c-erbB-2 proteins in tumor tissue sections and loose cyst fluid cells in individual patients was demonstrated. In tissue sections and loose cyst fluid cells of benign ovarian tumors no overexpression of p53 and c-erbB-2 proteins was found.

ISSN:1010-4283    

DOI:10.1159/000217895

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a glycoprotein of which sugar chains are considered to show structural changes with malignancy. To study the sugar chain heterogeneity of urinary hCG in patients with gynecological disease, we employed serial lectin affinity chromatography (LAC) using con-canavalin A (Con A) and phytohemagglutinin-E (PHA-E) which can separate N-glycoside-linked sugar chains, and Jacal-in lectin which is specific for O-glycoside-linked sugar chains. The proportion of hCG which did not bind to Con A was clearly higher in patients with cervical cancer than in healthy pregnant women. The complex-type sugar chains bearing bisecting (β1-4) N-acetylglucosamine which bound to PHA-E increased in the early stage of cervical cancer, and tri- and tetra-antenna-ry complex type sugar chains also increased in the advanced stages. In addition, the Jacalin-bound hCG increased significantly along with the stage of the cancer, especially in advanced cervical cancer with distant metastases. Taken together, these results show that alteration in sugar chain structures of hCG reflect the advanced stage of cervical cancer

ISSN:1010-4283    

DOI:10.1159/000217896

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The distribution of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1) receptors in the female genital tract was examined by immunohistochemistry. The monoclonal antibody α-IR-3, which binds to the α-subunits of the IGF-1 receptor, was used for specific binding and the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method was used for staining. IGF-1 receptors were consistently detected in the epithelium of cervix, endometrium and the fallopian tube. Furthermore, high expression of the IGF-1 receptors was found in ovarian cancer tissue, where predominantly the stro-mal cells around the vessels gave an intense staining. Since the expression of the 1GF-1 receptors in tumor epithelium was only weak and inconsistent, it is tempting to speculate that the stromal compartment in ovarian cancer is the target tissue for the effects of IGF-

ISSN:1010-4283    

DOI:10.1159/000217897

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger