Detection of oncogenic virus genomes and gene products in lung carcinoma

We investigated a series of 122 cases of small cell lung carcinomas and non-small cell lung carcinomas for the presence of several viruses that are known to be oncogenic in humans. Thus, viral genomes (DNA) and/or RNA transcripts and/or proteins of human papillomaviruses (HPV) 16, 18, 31, 33, 51, Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and simian virus 40 (SV40) were investigated on tissue sections (prepared in tissue microarrays) with different techniques of immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridisation. None of the cases displayed a single positive tumour cell for all the viruses tested whatever the technique applied. Of note, in five cases of tumours with lymphoid infiltrates, we detected scattered EBV (EBER)-positive bystander lymphocytes. In three cases, a faint nuclear staining was found with the anti-latent nuclear antigen/LANA1 (HHV-8) antibody. These cases were checked by PCR with two sets of primers (orf 26 and orf 75) and remained negative for this latter virus. Taken together, our data strongly suggest that the conventional human oncogenic viruses (HPV, EBV, HCMV, HHV-8 and SV40) are unlikely to play some role in the development of lung carcinomas

Role of simian virus 40 in cancer incidence in solid organ transplant patients

Transplant recipients have an increased risk of developing cancer in comparison with the general population. We present here data on cancer development in transplanted subjects who received organs from donors whose DNA was previously examined for the genomic insertion of Simian Virus 40 (SV40). Active follow-up of 387 recipients of solid organs donated by 134 donors, not clinically affected by cancer, was performed through the National Transplant Center (NTC). The average length of follow-up after transplant was 671±219 days (range 0–1085 days). Out of 134 proposed donors, 120 were utilised for organ donation. Of these, 12 (10%) were classified as positive for SV40 genomic insertion. None of the 41 recipients of organs from SV40 positive donors developed a tumour during the follow-up. In all, 11 recipients of organs given by SV40 negative donors developed a tumour (cancer incidence: 0.015 per year). In conclusion, cancer rates observed in our study are comparable to what reported by the literature in transplanted patients. Recipients of solid organs from SV40 positive donors do not have an increased risk of cancer after transplant. The role of SV40 in carcinogenesis in transplanted patients may be minimal

The IASLC/ITMIG thymic epithelial tumors staging project: Proposals for the T component for the forthcoming (8th) edition of the TNM classification of malignant tumors

Despite longstanding recognition of thymic epithelial neoplasms, there is no official American Joint Committee on Cancer/ Union for International Cancer Control stage classification. This article summarizes proposals for classification of the T component of stage classification for use in the 8th edition of the tumor, node, metastasis classification for malignant tumors. This represents the output of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer and the International Thymic Malignancies Interest Group Staging and Prognostics Factor Committee, which assembled and analyzed a worldwide database of 10,808 patients with thymic malignancies from 105 sites. The committee proposes division of the T component into four categories, representing levels of invasion. T1 includes tumors localized to the thymus and anterior mediastinal fat, regardless of capsular invasion, up to and including infiltration through the mediastinal pleura. Invasion of the pericardium is designated as T2. T3 includes tumors with direct involvement of a group of mediastinal structures either singly or in combination: lung, brachiocephalic vein, superior vena cava, chest wall, and phrenic nerve. Invasion of more central structures constitutes T4: aorta and arch vessels, intrapericardial pulmonary artery, myocardium, trachea, and esophagus. Size did not emerge as a useful descriptor for stage classification. This classification of T categories, combined with a classification of N and M categories, provides a basis for a robust tumor, node, metastasis classification system for the 8th edition of American Joint Committee on Cancer/Union for International Cancer Control stage classification

Selective expression of lysyl oxidase (LOX) in the stromal reactions of broncho-pulmonary carcinomas

Lysyl oxidase (LOX) is the extracellular enzyme that initiates the main pathway of collagen and elastin cross-linking. LOX has also been correlated with the ras recision gene, a putative tumour suppressor isolated from revertants of ras-transformed fibroblasts. The present study investigates the potential correlation of LOX-dependent matrix protein cross-linking in the stromal reaction of lung carcinomas, with reference to the architecture of the main stromal reactions accompanying the neoplastic breast tissues. A strong LOX expression was associated with the hypertrophic scar-like stromal reaction found at the front of tumour progression in squamous carcinomas, adenocarcinomas, large cell carcinomas, or at sites of initial extense in bronchiolo-alveolar carcinomas. In contrast, little or no LOX expression was found within the stromal reaction of invasive carcinomas, small cell carcinomas, and neuro-endocrine carcinomas. The significance of LOX expression and of the stromal reaction are discussed, in light of data that associate LOX expression with tumours displaying a rather good prognosis

Selective expression of lysyl oxidase (LOX) in the stromal reactions of broncho-pulmonary carcinomas

Lysyl oxidase (LOX) is the extracellular enzyme that initiates the main pathway of collagen and elastin cross-linking. LOX has also been correlated with the ras recision gene, a putative tumour suppressor isolated from revertants of ras-transformed fibroblasts. The present study investigates the potential correlation of LOX-dependent matrix protein cross-linking in the stromal reaction of lung carcinomas, with reference to the architecture of the main stromal reactions accompanying the neoplastic breast tissues. A strong LOX expression was associated with the hypertrophic scar-like stromal reaction found at the front of tumour progression in squamous carcinomas, adenocarcinomas, large cell carcinomas, or at sites of initial extense in bronchiolo-alveolar carcinomas. In contrast, little or no LOX expression was found within the stromal reaction of invasive carcinomas, small cell carcinomas, and neuro-endocrine carcinomas. The significance of LOX expression and of the stromal reaction are discussed, in light of data that associate LOX expression with tumours displaying a rather good prognosis

Giant-cell aortitis: an unusual case of Bentall operation

Noninfectious ascending aortitis is a very rare cause of ascending aortic aneurysm. We report a case of the truly fortuitous finding of this rare condition in a 67-year-old man operated on for an ascending aortic aneurysm associated with dystrophic aortic valve regurgitation. Intraoperative inspection revealed dissection of the aorta just above the left main coronary artery. A modified Bentall operation was performed. The pathological diagnosis was giant cell arteriti

SYT-SSX fusion is absent in sarcomatoid mesothelioma allowing its distinction from synovial sarcoma of the pleura1

The diagnosis of sarcomatoid mesothelioma is still a worldwide challenge and it is often difficult, both clinically and by morphological analysis, to differentiate sarcomatoid mesothelioma from synovial sarcoma, the most frequent intrathoracic sarcoma. To confirm the absence of the synovial sarcoma translocation t(X; 18) (SYT-SSX) in sarcomatoid mesothelioma, and to test its usefulness differentiating sarcomatoid mesothelioma from synovial sarcoma, 28 tumours were examined using the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RNA was extracted from paraffin blocks using standard methods, reverse-transcribed and PCR performed. Molecular analysis completed in two independent laboratories showed that sarcomatoid mesothelioma samples were negative for the t(X-18). This result confirms the usefulness of this analysis in differentiating sarcomatoid mesothelioma from synovial sarcom