Quantification of vascular density and of lumen and vessel morphology in endometrial carcinoma - Evaluation of their relation to serum levels of tissue polypeptide-specific antigen and CA-125

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether differences in tumor vessel architecture influence the entry of tumor-associated antigens into the circulation. STUDY DESIGN: Using an image analysis system, nine vascular parameters in samples of endometrial carcinomas stained for factor VIII-related antigen were evaluated. These were related to groups with, respectively, normal and elevated serum values for two different serum tumor markers: one with low tissue polypeptide-specific antigen (TPS) and one with high molecular weight (CA-125). RESULTS: Lumen area, lumen perimeter and maximum lumen diameter appeared to differentiate between the normal and elevated TPS group; the higher lumen values occurred in the latter (Nann and Whitney U test: P=.021, .013 and .014, respectively). For CA-125 It hi her number of vessels per square millimeter after correction for the epithelium-stroma ratio was found to differentiate between the normal and elevated group (P=.011). The other parameters did not show differentiation between the groups. CONCLUSION: Distension of vessels appears to be related to the TPS serum level; that might be explained by the presence of endothelial gaps, permitting passive passage of the small TPS molecules. Vascular density appears to be related to the CA-125 serum level. However, whether this relation is real remains to be determined

Quantification of vascular density and of lumen and vessel morphology in endometrial carcinoma - Evaluation of their relation to serum levels of tissue polypeptide-specific antigen and CA-125

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether differences in tumor vessel architecture influence the entry of tumor-associated antigens into the circulation. STUDY DESIGN: Using an image analysis system, nine vascular parameters in samples of endometrial carcinomas stained for factor VIII-related antigen were evaluated. These were related to groups with, respectively, normal and elevated serum values for two different serum tumor markers: one with low tissue polypeptide-specific antigen (TPS) and one with high molecular weight (CA-125). RESULTS: Lumen area, lumen perimeter and maximum lumen diameter appeared to differentiate between the normal and elevated TPS group; the higher lumen values occurred in the latter (Nann and Whitney U test: P=.021, .013 and .014, respectively). For CA-125 It hi her number of vessels per square millimeter after correction for the epithelium-stroma ratio was found to differentiate between the normal and elevated group (P=.011). The other parameters did not show differentiation between the groups. CONCLUSION: Distension of vessels appears to be related to the TPS serum level; that might be explained by the presence of endothelial gaps, permitting passive passage of the small TPS molecules. Vascular density appears to be related to the CA-125 serum level. However, whether this relation is real remains to be determined

Integration of bacteriophage mu DNA

Integrative recombination is not merely a distant evolutionary advantage for the temperate bacteriophage Mu. It is an indispensable part of the Mu life cycle. Mu growth involves apparently random insertion of its DNA into the DNA of its host bacterium Escherichia coli. As Mu DNA replicates, more and more copies of the Mu genome are dispersed throughout the host chromosome. Evidently Mu DNA continuously reacts with the host DNA. No gross disruption and degradation of host DNA has been observed during Mu growth, but various rearrangements in host DNA can occur. These rearrangements include formation of heterogeneous covalently closed circles containing Mu DNA and host DNA (Waggoner et al. 1974; Schröder et al. 1974), and Mu-mediated transposition of host sequences from one site to another (for review, see Toussaint et al. 1977)