Detection and molecular characterisation of thyroid cancer precursor lesions in a specific subset of Hashimoto's thyroiditis

Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) represents the most common cause of hypothyroidism and nonendemic goiter, but its clinical and pathological heterogeneity opens the question if this disease should be more properly considered as a spectrum of different thyroid conditions rather than as a single nosological entity. In this study, we analysed 133 cases of HT for the expression of galectin-3, a lectin molecule involved in malignant transformation, apoptosis and cell cycle control. An unexpected expression of galectin-3 was demonstrated in a subset of HT together with the presence of HBME-1, c-met and cyclin-D1 that are also involved in malignant transformation and deregulated cell growth. Furthermore, a loss of allelic heterozygosity in a specific cancer-related chromosomal region was demonstrated in some HT harbouring galectin-3-positive follicular cells, by using laser capture microdissection. On the basis of the morphological and molecular findings we identified four subsets of HT: (a) HT with classic features of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis; (b) HT associated to hyperplastic/adenomatous lesions; (c) HT harbouring thyroid cancer precursors; (d) HT associated to unequivocal thyroid microcarcinomas. Our findings provide a well-substantiated morphological and molecular demonstration that HT may include a spectrum of different thyroid conditions ranging from chronic autoimmune thyroiditis to thyroiditis triggered by specific immune-response to cancer-related antigens

Papillary carcinoma of the thyroid: methylation is not involved in the regulation of MET expression

Hypomethylation has been reported to be responsible for the activation of several oncogenes. The possibility that hypomethylation is involved in the regulation of MET transcription was investigated through the analysis of the methylation status of one CpG island containing 43 CpGs in six cases of papillary carcinoma, in the corresponding normal thyroid tissue, and in two cases of hyperplastic goitre. Evidence of methylation was not found in any of the analysed CpG. © 2004 Cancer Research UK

Large needle aspiration biopsy and galectin-3 determination in selected thyroid nodules with indeterminate FNA-cytology

Thyroid fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNA)-cytology is widely used for the preoperative characterisation of thyroid nodules but this task is difficult for follicular lesions, which often remain undefined. We propose a strategy for improving the preoperative characterisation of selected follicular thyroid proliferations, which is based on large needle aspiration biopsy (LNAB) and galectin-3 expression analysis. Eighty-five thyroid specimens were obtained by LNAB (20-gauge needles) from thyroid nodules with indeterminate follicular FNA-cytology. Aspirated material was processed as a tissue microbiopsy to obtain cell blocks for both cyto/histo-morphological evaluation and galectin-3 expression analysis, by using a purified monoclonal antibody to galectin-3 and a biotin-free immunoperoxidase staining method. Preoperative diagnosis was compared to the final histology. LNAB and cell-block technique allow a preliminary distinction between nodules with a homogeneous microfollicular/trabecular structure, as frequently observed in tumours, and lesions with mixed normo–micro–macrofollicular architecture, as observed in goitre. Furthermore, LNAB provides optimal substrates for galectin-3 expression analysis. Among 85 cases tested, 14 galectin-3-positive cases were discovered preoperatively (11 thyroid cancers and three adenomas confirmed at the final histology), whereas galectin-3-negative cases were 71 (one carcinoma and 70 benign proliferations at the final histology). Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of this integrated morphologic and phenotypic diagnostic approach were 91.6, 97.2 and 95.3%, respectively. In conclusion, LNAB plus galectin-3 expression analysis when applied preoperatively to selected thyroid nodules candidate to surgery can potentially reduce unnecessary thyroid resections

Angiogenesis extent and macrophage density increase simultaneously with pathological progression in B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

Node biopsies of 30 benign lymphadenopathies and 71 B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (B-NHLs) were investigated for microvessel and macrophage counts using immunohistochemistry and morphometric analysis. Both counts were significantly higher in B-NHL. Moreover, when these were grouped into low-grade and high-grade lymphomas, according to the Kiel classification and Working Formulation (WF), statistically significant higher counts were found in the high-grade tumours. Immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy revealed a close spatial association between microvessels and macrophages. Overall, the results suggest that, in analogy to what has already been shown in solid tumours, angiogenesis occurring in B-NHLs increases with tumour progression, and that macrophages promote the induction of angiogenesis via the release of their angiogenic factors. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaig

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (histiocytosis X)

There has been a renewed interest in Langerhans cell histiocytosis in recent years due both to advances in basic research and to improvements in diagnostic and treatment approaches. In this article, we review the various aspects of the disease and the potential implications of these recent scientific researches for our understanding and management of the disorder.published_or_final_versio

Macrophage activation for tumor cytotoxicity: development of macrophage cytotoxic activity requires completion of a sequence of short- -lived intermediary reactions.

Macrophages from endotoxin (LPS)-unresponsive C3H/HeJ mice fail to develop tumoricidal activity after any of several in vivo or in vitro treatments that induce cytotoxicity with cells from LPS-responsive C3H/HeN mice. Under certain conditions, however, these macrophages could become tumoricidal: macrophages from in vivo immune reactions such as those induced by BCG infection, but not cells from irritant-induced peritoneal exudates, developed full cytotoxic capability after further exposure in vitro to microgram per milliliter concentrations of LPS or to supernatants from antigen-stimulated leukocyte cultures (lymphokines). Capacity of macrophages from BCG-infected C3H/HeJ mice to become tumoricidal after LPS exposure was gradually lost with time in culture and was absent by 24 hr. Requirements for at least two activation stimuli for cytotoxic activity with C3H/HeJ macrophages could also be fulfilled entirely in vitro: cells cultured in lymphokines plus LPS were fully tumoricidal; macrophages cultured in either agent alone were not cytotoxic. Similar interactions between lymphokines and LPS could be demonstrated with macrophages from LPS-responsive C3H/HeN mice. Tumoricidal activity by C3H/HeN macrophages cultured in lymphokines plus nanogram per milliliter concentrations of LPS was considerably greater than that by cells cultured in either agent alone. LPS and lymphokines were synergistic in their action on macrophage cytotoxicity. The synergistic effect of LPS on cytotoxicity by lymphokine activated macrophages was evident after a 15-min pulse and was not dependent upon fluid-phase LPS. Synergistic action, however, was dependent upon 1.) treatment sequence: LPS was active only if given simultaneously with or after lymphokine treatment; LPS exposure before lymphokine treatment was ineffective, and 2.) treatment interval: capacity of lymphokine-treated macrophages to express cytotoxic activity after LPS exposure decayed with time in culture and was lost by 24 hr. Thus, macrophage activation for tumor cytotoxicity in both C3H/HeJ and C3H/HeN mice was the final result of a cascade of short-lived intermediary reactions in a defined sequence. Tumoricidal activity of fully activated cells and responsiveness of each noncytotoxic precursor cell to activation stimuli were all short lived macrophage reactions. Present evidence suggests that none of these reactions was reversible. Completion of each state of macrophage activation was completely dependent upon the simultaneous presence of localized activation signals and macrophage precursors able to respond

Defective tumoricidal capacity of macrophages from c3h/hej mice.

[No abstract available