Dynamics of a deformable self-propelled particle under external forcing

We investigate dynamics of a self-propelled deformable particle under external field in two dimensions based on the model equations for the center of mass and a tensor variable characterizing deformations. We consider two kinds of external force. One is a gravitational-like force which enters additively in the time-evolution equation for the center of mass. The other is an electric-like force supposing that a dipole moment is induced in the particle. This force is added to the equation for the deformation tensor. It is shown that a rich variety of dynamics appears by changing the strength of the forces and the migration velocity of self-propelled particle

Modulation of MUC1 mucin as an escape mechanism of breast cancer cells from autologous cytotoxic T-lymphocytes

MUC1 mucin is known to serve as a target molecule in the killing of breast cancer cells by cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs). We searched for a possible mechanism allowing tumour cells to escape from autologous CTLs. When the killing of breast cancer cells by autologous lymphocytes was examined in 26 patients with breast cancer, significant tumour cell lysis was observed in 8 patients, whereas virtually no autologous tumour cell lysis was detected in as many as 18 patients. In the patients who showed negligible tumour cell lysis, the autologous tumour cells expressed MUC1-related antigenic epitopes much more weakly than the tumour cells in the patients who exhibited strong cytotoxicity (significant statistically at P< 0.0005–0.0045), suggesting that the unresponsiveness of cancer cells to CTLs observed in these patients was mainly due to loss of MUC1 expression or modulation of its antigenicity. A breast cancer cell line, NZK-1, established from one of the cytotoxicity-negative patients, did not express MUC1 and was resistant to killing by CTLs, while control breast cancer cell lines expressing MUC-1 were readily killed by CTLs. Transfection of NZK-1 cells with MUC1 cDNA induced significant lysis by autologous T-lymphocytes. These results supported the importance of MUC1 mucin in autologous anti-tumour immunity, but suggested that the major escape mechanism of tumour cells from autologous T-lymphocytes is the loss and/or modulation of MUC1 antigenicity on tumour cells, which would limit the effectiveness of possible immunotherapy designed to target the MUC1 mucin. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.co

Mutational Profile and Pathological Features of a Case of Interleukin-10 and RGS1-Positive Spindle Cell Variant Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with spindle cell morphology is a rare variant. We present the case of a 74-year-old male who initially presented with a right supraclavicular (lymph) node enlargement. Histological analysis showed a proliferation of spindle-shaped cells with narrow cytoplasms. An immunohistochemical panel was used to exclude other tumors, such as melanoma, carcinoma, and sarcoma. The lymphoma was characterized by a cell-of-origin subtype of germinal center B-cell-like (GCB) based on Hans’ classifier (CD10-negative, BCL6-positive, and MUM1-negative); EBER negativity, and the absence of BCL2, BCL6, and MYC rearrangements. Mutational profiling using a custom panel of 168 genes associated with aggressive B-cell lymphomas confirmed mutations in ACTB, ARID1B, DUSP2, DTX1, HLA-B, PTEN, and TNFRSF14. Based on the LymphGen 1.0 classification tool, this case had an ST2 subtype prediction. The immune microenvironment was characterized by moderate infiltration of M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (TMAs) with positivity of CD163, CSF1R, CD85A (LILRB3), and PD-L1; moderate PD-1 positive T cells, and low FOXP3 regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs). Immunohistochemical expression of PTX3 and TNFRSF14 was absent. Interestingly, the lymphoma cells were positive for HLA-DP-DR, IL-10, and RGS1, which are markers associated with poor prognosis in DLBCL. The patient was treated with R-CHOP therapy, and achieved a metabolically complete response