alcian-blue and Adenocarcinoma

Pathological specimens from columnar-lined oesophagus (CLO) comprise a considerable proportion of the workload of gastrointestinal pathologists in Western countries. There remain controversies concerning the diagnostic role of pathology. More recently, in the UK at least, the diagnosis has been regarded as primarily an endoscopic endeavour, with pathology being corroborative and only diagnostic when endoscopic features are equivocal or when there are additional features that make the endoscopic diagnosis unclear. There is also recognition that demonstration of intestinalisation or 'goblet cells' is not paramount, and should not be required for the diagnosis. There have been notable changes in the management of CLO neoplasia: pathologists are centrally involved in its management. Pathological assessment of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) specimens provides the most useful means of determining the management of early neoplasia and of determining indications for surgery. This represents an extraordinarily rapid change in management, in that, <10 years ago, laborious Seattle-type biopsy protocols were recommended, and high grade dysplasia was an indication for resectional surgery. Now, individual patient management is paramount: multi-professional meetings determine management after biopsy and EMR assessment. One significant change is that major resections are undertaken less often, in Western countries, for CLO neoplasia.

Topics: Ablation Techniques; Adenocarcinoma; Alcian Blue; Barrett Esophagus; Biopsy; Epithelial Cells; Esophageal Neoplasms; Esophagoscopy; Esophagus; Goblet Cells; Hernia, Hiatal; Humans; Metaplasia; Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction; Precancerous Conditions

This study aimed to assess the qualitative changes in the amount of acid mucin in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) compared to normal colon.. A total number of 100 samples were examined, 50 were colorectal cancer samples (cases) and 50 were normal (controls), all were stained with Alcian blue method.. Acid mucin increased, in different levels, in 30 (60%) of the cases compared to only six (12%) of controls (P < 0.0001). However, complete absence of acid mucin was detected among 10 (20%) of cases compared to none among controls.. CRC is associated with secretion of increased amounts of acid mucin in most cases, and that should be considered as a valuable histological finding.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Alcian Blue; Colorectal Neoplasms; Coloring Agents; Humans; Mucins; Sudan

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Aged; Alcian Blue; Amylases; Biomarkers, Tumor; Breast Neoplasms; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15; Coloring Agents; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Glycogen; Hormone Replacement Therapy; Humans; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Proteins; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction; Prognosis; Translocation, Genetic

Mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinomas (MTSCs) are polymorphic neoplasms characterized by small, elongated tubules lined by cuboidal cells and/or cords of spindled cells separated by pale mucinous stroma. Nonclassic morphologic variants and features of MTSC have not been well studied. We identified 17 previously unreported MTSCs from Surgical Pathology and consultative files of the authors and their respective institutions and studied their morphologic features. A total of 10/17 cases were considered "classic," as described above, with 5/10 showing at least focal (20% to 50%) tubular predominance without apparent mucinous matrix. Alcian blue staining revealed abundant (>50%) mucin in all classic cases. Seven of 17 MTSCs were classified as "mucin-poor," with little to no extracellular mucin appreciable by hematoxylin and eosin. Four of these cases showed equal tubular and spindled morphology, 2 cases showed spindle cell predominance (70%; 95%), and 1 case showed tubular predominance (90%). In 5/7 mucin-poor cases, staining for Alcian blue revealed scant (<10%) mucin in cellular areas with the other 2 cases having 30% mucin. Unusual histologic features identified in the 17 cases were: foamy macrophages (n=8), papillations/well formed papillae (n=6/n=1), focal clear cells in tubules (n=3), necrosis (n=3), oncocytic tubules (n=2; 40%, 5%), numerous small vacuoles (n=2), heterotopic bone (n=1), psammomatous calcification (n=1), and nodular growth with lymphocytic cuffing (n=1). An exceptional case contained a well-circumscribed, HMB45-positive angiomyolipoma within the MTSC. MTSCs may be "mucin-poor" and show a marked predominance of either of its principal morphologic components, which coupled with the presence of other unusual features such as clear cells, papillations, foamy macrophages, and necrosis, may mimic other forms of renal cell carcinoma. Pathologists must be aware of the spectrum of histologic findings within MTSCs to ensure their accurate diagnosis.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alcian Blue; Biomarkers, Tumor; Carcinoma; Carcinoma, Renal Cell; Coloring Agents; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Kidney Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Mucins

A case of a Borrmann type 2 advanced gastric cancer with endocrine differentiation is described. Histologically, the cancer was either composed of cells arranged in a tubular pattern or formed solid nests of various sizes. The tubular pattern was composed of a moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma. The histology showed partial carcinoid tumor-like features. Cancer cells inside solid nests had a signet-ring cell-like appearance. Periodic-acid Schiff (PAS) staining was positive in the cytoplasm of a few of the cells found in the tubular pattern and in the mucus in some lumens and on the apical surface of cells in some lumens, but PAS did not stain cancer cells in the solid nests. Neither cancer cells nor mucus in the lumens were stained with alcian blue. All cancer cells were strongly positive for Grimelius silver stain, and most of the cancer cells stained positively for chromogranin A. Electron microscopic examination showed electron dense neuroendocrine granules in the cytoplasm of cancer cells. Cancer cells were stained positively for pancytokeratin, cytokeratin 8/18 and carcinoembryonic antigen. Muc 1 mucin glycoprotein staining was positive along the cell surfaces of cancer cells, but Muc 2, 5AC and 6 stainings were negative, although Muc 3 stained positively in the cytoplasm of a few cancer cells. The present case is a gastric tubular adenocarcinoma with Muc 1-positive, neutral- and acid mucin-negative signet-ring cell-like cells, which is associated with neuroendocrine differentiation.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Aged; Alcian Blue; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell; Coloring Agents; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Mucins; Neurosecretory Systems; Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction; Staining and Labeling; Stomach Neoplasms

Although the major histologic type in small gastric cancers, less than 10 mm in diameter, is differentiated-type adenocarcinoma (D.Ca), the incidence of D.Ca and that of undifferentiated-type adenocarcinoma (UD.Ca) is almost the same in all early gastric cancers. Histologic conversion from D.Ca to UD.Ca has been speculated, however, a detailed examination of this phenomenon has not yet been performed. Three-hundred and 51 early gastric cancers (D.Ca, 150 (42.7%) lesions; UD.Ca, 93 (26.4%) lesions; and mixed differentiated and undifferentiated type (D&UD.Ca), 108 (30.8%) lesions; tumor size less than 10 mm in diameter; 64 lesions, more than 10 mm, 287 lesions) were examined histochemically with paradoxical concanavalin A type III and high-iron diamine-Alcian blue (pH 2.5), and immunohistochemically with antigastric mucin antibody. The associations between tumor size, tumor differentiation and phenotypic expression of mucin were examined. Regardless of the tumor size, mucin phenotypic expression in the mucosal lesions examined was preserved. Of 47 cancers with a gastrointestinal mucin phenotype (GIM type) or a gastric mucin phenotype (GM type) measuring less than 10 mm, 35 (74.5%) consisted of D.Ca and 12 (25.5%) of both D&UD.Ca and UD.Ca, while of 224 GIM or GM type cancers measuring more than 10 mm, 64 (28.6%) consisted of D.Ca and 160 (71.4%) of both D&UD.Ca and UD.Ca. Differences between these two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Of 15 cancers with an intestinal mucin phenotype (IM type) measuring less than 10 mm, 12 (80.0%) consisted of D.Ca and three (20.0%) of both D&UD.Ca and UD.Ca, and of 50 IM type cancers measuring more than 10 mm, 35 (70.0%) consisted of D.Ca and 15 (30.0%) of both D&UD.Ca and UD.Ca. Differences between these two groups were not statistically significant. These findings suggest that small D.Ca showing gastric mucin expression may transform into UD.Ca during the progression of early gastric cancer.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Alcian Blue; Concanavalin A; Gastric Mucins; Horseradish Peroxidase; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Phenotype; Stomach Neoplasms

Foamy gland carcinoma is a recently described histologic variant of prostatic adenocarcinoma characterized by abundant foamy cytoplasm and minimal cytologic atypia. The biologic behavior and biochemical nature of the foamy adenocarcinoma cells are unknown. Six cases of prostatic adenocarcinoma with marked foamy appearance were identified from radical prostatectomies. Clinicopathologic, histochemical, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural analyses were conducted. The patients ranged in age from 50 to 73 years (mean age, 65 years) with preoperative serum prostate-specific antigen levels ranging from 2.7 to 37.5 ng/mL (mean, 15.2 ng/mL). All six cases were bilateral high-volume tumors. Five of six patients had high-grade tumors with extraprostatic extension. The foamy tumor cells were negative for mucin and lipid stains, but were positive for colloidal iron and Alcian blue stain. Ultrastructurally, the foamy cells displayed numerous intracytoplasmic vesicles and numerous polyribosomes. The authors conclude that the foamy appearance of these tumor cells is the result of the presence of numerous intracytoplasmic vesicles, and not the result of the presence of lipid or neutral mucin. This study illustrates that foamy gland carcinoma is a distinctive histologic variant of prostatic adenocarcinoma and is often associated with an aggressive behavior despite its deceivingly benign histologic appearance.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Aged; Alcian Blue; Cytoplasmic Vesicles; Humans; Iron; Male; Microscopy, Electron; Middle Aged; Prostatic Neoplasms; Staining and Labeling

To identify a sensitive marker for extramammary Paget's disease and to identify histochemical and immunohistochemical features that suggest occult pelvic cancer in patients with extramammary Paget's disease, we retrieved all cases between 1983 and 1992 with a Standardized Nomenclature of Medicine code of extramammary Paget's disease in the Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Nashville, Tenn) surgical pathology archives. All were stained for alcian blue/dPAS (periodic acid-Schiff), mucicarmine, AE1/AE3, cytokeratin (CAM 5.2), cytokeratin (CK) 7, CK 20, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), orthokeratin, prostate-specific antigen, and S-100. Sixteen cases (2 men, 14 women) were retrieved. Two had pelvic malignancies: one rectal adenocarcinoma and one transitional carcinoma. Only CK7 marked all cases. Mucins were sensitive but focal, a potential problem in small biopsy specimens. The transitional tumor had a unique staining profile (CEA- and mucin-negative). CK20 strongly marked Paget cells associated with rectal cancer; its presence suggests a large bowel lesion but is not specific. No case expressed prostate-specific antigen; its presence in a man suggests prostatic carcinoma.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alcian Blue; Antiporters; Apolipoproteins; Apolipoproteins D; Biomarkers; Biopsy; Carcinoembryonic Antigen; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell; Carmine; Carrier Proteins; Coloring Agents; Female; Glycoproteins; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Intermediate Filament Proteins; Keratin-20; Keratins; Male; Membrane Proteins; Membrane Transport Proteins; Middle Aged; Mucins; Paget Disease, Extramammary; Pelvic Neoplasms; Prostate-Specific Antigen; Retrospective Studies; S100 Proteins

A rare case of ovarian adenocarcinoma with extensive oncocytic differentiation is presented. Light and electron microscopy examination and a specific stain for mitochondria (chromotrope-alcian blue) confirmed the diagnosis. The tumour cells revealed abundant granular and eosinophilic cytoplasm containing a large number of mitochondria. The tumour had a malignant infiltrative pattern and cellular atypia.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Alcian Blue; Coloring Agents; Female; Humans; Microscopy, Electron; Middle Aged; Mitochondria; Ovarian Neoplasms

Mucins are produced by both benign and malignant gastric epithelium. In general, mucins can be classified into neutral and acidic mucins. The latter are of 2 major types, sulphated (sulphomucins) and carboxylated (sialomucins). A retrospective study was initiated at the Department of Pathology, University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur to histochemically study the mucin profiles of cases of intestinal (IGC) and diffuse (DGC) types of gastric carcinoma in Malaysian patients to determine whether a significant change of mucin type occurs in the event of malignant transformation. 42 IGC and 37 DGC were subjected to alcian blue-periodic acid Schiff and high iron diamine-alcian blue histochemical staining. In addition, 18 cases of gastrectomies performed for benign lesions in the stomach served as normal controls. The number of cases of IGC and DGC which exhibited sulphomucin production was significantly increased (p < 0.001) compared to normal controls. Also, the number of cases of DGC which produced neutral mucin were significantly less (p < 0.05) than the control group. However, there was no significant difference between the number of IGC and DGC cases which demonstrated sialomucin production and normal controls. It appears that while not pathognomonic, a lack of neutral mucin production should alert the pathologist to the possibility of a gastric malignancy, in particular DGC. The likelihood of a malignant lesion would be further supported if there is an increased sulphomucin production.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alcian Blue; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Coloring Agents; Female; Gastric Mucosa; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mucins; Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction; Retrospective Studies; Stomach; Stomach Neoplasms

In this study, our experience with five cases of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas is described, which was seen over a 13-yr period. The diagnosis in four of the cases was made from aspirated material that was obtained under computed tomography (CT) guidance and, in one case, following an intraoperative aspirate. In four cases, the tumor was found to be in the head of pancreas, whereas in one case, the neoplasm was located in the tail. All the cases were elderly male patients. As a result of our study, it is believed that aspiration cytodiagnosis of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma (a rare subtype of pancreatic carcinoma) can be made with confidence when performed intraoperatively or with imaging assistance. Also, aspiration cytology is a sensitive, specific, and relatively simple procedure that provides adequate material on which a confident diagnostic interpretation can be made of this uncommon neoplasm.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Aged; Alcian Blue; Biopsy, Needle; Carmine; Coloring Agents; Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous; Diagnosis, Differential; Eosine Yellowish-(YS); Hematoxylin; Humans; Male; Pancreas; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Staining and Labeling

Considering the advantages provided by the study of glandular secretions in proliferative diseases of the prostate, we carried out a study of 100 consecutive cases of benign hyperplasia (68), glandular dysplasia (12), and carcinoma (20). Samples were predominantly obtained by transurethral resection from patients whose mean ages were 64, 67, and 73.5 years, respectively. The paraffin embedded material was sectioned and stained with hematoxylin-eosin, PAS-diastase, PAS-Alcian blue, methenamine silver, and Masson trichrome. Intraglandular secretion in normal, hyperplastic, and even neoplastic samples was predominantly neutral mucin, but in 2 cases of atypical adenomatous hyperplasia, and in all the carcinomas, we found acid mucin secretion. Holmes crystalloids were present in one case of nodular hyperplasia (1.4%), 2 cases of dysplasia (16.6%), and in 5 carcinomas (25%). As another manifestation of altered secretion, we also saw numerous needle-shaped argyrophilic and isotropic crystalloids, not previously described, in 12 of the 20 carcinomas (60%). These crystalloids were exclusively found in the carcinomas, reached a size of 50 mu, and were completely differentiated from the Holmes crystalloids by their odd needleshape and their staining characteristics.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Aged; Alcian Blue; Amylases; Carcinoma in Situ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS); Hematoxylin; Humans; Male; Methenamine; Middle Aged; Mucins; Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction; Prostate; Prostatic Hyperplasia; Prostatic Neoplasms; Staining and Labeling

The acid mucins contained in goblet cells of the descending colon of 34 male Sprague-Dawley rats were histochemically labeled by Alcian blue pH 2.5 and quantified in an image analyzer (Cortex Controller). Twenty-two of these 34 rats were treated with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) suspended in EDTA solution as a stabilizing agent and the remaining 12 rats with EDTA only. Of the 22 DMH-treated rats, 11 had concomitantly an adenocarcinoma elsewhere in the colon and the remaining 11 rats had no colonic tumors despite DMH treatment. The results indicated that Alcian blue-positive areas occupied 34.5% of the mucosa of the descending colon in tumor-bearing rats, and 35.2% in non-tumor-bearing DMH-treated rats. For EDTA-treated rats the percentage of mucosa occupied by Alcian blue-positive cells was 48.1%. The difference between DMH-treated rats (with or without tumors) and EDTA-treated rats was significant (p less than 0.001). These results suggest that the decrease of Alcian blue areas is related to the protracted treatment with DMH. Whether the decrease in acid mucins is induced by the carcinogen per se or whether it represents a true biochemical premalignant change at the cytoplasmic level remains to be elucidated.

Topics: 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine; Adenocarcinoma; Alcian Blue; Animals; Carcinogens; Colon; Colonic Neoplasms; Dimethylhydrazines; Female; Intestinal Mucosa; Mucins; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Reference Values

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Alcian Blue; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cytodiagnosis; Female; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Ovarian Neoplasms; Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction; Staining and Labeling; Stomach Neoplasms

Orcein-alcian blue staining, a new method for the simultaneous demonstration of sulphated and sialomucins in gastrointestinal epithelium was compared with the standard high iron diamine-alcian blue technique. Sections were oxidised with potassium permanganate and decolourised in oxalic acid. They were stained with orcein for four hours, differentiated for a few seconds in acid alcohol, and then counterstained with alcian blue for half to one minute. There was a good correlation of results between the two methods. Orcein-alcian blue is a safer, cheaper, and quicker method than high iron diamine-alcian blue which can be safely introduced into routine laboratories for the study of acid mucins in the gastrointestinal diseases.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adenoma; Alcian Blue; Epithelium; Gastric Mucosa; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms; Humans; Indoles; Intestinal Mucosa; Mucins; Oxazines; Staining and Labeling

The immunohistochemical reactivity of 38 mesotheliomas and 44 adeno-carcinomas or large cell carcinomas of the lung with monoclonal antibodies (MAb) B72.3 and Leu M1 was compared with their reactivity with the routine histochemic stains periodic acid-Schiff with diastase digestion (PAS-D) and alcian blue +/- hyaluronidase. Both MAbs reacted selectively with carcinomas when a positive test was set at greater than or equal to 10% reactive tumor cells. However, MAb B72.3 reacted with significantly more of the carcinomas (86%, chi-square test, P less than 0.01) and bound to a greater percentage of tumor cells (47 +/- 28%; mean +/- SD, t-test, P less than 0.001) than Leu M1 (57% and 25 +/- 28%, respectively). The similar reactivities of surgically resected tumor specimens and post mortem tissues with both antibodies confirmed antigen stability and suggested broad clinical utility. PAS-D stained 61% of the carcinomas. Using the markers for carcinomas (PAS-D, B72.3, and Leu M1), the tumors were classified into the correct group in 80 of 82 (98%) cases (95% confidence level: greater than 92% accuracy). The alcian blue stain was useful to confirm a diagnosis of dimorphic or epithelial mesothelioma (48% were positive).

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Aged; Alcian Blue; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Cytoplasmic Granules; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Mesothelioma; Middle Aged; Mucins; Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction

The presence and distribution of mucins, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and mucus-associated antigens M1, M2, and M3 were investigated in 22 normal endocervices, 25 normal endometria, 25 endocervical adenocarcinomas, and 32 endometrial adenocarcinomas to determine their contribution in the differential diagnosis of endocervical and endometrial adenocarcinoma. Sections of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues were stained with conventional histochemical stains such as d-PAS and Alcian blue to investigate the distribution of mucins. For the demonstration of CEA and the mucus-associated antigens an indirect immunoperoxidase technique was used. In the present study d-PAS and Alcian blue stains, as well as immunohistochemistry of CEA, did not contribute to the discrimination between adenocarcinomas of the endocervix and endometrium. Immunohistochemistry of mucus-associated antigens showed a positive reaction of M3 in the majority (68%) of the endocervical carcinomas. In contrast, if foci of endocervical-type metaplasia were excluded, M3 was absent in tumor cell cytoplasm of endometrial adenocarcinomas. Furthermore, the expression of M2 without the presence of the other mucus antigens in tumor cell cytoplasm, as seen in 24% of the endometrial adenocarcinomas, was never found in endocervical adenocarcinomas.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Alcian Blue; Biomarkers, Tumor; Carcinoembryonic Antigen; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Mucins; Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Uterine Neoplasms

The gall bladder mucosa is composed of neutral mucopolysaccharide and protein radical containing secretory cells, protein radical containing migratory cells, and neutral and acid mucopolysaccharides plus sialic acid containing goblet cells. The prognostic significance of histologic or histochemical parameters in gall bladder adenocarcinoma (GBA) are unknown. To determine if histochemical acid mucopolysaccharide content in GBA has prognostic value, GBA histologic sections from 26 advanced stage disease patients participating in Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) treatment study EST-2273 were stained with alcian blue at pH. 1.0, assessed by a pathology panel for either high (greater than 50%) or low (less than 50%) acid mucopolysaccharide content, and correlated with patient survival. Initial panel unanimous concurrence rate on acid mucopolysaccharide content was 88.9%. Median survival times from the start of chemotherapy to date of death for high acid mucopolysaccharide content GBA was 14 weeks versus five weeks for the low content GBA (P less than 0.0001). The results indicate that high acid mucopolysaccharide content in GBA significantly improves prognosis. ECOG recommends stratification by acid mucopolysaccharide content in future GBA treatment investigations.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Aged; Alcian Blue; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Follow-Up Studies; Gallbladder Neoplasms; Glycosaminoglycans; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Middle Aged; Prognosis

The combined alcian blue (AB)/PAS technic is widely used for the detection and characterization of mucosubstances in tissue sections. Mostly the sequence AB/PAS is used, occasionally also the reserved sequence PAS/AB. The present study shows clearly that the sequence of the combined technic, i.e. AB/PAS or PAS/AB is substantially influencing the results. So it could be demonstrated that by using the combination PAS/AB originally PAS-positive and AB-negative reacting mucosubstances become AB-positive. This could be caused by periodic acid oxidation followed by addition of hydrogen sulfite to aldehyde group thus providing secondary basophilic resp. AB positive material.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Alcian Blue; Animals; Colon; Cricetinae; Duodenum; Histocytochemistry; Indoles; Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction; Rats; Salivary Glands; Staining and Labeling; Stomach; Swine; Time Factors

In 41 salivary gland tumors, the characteristics of the intercellular components and vascular endothelial cells were surveyed by immunohistochemical staining for laminin and factor VIII-related antigen (VIII R:Ag), and by mucopolysaccharidase-digestion for glycosaminoglycan (GAG). In myxomatous areas of pleomorphic adenomas, small vessels (diameter 6.5 +/- 0.11 micron) were frequent and found to be negative or weakly positive by VIIIR:Ag staining although endothelial cells were clearly positive for VIIIR:Ag in capsule surrounding the tumor tissues. Alcian blue stainability was diminished by treatment with both Streptomyces hyaluronidase and chondroitinase. By laminin staining, a vascular pattern was clearly detected, but the majority of tumor cells were not stained. In adenomatous areas, the basement membrane-like linear laminin-staining reaction was observed to be weak and inconsistent around some tumor cell nests. However, in adenoid cystic carcinomas, laminin-positivity was much more intense than in other tumors such as pleomorphic adenoma, mucoepidermoid tumor and adenocarcinoma. In cylindromatous areas, the inner luminal surface in the pseudocysts was markedly positive for laminin, and there was weak positivity around tumor cell nests having a trabecular pattern. By immunoelectron microscopy, a juxtacellular network of replicated basal lamina of tumor cells which lined the inner surface of pseudocysts was positive for laminin. Alcian blue-positivity in the pseudocyst was abolished with heparitinase and chondroitinase, but not with hyaluronidase.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adenolymphoma; Adenoma; Adenoma, Pleomorphic; Alcian Blue; Antigens; Carcinoma; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic; Factor VIII; Glucuronidase; Glycosaminoglycans; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Laminin; Lyases; Microscopy, Electron; Salivary Gland Neoplasms; Staining and Labeling; von Willebrand Factor

A case is described in which both a moderately elevated villous adenoma associated with adenocarcinoma at the posterior wall and an independent gastric carcinoma at the anterior wall were present. These two lesions were surrounded by the mucosa of incomplete intestinal metaplasia. Consecutive sections of the villous adenoma associated focally with carcinoma and the independent cancer were stained by the periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), pH 2.5 alcian blue (A1-B1), high iron diamine pH 2.5 alcian blue (HID-AB) and carcinoembryonic antigen peroxidase-antiperoxidase (CEA-PAP) methods. Villous adenoma was weakly positive in the PAS stain but negative in A1-B1 and HID stains, showing that it did not produce mucin. On the other hand, the intestinal metaplasia and cancerous lesions were positive in PAS, A1-B1 and HID stains, indicating production of the intestinal type of mucin. The villous adenoma accompanied by malignant changes was positive by the CEA-PAP method. This result shows the biological property of villous adenoma that they can easily change into malignancy. These three lesions in our case are considered to have originated independently from the primordial cells and to have developed the differences in mucin production in the process of cell development.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adenoma; Aged; Alcian Blue; Carcinoembryonic Antigen; Female; Gastric Mucosa; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Metaplasia; Mucins; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary; Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction; Stomach Neoplasms

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar; Alcian Blue; Carcinoma; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Mucins; Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction