big-gastrin and Carcinoma--Squamous-Cell

A promoting effect of gastrin on stimulating Barrett's oesophagus proliferation has been demonstrated, but whether it plays a regulating role for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) to date has not been fully investigated. The aim of this study is to examine the expressions of gastrin, gastrin precursors and gastrin/CCK-2 receptor in ESCC. Tissue specimen sections from 38 patients with ESSC obtained from a high incidence area of north China were assessed using immunohistochemistry for amidated gastrin, gastrin precursors (progastrin and glycine-extended gastrin) and gastrin/CCK-2 receptors. Their clinical histopathological significance was also analyzed. Of 38 ESCC, the immunoreactivities of gastrin, glycine-extended gastrin and progastrin were observed in 13.2% (5/38), 7.9% (3/38) and 23.68% (9/38) cases. The expression of progastrin was obviously higher than other gastrins, though not significantly (P > 0.05). In positive cases for gastrin or glycine-extended gastrin, the scores of positive tumor cell numbers were at a lower density (<10/abundant-distributed field). However, the scores of progastrin positive tumor cell density in five of nine positive cases were over 10/abundant-distributed field. The immunoreactivity of gastrin/CCK-2 receptor was also observed in 15.8% (6/38) ESCC cases. There was not significant correlation regarding immunohistochemical results with known histomorphological parameters i.e. gender, tumor location and TNM stages. Based on our current results, ESCC tumor cells could be a possible cellular source of gastrin precursors, which has been postulated to play a role in regulating the growth in some human tumor cells.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Esophageal Neoplasms; Female; Gastrins; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Protein Precursors; Receptor, Cholecystokinin B

Progastrin-releasing peptide (proGRP) is a specific tumor marker in patients with small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). It has been reported that serum proGRP levels rarely are elevated in patients with nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC); the reported frequency is <3%. The purpose of this study was to examine the clinicopathologic features of NSCLC patients with high serum proGRP levels.. The authors measured serum proGRP levels with a TND-4 kit, a newly developed enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay, in 544 NSCLC and 206 SCLC patients. Pathologic features were examined using conventional hematoxylin and eosin staining and histochemical and immunohistochemical staining using polyclonal antibodies to proGRP, chromogranin A, calcitonin, and monoclonal antibody to the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCC-Lu-243).. The serum proGRP levels were elevated in 140 SCLC patients (68.0%) and in 23 NSCLC patients (4.2%). Seven of these 23 NSCLC patients had serum proGRP levels > or = 100 pg/mL. They included two patients with renal dysfunction, one patient diagnosed cytologically with adenocarcinoma without undergoing precise pathologic examination, two patients diagnosed histologically with squamous cell carcinoma with foci of small cell elements, and two patients diagnosed with large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, respectively, which showed neuroendocrine differentiation on immunohistologic analysis. The remaining 16 NSCLC patients had serum proGRP levels < 70 pg/mL.. Nearly all NSCLC patients had serum proGRP levels < 100 pg/mL. However, if an NSCLC patient presents with a proGRP level > or = 100 pg/mL, the clinicopathologic features must be examined with regard to the small cell component, neuroendocrine differentiation, and renal dysfunction.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adult; Aged; Biomarkers, Tumor; Carcinoma, Large Cell; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Gastrins; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Protein Precursors; Renal Insufficiency