concanavalin-a and Adenocarcinoma--Mucinous

Mucinous tumors of the ovary have been thought to originate in two ways: by müllerian-type metaplasia of surface epithelium, and as monodermal teratomas. To gain a better understanding of their pathogenesis, the authors analyzed these tumors for their expression of estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) as markers of müllerian-type differentiation and for their content of gastric-type mucin as a marker of gastric differentiation.. The histochemical expression of ER, PR, and gastric-type mucin was studied in 10 specimens of the cervix with normal endocervical glands (as a representative of müllerian-derived mucin-containing cells), 3 ovary specimens with surface epithelial inclusion cysts that contained endocervical-like mucin-containing cells (representing müllerian-type metaplasia), and 47 mucinous tumors of the ovary (29 benign, 8 with low malignant potential, and 10 malignant).. Normal endocervical glands expressed ER and PR and rarely expressed gastric-type mucin. Ovarian inclusion cysts showed strong expression of ER and PR in the cuboidal cells and drastically reduced expression in the endocervical-like mucin-containing cells. The cuboidal cells were negative for gastric-type mucin, but the endocervical-like mucin-containing cells expressed gastric-type mucin. Endocervical-like mucinous cells in benign and borderline mucinous tumors showed expression of PR and/or gastric-type mucin in all cases.. The staining results for the inclusion cysts support the thesis that the endocervical-like mucinous cells encountered in the ones that express ER and PR weakly or not at all and have histochemical properties of normal gastric epithelium have their origin in metaplasia of müllerian-type epithelium. Application of the same staining methods to benign ovarian tumors and those with low malignant potential suggests strongly that similar müllerian-type metaplasia is a major pathway in their pathogenesis.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous; Adult; Aged; Cell Differentiation; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Cervix Uteri; Concanavalin A; Cystadenoma, Mucinous; Female; Galactose Oxidase; Gastric Mucins; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Metaplasia; Middle Aged; Mullerian Ducts; Ovarian Cysts; Ovarian Neoplasms; Receptors, Estrogen; Receptors, Progesterone; Staining and Labeling

Proteolytic enzymes could be very important in spread of cancer, but the role of the body's natural inhibitors of these enzymes in this process is unknown. One such inhibitor is the serum glycoprotein, alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor (API). In previous studies we showed that the fucose-specific lectin, lotus tetragonolobus, extracted high amounts of API in cancer when patients were unresponsive to treatment. The aim of this study was to determine whether the carbohydrate structure of API is altered in cancer. API was isolated from the sera of healthy women and women with breast or ovarian cancer. By means of high-performance anion-exchange chromatography, cancer API was shown to contain more fucose and less N-acetylglucosamine than healthy API. Further investigation of the purified specimens using a lectin-binding assay suggested that the cancer API was less branched and contained more alpha 2-6 and less alpha 2-3 sialic acid. Observations from both methods were consistent with an increase in bi-antennary chains terminating in alpha 2-6 sialic acid and possibly more alpha 1-6 fucose in the core of the unit. These distinctive changes could have important consequences for the function of API in cancer and may help to develop more precise markers for monitoring pathological progression in this disease.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; alpha 1-Antitrypsin; Breast Neoplasms; Carbohydrate Conformation; Carbohydrates; Concanavalin A; Female; Fucose; Glucans; Humans; Lectins; Middle Aged; Ovarian Neoplasms; Phytohemagglutinins; Plant Lectins; Ribosome Inactivating Proteins; Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; Sialic Acids

A 75-year-old man was diagnosed as having a sessile tumor measuring 1.4 x 1.0 cm in size in the duodenal bulb after upper gastroduodenal series. The biopsy specimens revealed a proliferation of the adenomatous glands showing an acinar structure with papillary infolding; type III mucus, which is characteristic of Brunner's glands. Antral glands and mucus neck cells of the fundic glands were also observed in the adenomatous glands by concanavalin A staining. Thus, it was clear that the tumor had originated from the Brunner's glands. Three years and four months later, the sessile tumor had developed into a fungating ulcerated tumor via a polypoid form. The biopsy specimens revealed a papillary adenocarcinoma with foci of undifferentiated carcinoma. Retrospectively, the adenomatous glands in the biopsy taken from the sessile tumor should have been regarded as low grade carcinoma. Therefore, we propose that when a polyp or tumor shows an increase in size or change in macroscopic appearance, surgery should be considered.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous; Aged; Brunner Glands; Concanavalin A; Duodenal Neoplasms; Humans; Male

Phenotypic expression of tumor cells was investigated in 33 early gastric carcinomas by mucin histochemistry using paradoxical concanavalin A staining. This staining method had been developed to differentiate 3 classes of mucins located at various sites of the alimentary tract. Twenty-five (76%) tumors contained mixtures of neutral or acid class II mucin and class III mucin, suggesting the origin of multipotential stem cells. The surface mucous cell expression was more dominant than the pyloric gland or intestinal phenotypes in the well-and poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas. The intestinal properties of the tumor cells were noted not only in the well-differentiated but also in the poorly differentiated or signet ring cell carcinomas, not closely being related to the presence of background intestinal metaplasia. Signet ring cell carcinomas revealed a distinct pattern of mucin histochemistry compared with the other types.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous; Cell Differentiation; Concanavalin A; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Intestines; Metaplasia; Mucins; Staining and Labeling; Stem Cells; Stomach Neoplasms