glycogen and Carcinosarcoma

Topics: Adenofibroma; Adenoma, Pleomorphic; Alkaline Phosphatase; Atrophy; Basement Membrane; Breast; Breast Diseases; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic; Carcinosarcoma; Endocrine Glands; Epithelial Cells; Epithelium; Female; Glycogen; Humans; Hyperplasia; Lipids; Male; Middle Aged; Muscle, Smooth; Myoepithelioma; Myofibrils; Pigments, Biological; Salivary Gland Neoplasms; Sarcoma; Sweat Glands; Water

The authors report three cases of sarcomatoid carcinoma arising in the stomach. This uncommon tumor is characterized by a mixture of malignant epithelial and spindle cell elements. All three tumors were large (average diameter, 5 cm) and infiltrated deep into the stomach wall. Two of the tumors had a polypoid configuration; the third was ulcerated and endophytic. Intestinal metaplasia was present adjacent to the tumor in all cases, with dysplasia in two. Immunohistochemical studies showed positivity for cytokeratin, carcinoembryonic antigen, and epithelial membrane antigen in the epithelial component of all tumors, and Leu-M1 was positive in the epithelial component of one. The spindle cell components contained vimentin, and in tumor 2, the spindle cell component was also positive for desmin. Two tumors showed focal positivity for cytokeratin in the spindle cells immediately adjacent to the epithelial component. Ultrastructurally, the spindle cell component of two tumors was composed of undifferentiated cells without specific epithelial or mesenchymal features. The third tumor contained occasional cells with features of myofibroblasts.

Topics: Aged; Antigens, Differentiation; Carcinosarcoma; Cytoplasm; Cytoskeleton; Female; Glycogen; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Intermediate Filament Proteins; Lymphatic Metastasis; Male; Middle Aged; Mucins; Ovarian Neoplasms; Stomach Neoplasms

The inter-relationships of 32 pathologic and 7 clinical parameters encountered in the study of 1000 examples of invasive breast carcinoma have been presented. In some instances the biological significance of these associations is at present unclear. In others it is to be noted that there is no information provided as to the rank of their significance. Nevertheless, the associations that were encountered not only help further characterize the various forms of breast cancer but also provide information regarding the possible biological significance of some of their features. Although it is not our intention to minimize the possible significance of the inter-relationships of pathologic parameters, most emphasis in the summarizing statements which follow has been placed upon those correlations which may relate to prognosis. In this regard reference has been made to short-term treatment failure, vis a vis local recurrence and/or metastases, which may not necessarily accurately reflect patient survival, although generally such a relationship exists. Information in this regard as well as to the rank of the significance of these pathologic features shall be forthcoming when sufficient time has elapsed since the inception of this study to allow for such conclusions, i.e. survival or long-term treatment failure rates. Lastly, it becomes evident that the guidelines followed in the examination of these specimens appear to represent at least the minimum requirements necessary for a meaningful pathologic evaluation of breast carcinoma.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous; Adult; Blood Vessels; Breast Neoplasms; Calcium; Carcinoma; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating; Carcinoma, Papillary; Carcinosarcoma; Cell Nucleus; Connective Tissue; Elastic Tissue; Female; Glycogen; Histiocytes; Humans; Lymphatic Metastasis; Lymphocytes; Middle Aged; Mucins; Necrosis; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary; Paget's Disease, Mammary; Papilloma; Sweat Glands