Solitary plasmacytoma of the tonsillar site associated with actinomyces infection: the possible role of IL-6.

ExtraMedullary Plasmacytoma (EMP) is a rare plasma cell tumor. It can occur in the upper aerodigestive tract and presents as a large nodule causing local compressive symptoms. A 79-year old woman presented to Otorhinolaryngology Department with progressive hearing loss and no other symptoms. Following PET/TC examination due to the suspicion of a lymphoproliferative disease, the patient underwent tonsillectomy and the diagnosis of solitary EMP was formulated. In addition to that, the histological examination of the tonsillar tissue revealed large colonies of filamentous bacteria, showing abundant sulphur granules and Splendore-Hoeppli phenomenon; these evidences indicating the presence of a chronic Actinomyces infection. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated a marked IL-6 immunoreactivity of the neoplastic plasma cells. Interestingly, a marked IL-6 immunoreactivity was also found in the tissue surrounding the Actinomyces colonies. In the present study we report for the first time a solitary EMP associated with Actinomycosis. It is tempting to speculate that the unsuspected and untreated Actinomyces infection, through chronic IL-6 production, could contribute to the neoplastic transformation of plasma cells.

Plasmacytoma associated with canaliculitis.

Plasmacytomas are plasma cell neoplasms that rarely involve ocular adnexal tissues as a primary lesion or secondary manifestation of plasma cell myeloma. Only one case of plasmacytoma involving the lacrimal drainage system, to our knowledge, is described in the literature. The clinical presentation of ocular adnexal primary plasmacytoma typically relates to its mass effect. In this clinicopathologic report, we describe an unusual presentation of primary plasmacytoma of the lacrimal canaliculus as infectious canaliculitis.

Avian v-myc replaces chromosomal translocation in murine plasmacytomagenesis.

Deregulation of c-myc expression in association with chromosomal translocations occurs in over 95% of murine plasmacytomas, rat immunocytomas, and human Burkitt lymphomas. Infection with a murine retrovirus (J-3) containing an avian v-myc rapidly induced plasmacytomas in pristane-primed BALB/cAn mice. Only 17% of the induced plasmacytomas that were karyotyped showed the characteristic chromosomal translocations involving the c-myc locus. Instead, all of the translocation-negative tumors demonstrated characteristic J-3 virus integration sites that were actively transcribed. Thus, the high levels of v-myc expression have replaced the requirement for chromosomal translocation in plasmacytomagenesis and accelerated the process of transformation.

Selective expression of intracisternal A-particle genes in established mouse plasmacytomas.

Mouse plasmacytomas generally express higher levels of RNA transcripts from endogenous intracisternal A-particle (IAP) proviral elements than do lipopolysaccharide-stimulated normal lymphocytes. Lymphocytes express a limited and highly characteristic set of IAP elements (lymphocyte-specific [LS] elements). In this study, we examined whether LS elements are expressed at higher levels after transformation of the cells and/or whether new IAP elements are activated. The IAP elements expressed in plasmacytoma MPC11 were characterized by sequence analysis of 22 cDNA clones. The long terminal repeats (LTRs) of the tumor cDNAs proved to be highly related in sequence. None of the clones was of the LS cDNA type. The MPC11 LTRs were five- to sixfold more active than an LS cDNA LTR when tested for promoter activity by transfection into plasmacytoma cells. The LTRs of the tumor-derived cDNAs contained a canonical ATF core sequence (ATF-PC), while the LS cDNAs contained an altered sequence (ATF-LS). An ATF-PC oligonucleotide probe detected multiple IAP transcripts on Northern (RNA) blots of RNA from several plasmacytoma but gave no reaction with RNA from stimulated B lymphocytes. In contrast, an ATF-LS probe detected higher levels of RNA in lymphocyte than in tumor RNAs. Thus, expression of IAP elements in transformed B cells is selective for a different set of regulatory sequence variants than those expressed in normal B cells. Other oligonucleotide probes representing LS- and PC-specific sequence variants detected multiple common hypomethylated IAP proviral loci in three independently derived plasmacytomas. Overall, the results show that established plasmacytomas exhibit a characteristic pattern of IAP proviral hypomethylation and regulatory sequence selection.

Protection against MOPC-315 plasmacytoma by immunization with C-type particle preparations.

Mice were given injections of C-type particles extracted from the ascitic fluid of plasmacytoma-bearing mice. These particles, extracted from MOPC-315 tumor-bearing mice and injected into BALB/c mice, protected them against challenge with MOPC-315 tumor cells. The protection was dependent upon tumor cell dose; 66% survival was observed with a lethal dose of tumor cells. No protection was observed against challenge with another plasmacytoma (S13). Attempts to protect mice against S-13 plasmacytoma by immunizing them with C-type particles originating from S-13 tumor-bearing mice were unsuccessful.

Induction of plasmacytomas that secrete monoclonal anti-peptide antibodies by retroviral transformation.

ABL-MYC, a retrovirus that coexpresses v-abl and c-myc, was used to infect six BALB/c mice that had been immunized twice with a KLH-conjugated peptide that consisted of the 18 carboxyterminal amino acids of protein kinase C-eta (PKC-eta). All mice developed transplantable, monoclonal plasmacytomas, and five out of six plasmacytomas secreted antigen-specific antibodies, even after transplantation. All these antibodies recognized PKC-eta on Western blots of crude cell lysates and did not cross react with other isoforms of the PKC family.

IgG-kappa-type plasmacytoma secreting salivary-type amylase in adult T-cell leukemia.

A IgG-kappa-type plasmacytoma secreting salivary-type amylase ectopically is reported in a patient with smouldering adult T-cell leukemia(ATL). The patient had plasmacytomas in the distal region of the right femur, the proximal region of left tibia, and the left paranasal sinus. Both his serum and urine contained high levels of amylase. The presence of IgG-kappa and S-type amylase in the plasmacytoma cells was confirmed immunocytochemically. In addition, he was also positive for the antibody against the human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I), and had abnormal lymphocytes with convoluted nuclei (ATL cells) in the peripheral blood. The monoclonal integration of HTLV-I proviral DNA was demonstrated in the leukemic cells of the peripheral blood, but not in the plasmacytoma cells. Our case suggested that not only can HTLV-I infection play a role in the development of ATL, but may also induce a B-cell malignancy in an indirect manner, and even an ectopic amylase producing plasmacytoma.

Antitumor activity of Borrelia burgdorferi cultures.

Cultures of B. burgdorferi, their supernatants as well as washed cells revealed in vitro a considerable antitumor activity against cells of Gardner lymphoma. Németh-Kellner lymphoma and LP-2 plasmacytoma. In in vivo tests an inhibition of tumor growth was evident, even if the treatment was started on day 4 after implantation of the tumor. The best results were obtained with the supernatants of the cultures.

[Gastric solitary plasmacytoma associated with +Helicobacter pylori infection]. / Plasmocitoma solitario gástrico asociado a infección por Helicobacter pylori.

Solitary gastric plasmacitomas are infrequent tumors. They account for 5% of the extramedullary plasmacitomas. We report an unusual case in a 14 years old boy. The patient has had gastric symptoms for 2 years prior to an endoscopic examination. A fungating, ulcerated lesion was observed in the antrum. The biopsies showed a monoclonal, Lambda positive, diffuse, plasmocitic proliferation infiltrating the mucosa. Also a moderate number of Helicobacter pylori were identified in the gastric pits and numerous lymphoid follicules were observed in the deep portion of the mucosa. In view of the presence of HP infection the patient was treated with Orneprazole and Clarithromycin. Endoscopic examination and biopsies performed 3 and 5 months later showed a complete remission of the gastric lesion. At the time of this report the patient is in good physical condition, has recovered his weight and has grown 5 cm. Differential diagnosis with plasmo limpho in chronic gastritis and with lympheicitic lymphoma with plasmocitoid features had to be done. The macroscopic appearance of the gastric lesion, the absence of other inflammatory cells and monoclonality of the plasmocitic infiltration ruled out chronic gastritis. The negative staining for CD 20 as well as the abscence of lymphoid cells in the mucosal infiltrate give support: to the diagnosis of plasmocitoma. The close association between gastric MALT lymphoma and HP infection has been reported as well as its regression after antibiotic treatment for its erradication. In our review of the literature we failed to find any references to the association of HP with gastric plasmocitoma nor to its regression after antibiotic therapy.

[Characteristics of the gene transcription of the intracisternal A-particles]. / Osobennosti transkriptsii genov intratsisternal'nykh A-chastits.

A clone containing the gene of intracisternal A-particles (IAP-gene) was isolated by hybridization with type A double-stranded RNA from the bank of fragments of genome mouse DNA cloned in pBR322 plasmid. Using DNA fragments of this clone we studied transcription of IAP-genes in cells of MOPC-21 plasmocytoma and Ehrlich ascitic carcinoma. Transcription was shown to be partially symmetrical, with predominant transcription of one of DNA chains. The observed transcripts could not be associated with known variants of IAP-genes. The sizes of RNAs transcribed in MOPC-21 and Ehrlich ascitic carcinoma cells and their sequences differed significantly. Apparently, minor variants of IAP-genes are transcribed in the cells under study.

Primary gastric plasmacytoma associated with Helicobacter pylori infection: a report of two cases with different prognosis.

We describe two cases of primary gastric plasmacytoma (GP) associated with Helicobacter pylori infection. Case 1 was that of a 58-year-old man with epigastric pain. H. pylori was eradicated before surgical resection was performed, and after the therapy, the tumor size was reduced. A postoperative pathological examination revealed that the tumor was in early stage and histological grade was grade 1. After 44 months of operation, the patient was in complete remission with no evidence of local relapse or progression to systemic MM. Case 2 was that of a 70-year-old woman with a history of melena. H. pylori eradication was not presented preoperatively. The resected specimen showed the tumor was in advanced stage and histological grade 3. GP eventually progressed to MM and she died of pulmonary infection. In our opinion, GP cannot be eradicated with H. pylori eradication, but disease progression can be effectively controlled to a certain extent. The prognosis of this disease is relatively fair when treated at an early stage. In addition to the treatment, the difference in prognosis could be associated with age, the stage of the tumor, and histological grade.

Gastric plasmacytoma and Helicobacter pylori infection.

A 59-year-old man with a history of melena and upper abdominal pain was referred to our hospital. An upper endoscopy was performed, and a gastric ulcer was found bordering the antrum and stomach body. Multiple biopsies from the lesion showed monoclonal plasmacytic infiltration of the mucosa, consistent with the diagnosis of plasmacytoma. Helicobacter pylori was also identified. Triple therapy failed and quadruple therapy eradicated the H. pylori, confirmed by repeated biopsies. Healing of the gastric lesion followed the treatment. Multiple biopsies from the scar and the entire stomach showed complete regression of the plasmacytoma. The association between gastric plasmacytoma and H. pylori is discussed.

Type C virus particles in X63-Ag8.653 mouse plasmacytoma cells and in hybridomas derived from it.

In addition to type A virus particles which are common in Balb/c derived mineral oil induced plasmacytomas, type C virus particles have been found in the plasmacytoma cell lines X63-Ag8 and X63-Ag8.653 used in the hybridoma technique. In hybridomas obtained after fusion of X63-Ag8.653 cells with Balb/c spleen cells, C particles were expressed in 5 out of 13 different clones examined, whereas A particles were always present. Virus expression and antibody production do not exclude each other.