Comparative study of angiogenesis in thyroid glands with Graves disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Angiogenesis entails the sprouting of new vessels from pre-existing vasculature. In adults, angiogenesis occurs in the thyroid gland during disease processes such as hyperplastic goiter, Graves disease, thyroiditis, and cancer. In the present study multiple morphologic characteristics of microvessels were measured in and compared between 18 cases of Graves disease, 29 cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and 15 control cases. All histologic sections were immunostained for CD31. Quantification of microvessel density (MVD), major axis length, minor axis length, area, perimeter and shape factor was performed by image analysis. MVD was increased significantly in both forms of autoimmune thyroid disease. Significantly higher values were found in Graves disease in comparison to Hashimoto's thyroiditis. In contrast, major axis length, minor axis length, and area had significantly higher values in Hashimoto's thyroiditis than in Graves disease. The statistical analysis revealed MVD as the unique significant morphometric factor discriminating the two autoimmune entities.

Tissue detection of natural killer cells in colorectal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Natural killer (NK) cells represent a first line of defence against a developing cancer; however, their exact role in colorectal cancer remains undetermined. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression of CD16 and CD57 [immunohistochemical markers of natural NK cells] in colorectal adenocarcinoma. METHODS: Presence of NK cells was investigated in 82 colorectal adenocarcinomas. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed, using 2 monoclonal antibodies (anti-Fc Gamma Receptor II, CD16 and an equivalent to Leu-7, specific for CD-57). The number of immunopositive cells (%) was evaluated by image analysis. The cases were characterized according to: patient gender and age, tumor location, size, grade, bowel wall invasion, lymph node metastases and Dukes' stage. RESULTS: NK cells were detected in 79/82 cases at the primary tumor site, 27/33 metastatic lymph nodes and 3/4 hepatic metastases; they were detected in levels similar to those reported in the literature, but their presence was not correlated to the clinical or pathological characteristics of the series, except for a negative association with the patients' age (p = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS: Our data do not support an association of NK cell tissue presence with clinical or pathological variables of colorectal adenocarcinoma, except for a negative association with the patients' age; this might possibly be attributed to decreased adhesion molecule expression in older ages.

Potential role of apoptosis and apoptotic regulatory proteins in colorectal neoplasia: correlations with clinico-pathological parameters and survival.

An imbalance between apoptotic and proliferative processes is believed to underlie colorectal neoplasia. We evaluated the expression of bcl-2, p53, mdm2 proteins, and apoptosis in colorectal neoplasms, as well as their correlation with clinico-pathological parameters, using image analysis. Biopsies from 46 colorectal cancers, 121 adenomas, and 25 controls were studied using monoclonal antibodies against p53, bcl-2, mdm2 and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl-transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) method for apoptosis. P53 and bcl2 protein expression was higher in adenomas >or=1 cm (P < 0.03) and tubulovillous-villous adenomas (P < 0.03), and correlated with dysplasia (P < 0.03). In Cox regression analysis, Dukes' stage was the most significant independent prognostic indicator of a worse survival (P < 0.019), whereas when stage was eliminated, bcl-2 expression was also a powerful predictor for bad prognosis (P = 0.02). In conclusion, both bcl-2 and p53 immunohistochemical profiles may be useful adjuncts in detecting adenomas with a malignant potential, whereas bcl-2 could be used in combination with Dukes' stage as a predictor of prognosis in colorectal cancer.