Prognosis according to histochemical analysis of liver metastases removed at liver resection.

BACKGROUND: Liver metastases occur in 40-50 per cent of patients with colorectal cancer and determine long-term survival. The aim of this study was to examine the immunological architecture of colorectal liver metastases and its impact on patient survival. METHODS: Specimens from patients with colorectal liver metastases were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and Masson trichrome, immunostained for α-smooth muscle actin, CD4, CD45RO and CD8, and analysed by flow cytometry. In addition to histomorphological evaluation, immunohistochemically stained sections were analysed for cell numbers in the tumour area, infiltrative margin and distant liver stroma separately. These findings were correlated with clinical data and patient outcome. RESULTS: Tumour containment by a fibrotic capsule around liver metastases was observed in 37·8 per cent of 201 patients and was prognostic for improved survival (median (s.e.) survival 64 (6) and 31 (4) months for patients with capsule and no capsule respectively; P < 0·001) and independently led to higher R0 resection rates (P = 0·040). In multivariable analysis, CD45RO(+) cell infiltration at the peritumoral margin with low CD45RO(+) cell infiltration in the distant liver stroma (P = 0·001) and fibrotic capsule formation (P = 0·008) both independently prolonged patient survival. Using these two factors, a cellular immune score was designed and shown to stratify patient survival in test and validation samples (both P < 0·001). CONCLUSION: Fibrotic capsule formation and localized cell infiltration of colorectal liver metastases by CD45RO(+) cells were related to prolonged patient survival. Based on these immunological criteria a cellular immune score was developed to stratify patients according to prognosis.

EGFR mutational status in a large series of Caucasian European NSCLC patients: data from daily practice.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still poor. Activating epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are important genetic alterations with dramatic therapeutical implications. Up to now, in contrast to Asian populations only limited data on the prevalence of those mutations are available from patients with Caucasian and especially European ethnicity. METHODS: In this multicentre study, 1201 unselected NSCLC patients from Southern Germany were tested in the daily clinical routine for EGFR mutation status. RESULTS: Activating EGFR mutations were found in 9.8% of all tumours. Mutations in exons 18, 19 and 21 accounted for 4.2%, 61.9% and 33.1% of all mutations, respectively. Non-smokers had a significantly higher rate of EGFR mutations than smokers or ex-smokers (24.4% vs 4.2%; P<0.001). Non-lepidic-non-mucinous adenocarcinomas (G2) accounted for 45.5% of all activating EGFR mutations and 3.5% of all squamous cell carcinomas were tested positive. Thyroid transcription factor 1 protein expression was significantly associated with EGFR mutational status. CONCLUSION: These comprehensive data from clinical routine in Germany add to the knowledge of clinical and histopathological factors associated with EGFR mutational status in NSCLC.

Inhibition of innate co-receptor TREM-1 signaling reduces CD4(+) T cell activation and prolongs cardiac allograft survival.

The innate receptor "triggering-receptor-expressed-on-myeloid-cells-1" (TREM-1) enhances downstream signaling of "pattern recognition receptor" (PRR) molecules implicated in inflammatory responses. However the mechanistic role of TREM-1 in chronic heart rejection has yet to be elucidated. We examined the effect of TREM-1(+) antigen-presenting cells (APC) on alloreactive CD4(+) lymphocytes. Bm12 donor hearts were transplanted into wild-type MHC-class-II-mismatched C57BL/6J recipient mice. Progressive allograft rejection of bm12-donor hearts with decreased organ function, severe vasculopathy and allograft fibrosis was evident within 4 weeks. TREM-1(+) CD11b(+) MHC-II(+) F4/80(+) CCR2(+) APC and IFNγ-producing CD4(+) cells were detected during chronic rejection. Peptide inhibition of TREM-1 attenuated graft vasculopathy, reduced graft-infiltrating leukocytes and prolonged allograft survival, while being accompanied by sustained low levels of CD4(+) and CD8(+) cell infiltration. Remarkably, temporary inhibition of TREM-1 during early immune activation was sufficient for long-term allograft survival. Mechanistically, TREM-1 inhibition leads to reduced differentiation and proliferation of IFNγ-producing Th1 cells. In conclusion, TREM-1 influences chronic heart rejection by regulating the infiltration and differentiation of CD4(+) lymphocytes.

Lung transplantation in the fischer 344-wistar kyoto strain combination is a relevant experimental model to study the development of bronchiolitis obliterans in the rat.

Chronic allograft rejection and bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) limited successful long-term outcome after lung transplantation (LTX). Reliable animal models are needed to study the pathogenesis of BO and to develop effective therapeutic strategies. The relevance of an available experimental LTX model without immunosuppression-the Fischer (F344)-Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rat strain combination-was analyzed. The kinetics of acute and chronic rejection and respective graft histopathology were described in the F344-to-WKY rat strain combination after allogeneic LTX. A modified classification of chronic lung allograft rejection was introduced to describe obliterative changes in the airways after rat LTX. Animals from Harlan Winkelmann (HW) and Charles River (CR) were examined. Within 14 days after LTX, allografts showed moderate to severe acute vascular and bronchiolar inflammation. In contrast to rats from CR, animals from HW showed a delayed acute rejection process. Mid-term phase after LTX (days 20-40) presented a "borderline form" consisting of both acute and first signs of chronic airway rejection. On postoperative day (POD) 60, first signs of airway remodelling and distinct BO were diagnosed in 80% of animals from HW. At the same time, the allografts with BO-like lesions increased up to 100% in rats from CR. The F344-to-WKY rat LTX model allows detailed assessment of all features of acute and chronic pulmonary rejection representing a clinically relevant model. However, due to breeding differences resulting in various sublines of the same rat strain, the source and husbandary history of the animals is important for analysis of immuno-mediated processes.

Eosinophilic cholangitis and wirsungitis as cause of simultaneous bile duct obstruction and pancreatitis.

Eosinophilic cholangitis is a rare clinical entity characterised by transmural eosinophilic infiltration of the biliary system. The aetiology of this disease is still unclear. We report on a 49-year-old male patient who presented with symptoms of obstructive jaundice and imaging suggestive for periampullary carcinoma. After partial pancreatoduodenectomy for suspected pancreatic cancer, pathology revealed massive eosinophilic cholecystitis as well as intra- and extrahepatic eosinophilic cholangitis with pseudopolypoid papillary lesions. Our case illustrates the diagnostic pitfalls in eosinophilic cholangitis as careful imaging procedures - optimally interdisciplinary - should be considered and performed in such patients. In conclusion, eosinophilic cholangitis is an uncommon, inflammatory condition that needs to be considered as a differential diagnosis for periampullary malignancies.

Low-dose chemotherapy in combination with COX-2 inhibitors and PPAR-gamma agonists in recurrent high-grade gliomas - a phase II study.

OBJECTIVES: Combined treatment approaches targeting tumor as well as other cells contributing to tumor progression may control chemorefractory malignancies. METHODS: A phase II trial was initiated to analyze the activity of continuously administered pioglitazone and rofecoxib combined with low-dose chemotherapy (capecitabine or temozolomide) in patients with high-grade gliomas (glioblastoma or anaplastic glioma). RESULTS: Fourteen patients were evaluable for response and toxicity. Major side effects were palmoplantar erythema, edema and motor neuropathy grade 3. Disease stabilizations lasting longer than 3 months were noted in 4 of 14 patients (29%). Clinical responses did not correspond to immunohistochemical staining for cyclooxygenase 2, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma and CD31. DISCUSSION: The study demonstrates that this novel regimen is moderately active and well tolerated in patients with high-grade gliomas. As a comparably small proportion of patients responded, the regimen might only be suitable for a subset of highly selected patients.