Gefitinib in definitive management of esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer: a retrospective analysis of two clinical trials.

The role of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibition in resectable esophageal/gastroesophageal junction (E/GEJ) cancer is uncertain. Results from two Cleveland Clinic trials of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) and surgery are updated and retrospectively compared, the second study differing only by the addition of gefitinib (G) to the treatment regimen. Eligibility required a diagnosis of E/GEJ squamous cell or adenocarcinoma, with an endoscopic ultrasound stage of at least T3, N1, or M1a (American Joint Committee on Cancer 6th). Patients in both trials received 5-fluorouracil (1000 mg/m(2) /day) and cisplatin (20 mg/m(2) /day) as continuous infusions over days 1-4 along with 30 Gy radiation at 1.5 Gy bid. Surgery followed in 4-6 weeks; identical CCRT was given 6-10 weeks later. The second trial added G, 250 mg/day, on day 1 for 4 weeks, and again with postoperative CCRT for 2 years. Preliminary results and comparisons have been previously published. Clinical characteristics were similar between the 80 patients on the G trial (2003-2006) and the 93 patients on the no-G trial (1999-2003). Minimum follow-up for all patients was 5 years. Multivariable analyses comparing the G versus no-G patients and adjusting for statistically significant covariates demonstrated improved overall survival (hazard ratio [HR] 0.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.45-0.91, P = 0.012), recurrence-free survival (HR 0.61, 95% CI = 0.43-0.86, P = 0.006), and distant recurrence (HR 0.68, 95% CI = 0.45-1.00, P = 0.05), but not locoregional recurrence. Although this retrospective comparison can only be considered exploratory, it suggests that G may improve clinical outcomes when combined with CCRT and surgery in the definitive treatment of E/GEJ cancer.

Clinicopathologic features and treatment outcomes of patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is overexpressed in 21% of gastric and 33% of gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinomas. Trastuzumab has been approved for metastatic HER2-positive gastric/GEJ cancer in combination with chemotherapy. This retrospective analysis was undertaken to better define the clinicopathologic features, treatment outcomes, and prognosis in patients with HER2-positive adenocarcinoma of the esophagus/GEJ. Pathologic specimens from 156 patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus/GEJ treated on clinical trials with chemoradiation and surgery were tested for HER2. Seventy-six patients also received 2 years of gefitinib. Baseline characteristics and treatment outcomes of the HER2-positive and negative patients were compared both in aggregate and separately for each of the two trials. Of 156 patients, 135 had sufficient pathologic material available for HER2 assessment. HER2 positivity was found in 23%; 28% with GEJ primaries and 15% with esophageal primaries (P= 0.10). There was no statistical difference in clinicopathologic features between HER2-positive and negative patients except HER2-negative tumors were more likely to be poorly differentiated (P < 0.001). Locoregional recurrence, distant metastatic recurrence, any recurrence, and overall survival were also statistically similar between the HER2-positive and the HER2-negative groups, in both the entire cohort and in the gefitinib-treated subset. Except for tumor differentiation, HER2-positive and negative patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and GEJ do not differ in clinicopathologic characteristics and treatment outcomes. Given the demonstrated benefit of trastuzumab in HER2-positive gastric cancer and the similar incidence of HER2 overexpression in esophageal/GEJ adenocarcinoma, further evaluation of HER2-directed therapy in this disease seems indicated.

Stromal gene signatures in large-B-cell lymphomas.

BACKGROUND: The addition of rituximab to combination chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP), or R-CHOP, has significantly improved the survival of patients with diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma. Whether gene-expression signatures correlate with survival after treatment of diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma is unclear. METHODS: We profiled gene expression in pretreatment biopsy specimens from 181 patients with diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma who received CHOP and 233 patients with this disease who received R-CHOP. A multivariate gene-expression-based survival-predictor model derived from a training group was tested in a validation group. RESULTS: A multivariate model created from three gene-expression signatures--termed "germinal-center B-cell," "stromal-1," and "stromal-2"--predicted survival both in patients who received CHOP and patients who received R-CHOP. The prognostically favorable stromal-1 signature reflected extracellular-matrix deposition and histiocytic infiltration. By contrast, the prognostically unfavorable stromal-2 signature reflected tumor blood-vessel density. CONCLUSIONS: Survival after treatment of diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma is influenced by differences in immune cells, fibrosis, and angiogenesis in the tumor microenvironment.

Prognostic value of regulatory T cells, lymphoma-associated macrophages, and MUM-1 expression in follicular lymphoma treated before and after the introduction of monoclonal antibody therapy: a Southwest Oncology Group Study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose was to examine the prognostic impact of features of tumor cells and immune microenvironment in patients with follicular lymphoma treated with and without anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Tissue microarrays were constructed from archived tissue obtained from patients on three sequential Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) trials for FL. All three trials included anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies were included for patients in the latter two trials. Immunohistochemistry was used to study the number and distribution of cells staining for forkhead box protein P3 (FOXP3) and lymphoma-associated macrophages (LAMs) and the number of lymphoma cells staining for myeloma-associated antigen-1 (MUM-1). Cox proportional hazards regression was used to evaluate the association between marker expression and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: The number or pattern of infiltrating FOXP3 cells and LAMs did not correlate with OS in sequential SWOG studies for FL. The presence of MUM-1 correlated with lower OS for patients who received monoclonal antibody but not for those treated with chemotherapy alone. CONCLUSIONS: Immune cell composition of lymph nodes did not correlate with OS in this analysis of trials in FL. The mechanism of the observed correlation between MUM-1 expression and adverse prognosis in patients receiving monoclonal antibody therapy requires confirmation.

T-cells infiltrating renal cell carcinoma display a poor proliferative response even though they can produce interleukin 2 and express interleukin 2 receptors.

The fact that progressing tumors contain a significant infiltrate of T-cells brings into question the competency of the infiltrating T-lymphocytes (T-TIL). We have examined the role of the T-cell receptor/CD3 complex and/or the interleukin 2 receptor (IL2R) in responsiveness of T-cells that infiltrate human renal cell carcinoma. T-TIL display a poor proliferative response to interleukin 2 (IL2) alone, IL2 in combination with antibody to CD3, or mitogen stimulation. The proliferative unresponsiveness was not related to low expression of CD3 or IL2R beta as the percentage of T-cells expressing CD3 and IL2R beta were comparable in both T-TIL and peripheral blood T-cells obtained from the same patient. In contrast to the lack of proliferative activity, stimulation of T-TIL or peripheral blood lymphocytes with phytohemagglutinin or anti-CD3 resulted in comparable levels of both IL2 and gamma-interferon mRNA and protein expression. While levels of IL2R alpha were low in unstimulated T-TIL and peripheral blood lymphocytes, anti-CD3 antibody or IL2 were capable of inducing surface expression of this protein in both cell populations. IL2R alpha mRNA levels were comparable in T-cells from the tumor and peripheral blood although in some experiments both the percentage of IL2R alpha-positive cells and the density of surface expression per cell were reduced in T-TIL. This reduced IL2R alpha expression on T-TIL was not responsible for the proliferative unresponsiveness since T-TIL that expressed both IL2R alpha and/or IL2R beta still failed to respond to high doses of IL2. Thus T-TIL display a selective loss of response to at least two well defined extracellular stimuli. While T-TIL exhibit a poor proliferative response regardless of the form of stimulation these cells remain sensitive to both anti-CD3 and IL2 in terms of IL2 and gamma-interferon or IL2R alpha expression, respectively. The fact that proliferative unresponsiveness exists even though T-TIL can produce IL2 and express IL2R alpha/beta suggests that T-TIL have a selective loss of a common intracellular signaling pathway which is requisite to proliferation but not other aspects of response to antigenic stimulation.

Loss of T-cell receptor zeta chain and p56lck in T-cells infiltrating human renal cell carcinoma.

Cancer patients and mice bearing tumors develop a progressive immunosuppression manifested by a decreased delayed-type hypersensitivity, decreased T-cell lytic activity, diminished production of lymphokines, and a reduced T-cell proliferative response. The mechanisms underlying these changes are incompletely understood. We recently reported the presence of marked alterations in signal transduction in T-cells from mice bearing long-term (28-day) tumours. We hypothesized that a soluble product produced by the tumor or resulting from the immune response to tumor might be responsible for inducing the changes in T-cells. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes from patients with renal cell carcinoma tested here showed, in 10 of 11 cases, a marked decrease in the expression of the T-cell receptor zeta chain and in p56lck tyrosine kinase. The presence of major alterations in the tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes with only minor changes in the peripheral blood leukocyte T-cells supports the notion that the defects are induced by exposure to tumor. These results suggest that tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes may be compromised in their antitumor efficacy in patients with renal cell cancer.

Characterization of two cell lines with distinct phenotypes and genotypes established from a patient with renal cell carcinoma.

Two human renal carcinoma cell lines have been established from the same patient. One cell line (CCF-RC1) was obtained from the primary tumor and the second (CCF-RC2) was established from cells of the renal vein effluent of the perfused tumorous kidney. Although they were established from the same patient, the cell lines differed in certain biological properties. They have been passaged up to 50 times in vitro for about two years. Each has an epithelial morphology and exhibits mutilayering. Cell cycle time of CCF-RC1 and CCF-RC2 was 34 and 36 h, respectively. They exhibited anchorage independent growth, and the plating efficiency of CCF-RC2 in soft agar was higher than that of CCF-RC1. Both lines induced tumors in nude mice at the site of s.c. injection closely resembling the original tumor in histological examination. Electron microscopic features of both tumors in nude mice were consistent with epithelial origin. Doubling time of CCF-RC1 and CCF-RC2 in nude mice was 11 and 12 days, respectively. CCF-RC1 and CCF-RC2 have hypotetraploid karyotype and modal numbers of 83 and 73, presenting two and three marker chromosomes, respectively. Immunocytology with commercial monoclonal antibodies against renal carcinoma (URO-3) and cytokeratin (Mac 6) showed positive reactions with both lines, suggesting that these cell lines derived from renal epithelium. A murine monoclonal antibody (2E11) was generated against CCF-RC2 by the hybridoma technique; 2E11 reacted with CCF-RC2, but not with CCF-RC1. These cell lines may provide a useful model for the study of tumor heterogeneity and its relationship to metastasis.

Tumorigenicity in athymic mice of the human colon carcinoma cell line SW1116 expressing the tumor-associated antigenic determinant CA 19-9.

The human colorectal carcinoma cell line SW1116 under optimal growth conditions synthesized and shed antigens bearing the monoclonal antibody-defined carbohydrate determinant CA 19-9. Antigen expressing CA 19-9 in cell culture supernatant was quantitated by an immunoradiometric assay for CA 19-9. Injection of SW1116 cells s.c. into athymic BALB/c mice resulted in the growth of moderately differentiated tumors possessing a distinct morphological resemblance to a typical adenocarcinoma of the colon. Intervals to tumor appearance were dependent on inoculum dose, but 95% of mice at both 5 X 10(6) and 10(7) cells/mouse developed tumors within 14 to 21 days. CA 19-9 antigen was detected in the sera of all nude mice with SW1116 tumors, and antigen concentration correlated (r = 0.77) with tumor volume throughout the 9-week study. The half-life of this antigen in serum following tumor excision from nude mice was 6.5 +/- 1.5 (S.D.) hr. Carcinoembryonic antigen was also detected in serum from mice bearing SW1116 tumors by an immunoradiometric assay for carcinoembryonic antigen, but its concentration correlated (r = 0.86) with tumor volume for only the first 4 weeks of tumor growth. Significant levels of endogenous immunoglobulin G1 and immunoglobulin G3 antibodies to CA 19-9 antigen were found in the serum of nude mice with SW1116 tumors by radioimmunodiffusion, but no apparent relationship between antibody titer and tumor growth or CA 19-9 antigen level in serum was evident. This tumor model may be useful in devising radioimmunodetection and immunotherapeutic strategies for primary and metastatic human colon carcinomas.

Characterization of the cytolytic activity of CD4+ and CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in human renal cell carcinoma.

Previously we showed that IL2 expanded tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) from renal cell carcinoma mediated non-major histocompatibility complex-restricted cytotoxicity. Phenotypic analysis showed that cultured TILs were composed mostly of T-lymphocytes with varying numbers of CD4+, CD8+, and CD56+ (Leu19+) populations. Here we compared the cytolytic activity of the two predominant TIL subsets, CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+, to that of the CD56+ populations. Using magnetic beads coated with antibodies to either CD4 or CD8, CD3+CD4+, and CD3+CD8+ TILs were isolated in a highly enriched form (greater than 92%) and could be expanded for over 40 days in vitro with 1000 units/ml IL2. In a 4-h 51Cr release assay the CD4+ and CD8+ TILs showed minimal lytic activity, whereas unseparated cells exhibited significant levels of non-major histocompatibility complex-restricted cytotoxicity. The lytic activity seen in the 4-h assay with unseparated TILs appeared to be related to the presence of CD56+ populations. With one exception none of the purified CD4+ or CD8+ TILs expressed any significant levels of CD56, while the unseparated TILs contained varying numbers of CD3+CD56+ and CD3-CD56+ populations. Cell-sorting experiments verified that the CD56+ populations were responsible for most of the lytic activity in 4 h even though CD3+CD56- cells represented the predominant cell type. Although CD3+CD56- TILs were minimally lytic in 4 h, we show here that both CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ subsets displayed substantial cytotoxicity in long-term assays. In the 18-h 51Cr release assay 5 of 6 CD4+ and 2 of 3 CD8+ TILs were lytic for the autologous tumor. In two cases, restimulation with the autologous tumor induced augmented cytolytic activity of TIL subsets and in one case induced lytic activity in 4 h. The cytotoxic activity of TIL subsets was further examined using a 72-h assay in which TILs were cocultured with a confluent layer of tumor cells. The degree of cytotoxicity was quantitated by measuring the amount of crystal violet dye that was incorporated by tumor cells which remained after the incubation period. CD4+ and CD8+ TILs typically caused greater than a 50% reduction of tumor cells in 3 days and the level of reduction was increased when IL2 was added to the cultures. All the CD4+ and CD8+ subset preparations were cytotoxic in the 3-day assay even though some were not lytic for certain targets in the 18-h 51Cr release assay.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Discrepancies in clinical laboratory testing of eligibility for trastuzumab therapy: apparent immunohistochemical false-positives do not get the message.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have reported what seem to be false-positive results using the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved HercepTest (Dako Corp, Carpinteria, CA) to profile Her-2/neu amplification and overproduction in breast carcinoma. False-positive status has been based on comparisons with gene copy enumeration by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and with comparisons to immunohistochemistry (IMH) results using a monoclonal antibody. However, simple overexpression by tumor cells that have normal gene copy has not been evaluated by profiling mRNA expression, ie, such cases could simply represent true-positive, transcriptionally upregulated overexpression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four hundred infiltrating ductal carcinomas of breast were evaluated by IMH using monoclonal (CB11; Ventana Medical Systems, Inc, Tucson, AZ) and polyclonal (HercepTest; Dako) antibodies after antigen retrieval (AR). A polyclonal antibody sans AR (PCA/SAR) was also used. All IMH stains were evaluated and scored according to the guidelines for the FDA-approved HercepTest. A total of 145 of 400 carcinomas were subsequently evaluated by direct and digoxigenin-labeled (Dig) FISH, and 144 of 400 were evaluated by detection of mRNA overexpression via autoradiographic RNA:RNA in situ hybridization. RESULTS: Overall HercepTest/CB11 IMH discordance was 12%. Expression of mRNA was highly concordant with FISH and DigFISH amplification and with CB11 and PCA/SAR immunohistology. IMH false-positive cases (no Her-2/neu gene amplification) occurred with both HercepTest (23%) and CB11 (17%), and the majority of false-positive results (34 of 44) were scored as 2+. All 2+ false-positive cases were mRNA-negative. Combined results of HercepTest and CB11 showed that 79% (38 of 48) of 3+ cases were Her-2/neu gene amplified, but only 17% (seven of 41) of 2+ cases had increased gene copy. CONCLUSION: Discordant HercepTest/FISH results, and to a lesser extent discordance with CB11 IMH, are most commonly false-positive results with a score of 2+. The 2+ score as defined in the guidelines for the FDA-approved HercepTest should not be used as a criterion for trastuzumab therapy unless confirmed by FISH. Determination of Her-2 gene copy number by FISH may be a more accurate and reliable method for selecting patients eligible for trastuzumab therapy.

Breast tumor immunophenotype of BRCA1-mutation carriers is influenced by age at diagnosis.

PURPOSE: Breast tumors of BRCA1 mutation carriers and those of early onset breast cancer cases share similar histological features, being generally high-grade, highly proliferative, aneuploid tumors that are predominantly estrogen- and progesterone-receptor negative. Because histological features of tumors of premenopausal women differ from those of tumors of older women, we sought to determine whether the immunophenotype of breast tumors of BRCA1 mutation carriers was influenced by age at diagnosis. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We examined 31 breast tumors from BRCA1 mutation carriers and compared them with 81 tumors of age-matched (plus or minus 5 years) breast cancer patients unselected for family history. Tumors were further matched for histology, grade, and size. Paraffin-embedded tumor tissues were examined for protein expression of estrogen receptor (ER), PR, Ki-67, cyclin D1, TP53, HER2, beta-catenin, and cyclin E using immunohistochemical approaches. RESULTS: ER (P = 0.01), PR (P = 0.06), and cyclin D1 (P = 0.002) were less frequently expressed and Ki-67 (P = 0.01) and beta-catenin (P = 0.04) were more frequently expressed in tumors of BRCA1 mutation carriers than controls. After age stratification, we found a significant difference in the frequency of tumors of BRCA1 mutation carriers diagnosed before 50 years of age compared with age-matched controls that stained positive for ER (P = 0.01), PR (P = 0.03), Ki-67 (P = 0.008), cyclin D1 (P < 0.001), HER2 (P = 0.04), and beta-catenin (P = 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in tumors of BRCA1 mutation carriers diagnosed at age 50 or older compared with age-matched controls. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that age at diagnosis, possibly related to menopausal status, may be an important factor in the expression of specific proteins in breast tumors of BRCA1 mutation carriers.

A simplified method of CD34+ cell determination for peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation and correlation with clinical engraftment.

Enumeration of CD34+ cells by flow cytometry is the recognized standard for quantitating progenitor cells for peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) transplantation. Although many clinical studies have confirmed that the time to neutrophil and platelet engraftment is inversely proportional to the number of CD34+ cells infused, the minimum number of CD34+ cells necessary to acheive rapid engraftment has not been satisfactorily determined. The lack of a standardized method for quantitation of CD34+ cells by flow cytometry (FCM) is often cited as the reason for this ambiguity. This report describes an FCM method for CD34+ cell determination that is simple, highly reproducible, comparatively inexpensive, and validated by excellent correlation with clinical engraftment. Pheresis samples are stained and fixed within 4 hours of collection. Two hundred fifty thousand events are acquired as list mode data using a forward scatter threshold. The discrete CD34+ population is enumerated using a CD34-phycoerythrin FL2 vs. side scatter plot and Paint-A-Gate Pro software. The method was validated by excellent statistical correlation with clinical engraftment. Using this method, we determined the number of CD34+ progenitor cells necessary to achieve rapid engraftment to be 2 x 10(6)/kg.

Characterization of a human renal cell carcinoma specific cytotoxic CD8+ T cell line.

Human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the tumors most sensitive to immunotherapy and in that regard it is similar to malignant melanoma. Clinical studies reporting responses to therapy suggested that a host immune response may be involved in the antitumor activity induced by immunotherapy in these tumors. Although detection of a specific T cell response to melanoma has been well documented, this has not been the case for RCC. The lytic response of interleukin-2 (IL-2) cultured tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) from RCC has been nonspecific. However, in this report we describe a CD8+ TIL line derived from a primary RCC tumor that displays specificity for the autologous tumor. This line is lytic for autologous RCC but does not lyse autologous lymphoblasts, allogeneic RCC, or tumor cell lines of other histologic types. It also proliferates specifically to the autologous tumor in the absence of exogenous IL-2. However, the addition of low dose IL-2 to the cultures can significantly augment its proliferative response. When stimulated with autologous RCC but not allogeneic RCC the CD8+ line will produce interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). It appears that recognition of RCC by this TIL line is through the TCR/CD3 complex because anti-CD3 antibody blocks the lytic activity, proliferation and IFN-gamma production of the line in response to the autologous tumor. Additional studies illustrate that cytotoxic T lymphocytes with apparent specificity for the autologous tumor are present in unseparated cultured TILs that can be detected by clonal analysis. Collectively these results suggest that there is a specific T cell response to human RCC.

Pulmonary vasculitis (Wegener's granulomatosis). Immunohistochemical study of T and B cell markers.

A case of pulmonary vasculitis (Wegener's granulomatosis) is reported in which immunoperoxidase studies demonstrated that the vascular lymphoid infiltrates were composed predominantly of T cells and monocytes. Occasional T cells, B cells and monocytes were identified in the alveolar septa. IgG, IgA, IgM, and C3 were not identified in pulmonary vessels, septa, or alveoli. These findings suggest that cellular rather than humoral-immune mechanisms predominate in pulmonary vasculitis.

Antigenic phenotype of splenic hairy cells.

Hairy cell leukemia, a distinct clinical and morphologic lymphoproliferative disorder, is characterized by the proliferation of mononuclear cells of uncertain derivation. Attempts to identify the cell of origin have used studies either of functional capabilities or of membrane/cytoplasmic antigens. Only a few cases have been studied via monoclonal antibodies. Frozen sections of splenic tissue involved with hairy cell leukemia were studied with a variety of monoclonal antibodies having specificity for differentiation antigens using the avidin-biotinylated peroxidase complex technique. Conventional direct and indirect immunohistochemical study was used for immunoglobulin heavy and light chains. In all but one case, the neoplastic cells expressed monoclonal immunoglobulin. Although T cells were identified in persisting periarteriolar sheaths and occasionally admixed with red blood cells in pseudosinuses, phenotypic expression of intrathymic or peripheral T cell antigens by the proliferating neoplastic cells was not observed. Conversely, expression of B1 and HLA-Dr antigens by splenic hairy cells was documented in all 10 cases. Hairy cell leukemia cells did not express either monocyte antigens (M1 and MO2) or the antigens expressed by early (J5) and intermediate (B2) B cells or plasmacytoid lymphocytes and plasma cells (T10). These immunohistochemical results with monoclonal antibodies provide further evidence that hairy cell leukemia is characterized by a combination of antigens peculiar to mature B lymphocytes.

Small noncleaved B cell Burkitt-like lymphoma with chromosome t(8;14) translocation and Epstein-Barr virus nuclear-associated antigen in a homosexual man with acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

This case report describes new manifestations of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in a promiscuous homosexual man. Investigation of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the patient lead to discovery of a high-grade, small, noncleaved cell (Burkitt-like) gastroduodenal lymphoma with visceral and extralymphatic extension. Specific phenotyping of the lymphoma revealed that it was a monoclonal B cell lymphoma of mu kappa isotype. An in vitro cell line was established that was Epstein-Barr virus nuclear-associated antigen-positive. The lymphoma cells displayed a t(8;14) translocation similar to endemic African Burkitt lymphoma. Epstein-Barr virus genomes were identified in the lymphoma and an axillary lymph node biopsy specimen by molecular hybridization. These data strongly suggest that Epstein-Barr virus actively infected this patient. However, he showed normal Epstein-Barr virus-specific serologic responses, indicating an immune defect against the virus.

Light chain nephropathy.

In 13 specimens of renal tissue from 11 patients, deposits of monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains and continuous granular electron-dense material within tubular basement membranes and in association with the glomerular basement membrane were identified. All but one patient were men n the fifth to seventh decades of life, and each presented with azotemia and features of glomerular rather than tubulointerstitial disease. Osteolytic bone lesions occurred in only three patients, and a bone marrow plasmacytosis greater than 30 percent consistent with plasma cell myeloma was identified in only four patients. Light chain distribution in the nephron was confirmed with immunoelectron microscopy and was not associated with deposition of other serum proteins such as immunoglobulin heavy chains, complement, transferrin, alpha 2 macroglobulin and albumin. The electron dense deposits differed in distribution and character from those associated with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type II (dense deposit disease), amyloidosis, cryoglobulinemia, macroglobulinemia and benign monoclonal gammopathy. Serum from six of these patients did not bind to normal human or rat renal parenchyma in vitro. Kappa light chain nephropathy was characterized by predominant linear tubular basement membrane kappa deposits, and nodular mesangial and linear glomerular basement membrane kappa immunostaining. Lambda light chain nephropathy was characterized by linear lambda glomerular basement membrane and tubular basement membrane immunostaining. Manifestations of glomerular dysfunction dominated the clinical presentation of light chain nephropathy, and most patients did not have typical features of multiple myeloma. The diagnosis was predicated upon thorough immmunohistologic assessment of renal biopsy material.

Concomitant oncoprotein detection with fluorescence in situ hybridization (CODFISH): a fluorescence-based assay enabling simultaneous visualization of gene amplification and encoded protein expression.

We sought the validation of a three-color fluorescence-based system that simultaneously profiles Her2/neu oncogene copy by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and Her-2/neu encoded protein by the use of a versatile alkaline phosphatase chromogen fast red K in either fluorescence or bright-field mode. Nuclei were counterstained with DAPI. Nineteen infiltrating ductal carcinomas of breast were comprehensively evaluated for Her-2/neu amplification/overexpression by direct and indirect FISH using digoxigenin (DigFISH) and direct fluorescently labeled probes, autoradiographic RNA:RNA in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibody CB11. CODFISH results correlated well with DigFISH, direct-label FISH, mRNA expression, and oncoprotein expression as assessed with CB11, and enabled simultaneous visualization of gene copy and protein. In addition, qualitative immunohistochemistry may be followed by CODFISH gene copy enumeration to clarify ambiguous cases.

The nature of the myenteric infiltrate in achalasia: an immunohistochemical analysis.

Achalasia is an esophageal motor disorder characterized by abnormal relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter and absence of progressive peristalsis in the esophageal body. Previous studies evaluating esophagomyotomy and esophageal resection specimens have shown the presence of myenteric inflammation to be a consistent and early pathologic change in patients with achalasia. Thus, the goal of this study was to determine the immunohistochemical characteristics of the inflammatory infiltrate within the myenteric plexus in patients with clinically early and end-stage achalasia. Using formalin-fixed tissue, we analyzed the immunohistochemical features of the myenteric lymphocytes using antibodies that recognize B cells (CD20), T cells (CD3), T cell subsets (CD8), and the activation state of T cell subpopulations (TIA-1 and granzyme B) in nine patients with clinically early achalasia who underwent esophagomyotomy and 13 patients with clinically endstage achalasia who underwent esophageal resection. The myenteric infiltrate in all nine esophagomyotomy specimens was composed predominantly of T cells (CD3-positive), the majority of which also stained for CD8. In five of nine specimens, the majority of CD8-positive cells stained for TIA-1. In the esophageal resection specimens, the myenteric infiltrate was composed predominantly of CD3-positive T cells in seven of 13 cases. In three cases, there was a predominance of CD20-positive B cells, and in the remaining three cases there were relatively equal numbers of T and B cells. In eight of 13 cases, the majority of T cells stained for CD8. TIA-1 immunoreactivity was found in the majority of CD8-positive cells in nine of 13 cases. In all esophagomyotomy and esophageal resection specimens studied, rare granzyme B-positive cells were detected. In conclusion, the majority of myenteric inflammatory cells in patients with achalasia are CD3-positive T cells, most of which are also CD8-positive, although the relative percentage of such cells appears to decrease with disease progression. Furthermore, many of the CD3-positive/CD8-positive myenteric lymphocytes also express TIA-1, suggesting they are resting or activated cytotoxic T cells. The immunohistochemical demonstration of granzyme B in a subpopulation of these cells supports the contention that achalasia is an immune-mediated disease, although the inciting antigen remains an enigma.

Reliable and cost-effective paraffin section immunohistology of lymphoproliferative disorders.

We studied 110 neoplastic and reactive lymphoid proliferations with three monoclonal antibodies--CD20 (L26), CD43 (Leu22), and CD45RO (UCHL1)--on B5-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue to evaluate the utility of this panel as an immunotypic screen of such lesions. All cases were initially immunotyped by conventional methods. Genotyping by Southern blot hybridization was also done in 54 cases. Seventy-four of 79 malignant lymphomas and both of two hairy cell leukemias were of B-cell origin; and five lymphomas were defined as T-cell lineage. Lineage assignment was identical for paraffin section immunohistology and conventional immunotyping in 73 of 76 B cell and all of five T-cell tumors. CD20 was reactive with 73 of 76 B-cell tumors. CD43 was reactive with 12 of 74 B-cell lymphomas, and CD20/CD43 coexpression was seen in 11 of these cases. CD43 and CD45RO marked all of five and three of five T-cell lymphomas, respectively. Lineage assignment was identical for paraffin immunohistology and genotyping in 48 of 50 cases with identifiable gene rearrangements. Twenty-four nonneoplastic and five Hodgkin's disease cases that were studied also showed similar immunoreactivity patterns by both paraffin and conventional immunotypic methods. This panel of three monoclonal antibodies is an efficient, cost-effective approach for immunotyping most lymphoid proliferations in paraffin sections. Nevertheless, the pathologist should always try to obtain fresh or frozen tissue to aid in resolving occasional discrepant cases, to establish clonality in morphologically ambiguous ones, and to profile prognostically important phenotypic deletions.