IGF-IR: a new prognostic biomarker for human glioblastoma.

BACKGROUND: Glioblastomas (GBMs) are the most common malignant primary brain tumours in adults and are refractory to conventional therapy, including surgical resection, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system is a complex network that includes ligands (IGFI and IGFII), receptors (IGF-IR and IGF-IIR) and high-affinity binding proteins (IGFBP-1 to IGFBP-6). Many studies have reported a role for the IGF system in the regulation of tumour cell biology. However, the role of this system remains unclear in GBMs. METHODS: We investigate the prognostic value of both the IGF ligands' and receptors' expression in a cohort of human GBMs. Tissue microarray and image analysis were conducted to quantitatively analyse the immunohistochemical expression of these proteins in 218 human GBMs. RESULTS: Both IGF-IR and IGF-IIR were overexpressed in GBMs compared with normal brain (P<10(-4) and P=0.002, respectively). Moreover, with regard to standard clinical factors, IGF-IR positivity was identified as an independent prognostic factor associated with shorter survival (P=0.016) and was associated with a less favourable response to temozolomide. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that IGF-IR could be an interesting target for GBM therapy.

Microsatellite instable vs stable colon carcinomas: analysis of tumour heterogeneity, inflammation and angiogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Microsatellite instability (MSI) accounts for 15% of all colorectal tumours. Several specific clinicopathologicals (e.g., preference for the proximal colon over the distal colon, improved prognosis and altered response to chemotherapeutics) are described for this subset of tumours. This study aimed to analyse morphological, inflammatory and angiogenic features of MSI vs microsatellite stable (MSS) tumours. METHODS: Twenty-seven MSS and 29 MSI, TNM stage matched, colorectal tumours were selected from the archive of the Department of Pathology, UZ Leuven. Morphology was analysed on haematoxylin-eosin sections. Immunohistochemistry for CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20 and CD68 was used to map tumour infiltration in both a digital and traditional microscope-based manner for all distinct morphological components of the tumour. CD31 immunostains were performed to assess angiogenesis. RESULTS: Morphological tumour heterogeneity was a marked feature of MSI tumours, occurring in 53% of the cases as compared with 11% of the MSS tumours (P<0.001). Digital immune quantification showed an increased number of tumour-infiltrating cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CD8+) in MSI compared with MSS tumours for both the tumour (P=0.02) and peritumoural area (P=0.03). Traditional microscope-based quantification confirmed these results (P<0.001 for both) and, in addition, revealed large numbers of CD68+ macrophages in the peritumoural area of MSI cancers (P=0.001). Moreover, traditional microscope-based analysis was able to distinguish between lymphocytes directly infiltrating the tumoural glands (intra-epithelial) and those infiltrating only the neoplastic stroma around the glands (intratumoural). Quantification showed high numbers of intra-epithelial CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD20+ and CD68+ cells in MSI compared with MSS cancers (P<0.001, P=0.01, P<0.001, P<0.001 and P=0.006, respectively). Higher microvessel density (MVD) was observed in MSI tumours compared with their MSS counterpart. CONCLUSIONS: Mixed morphology, reflecting tumour heterogeneity, is an important feature of MSI tumours and may have both diagnostic and therapeutic impact. The inflammatory reaction also presented with significant differences in MSI vs MSS colorectal tumours. MSI cancers showed mainly infiltration by cytotoxic T-cells in both the tumour and the close border around the tumour, as well as increased intra-epithelial infiltration in contrast to MSS tumours. The type of immune cell and the compartment it resides in (intratumoural or intra-epithelial) depend both on MSI status and morphology. Finally, MSI tumours showed a higher angiogenic capacity represented by an increased MVD, hinting for possible therapeutic consequences.

Epithelial expression of FHL2 is negatively associated with metastasis-free and overall survival in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Four-and-a-half LIM domains protein 2 (FHL2) is a component of the focal adhesion structures and has been suggested to have a role in cancer progression. It has been shown to be overexpressed in the colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: Here, we examined a possible prognostic value of FHL2 in CRC. Immunohistochemistry for FHL2 was performed on 296 CRCs without distant metastases at the time of surgery. Staining in the epithelial compartment was quantitatively evaluated using image analysis, and results were related to clinical variables. Antibody specificity was tested using small-interfering RNA transfection in hTERT-immortalised myofibroblasts. RESULTS: Varying degrees of cytoplasmic FHL2 expression by neoplastic epithelial cells were detectable in all cases. Higher FHL2 expression in the epithelial compartment was an independent adverse prognostic factor. Multivariate Cox analysis shows that expression in the tumour invasion front (P<0.001) as well as in the centre of the tumour (P<0.001) was associated with metachronous metastases independently of the clinicopathological variables; expression in the tumour invasion front was also associated with overall survival independently of the clinicopathological variables (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Higher FHL2 expression is involved in CRC progression and correlates with the development of metachronous metastases and overall survival, suggesting that FHL2 is an independent adverse prognostic indicator for CRC.

Clinicopathological significance of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 expression in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) is a tryptophan-catabolising enzyme that induces immune tolerance by modulating T-cell responses. Carcinomas may create an immunosuppressive state via IDO1 expression. Here we examined a possible contribution of IDO1 on this phenomenon and investigated whether IDO1 has prognostic value in colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: IDO1 expression was investigated by quantitative PCR and western blotting in three colon cancer cell lines, in basal state and after interferon (IFN)-γ stimulation. Semi-quantitative immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate IDO1 expression in 265 pT1-4N0-2Mx-staged CRCs. Results were related to clinical variables and correlated with amounts of CD3(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes, which were quantitatively evaluated using image analysis. RESULTS: In vitro expression of IDO1 depended on IFN-γ stimulation. Higher IDO1 expression at the tumour invasion front was an independent adverse prognostic factor in pT1-4N1Mx-staged CRC. It was associated with overall survival (P=0.001) and with metachronous metastases (P=0.018). IDO1 expression was not associated with the presence of CD3(+) or CD8(+) T lymphocytes. CONCLUSION: Higher IDO1 expression at the tumour invasion front is involved in CRC progression and correlates with impaired clinical outcome, suggesting that IDO1 is an independent prognostic indicator for CRC.

Lycorine and its derivatives for anticancer drug design.

Amaryllidaceae alkaloids are extensively studied for their biological activities in several pharmaceutical areas, including, for example, Alzheimer's disease for which galanthamine has already reached the market. Among this chemical family, lycorine displays very promising anti-tumor properties. This review first focuses on the chemical diversity of natural and synthetic analogues of lycorine and their metabolites, and then on mechanisms of action and biological targets through which lycorine and its derivatives display their anti-tumor activity. Our analysis of the structure-activity relationships of this family of compounds highlights the existence of various potential leads for the development of novel anticancer agents.

High expression of CXCR4 may predict poor survival in resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Chemokines and their receptors are involved in tumourigenicity and clinicopathological significance of chemokines receptor expression in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA) is not fully understood. This study was conducted to determine patients' outcome according to the expressions of CXCR4, CXCR7 and HIF-1alpha after resection of PA. Immunohistochemistry for CXCR4, CXCR7 and HIF-1alpha expressions as well as cell proliferative index (Ki-67) was conducted in 71 resected (R0) PA and their 48 related lymph nodes (LN) using tissue microarray. CXCR4 and CXCR7 expressions were positively correlated to HIF-1alpha suggesting a potential role of HIF-1alpha in CXCR4 and CXCR7 transcription activation. Patients with CXCR4(high) tumour expression had shorter OS than those with low expression (median survival: 9.7 vs 43.2 months, P=0.0006), a higher risk of LN metastases and liver recurrence. In multivariate analysis, high CXCR4 expression, LN metastases and poorly differentiated tumour are independent negative prognosis factors. In a combining analysis, patients with a CXCR7(high)/CXCR4(high) [corrected] tumour had a significantly shorter DFS and OS than patients with a CXCR4(low)/CXCR7(low) [corrected] tumour. CXCR4 in resected PA may represent a valuable prognostic factor as well as an attractive target for therapeutic purpose.

The galectin family and digestive disease.

The soluble-type lectins or galectins constitute a family of proteins defined by shared consensus amino acid sequence and affinity for beta-galactose-containing oligosaccharides. These molecules are widely distributed in the animal kingdom; to date, 15 mammalian galectins have been described but more are likely to be discovered. These proteins are involved in many biological processes including cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion, growth regulation, signaling, and cytokine secretion. Over the last decade, a vast amount of reports has shown the importance of several galectins in the development and progression of malignancies in the digestive tract, mainly colorectal cancers. More recent data indicate that some of these molecules are also involved in inflammatory bowel diseases. This review focuses on the current knowledge of galectin expression and putative functions in the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, and colon. It also highlights that the rapid accumulation of research data promises future scenarios in which individual members of the galectin family and/or their ligands will be used as diagnostic and therapeutic modalities for neoplastic as well as inflammatory disorders. However, the concretization of these potential modalities requires substantial improvements in terms of standardization of galectin expression evaluation together with prospective validation of the present data.

Increased expression and altered intracellular distribution of adhesion/growth-regulatory lectins galectins-1 and -7 during tumour progression in hypopharyngeal and laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas.

AIMS: To examine the level of expression of the pleiotropic regulators galectins-1 and -7 in relation to neoplastic progression of hypopharyngeal (HSCCs) and laryngeal (LSCCs) squamous cell carcinomas. METHODS AND RESULTS: The presence of galectins-1 and -7 was investigated using quantitative immunohistochemistry in (i) a series of 78 HSCCs by comparison with 17 normal epithelia (N_E), 26 low-grade dysplasia (low_D) and 27 high-grade dysplasia (high_D) and (ii) a series of 56 LSCCs by comparison with 50 N_E, 23 low_D and 29 high_D. Galectin-1 positivity expressed as a percentage of cells was significantly higher in carcinomas (HSCCs and LSCCs) than in N_E, low_D or high_D (P < 10(-6)). Galectin-7 expression was elevated in low_D (P = 0.0004) compared with N_E and in carcinomas (HSCC) compared with high_D (P = 0.0002). Tumour progression from high_D to carcinomas was associated with a shift of galectin-1 localization from the nucleus towards the cytoplasm. Increased expression of galectin-7 in dysplasias was accompanied by a shift from the cytoplasmic compartment (N_E) to the nucleus (low_D and high_D). CONCLUSIONS: Our data reveal an association between the level of presence of galectins-1 and -7 and neoplastic progression of HSCCs and LSCCs. Moreover, inverse shifts between nuclear and cytoplasmic positivity intimating functional divergence were detected.

Apparent diffusion coefficient and cerebral blood volume in brain gliomas: relation to tumor cell density and tumor microvessel density based on stereotactic biopsies.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: MR imaging-based apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and regional cerebral blood volume (rCBV) measurements have been related respectively to both cell and microvessel density in brain tumors. However, because of the high degree of heterogeneity in gliomas, a direct correlation between these MR imaging-based measurements and histopathologic features is required. The purpose of this study was to correlate regionally ADC and rCBV values with both cell and microvessel density in gliomas, by using coregistered MR imaging and stereotactic biopsies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen patients (9 men, 9 women; age range, 19-78 years) with gliomas underwent diffusion-weighted and dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced MR imaging before biopsy. Eighty-one biopsy samples were obtained and categorized as peritumoral, infiltrated tissue, or bulk tumor, with quantification of cell and microvessel density. ADC and rCBV values were measured at biopsy sites and were normalized to contralateral white matter on corresponding maps coregistered with a 3D MR imaging dataset. ADC and rCBV ratios were compared with quantitative histologic features by using the Spearman correlation test. RESULTS: The highest correlations were found within bulk tumor samples between rCBV and cell density (r=0.57, P < .001) and rCBV and microvessel density (r=0.46, P < .01). An inverse correlation was found between ADC and microvessel density within bulk tumor (r=-0.36, P < .05), whereas no significant correlation was found between ADC and cell density. CONCLUSION: rCBV regionally correlates with both cell and microvessel density within gliomas, whereas no regional correlation was found between ADC and cell density.

Aristolochic acid induces proximal tubule apoptosis and epithelial to mesenchymal transformation.

Aristolochic acid contamination in herbal remedies leads to interstitial fibrosis, tubular atrophy, and renal failure in humans. To study the cellular mechanisms contributing to the pathophysiology of this renal disease, we studied Wistar rats treated with aristolochic acid and measured tubular and interstitial cell proliferation, epithelial/mesenchymal cell marker expression, tubular membrane integrity, myofibroblast accumulation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, tubular apoptosis, and fibrosis. Oxidative stress, a loss of cadherin concomitant with vimentin expression, basement membrane denudation with active caspase-3 expression, and mitochondrial injury within tubular cells were evident within 5 days of administration of the toxin. During the chronic phase, interstitial mesenchymal cells accumulated in areas of collagen deposits. Impaired regeneration and apoptosis of proximal tubular cells resulted in tubule atrophy with a near absence of dedifferentiated cell transmembrane migration. We suggest that resident fibroblast activation plays a critical role in the process of renal fibrosis during aristolochic acid toxicity.

Tenascin-C expression relates to clinicopathological features in pilocytic and diffuse astrocytomas.

AIMS: Tenascin-C (TN-C) is an extracellular matrix brain glycoprotein for which conflicting in vitro and in vivo results are reported in the literature dealing with its involvement in astrocytoma aggressiveness, in particular astrocytoma invasion. In view of these conflicting results and the lack of data available on low-grade astrocytomas, the present study focuses on pilocytic World Health Organization (WHO) grade I, and diffuse WHO grade II astrocytomas, that is, two histological entities associated with very different invasive abilities. METHODS: Using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry, we analysed the TN-C expression in normal brain tissue as well as in a series of 54 pilocytic and 53 grade II astrocytomas. CONCLUSIONS: Our data on normal brain showed that while TN-C is largely expressed in supratentorial white matter, it was largely absent in infratentorial white matter. Paralleling these observations, we showed that TN-C expression in low-grade astrocytomas similarly varies according to tumour site. Cox regression analysis evidenced that TN-C provided an independent prognostic value which is enhanced in the case of grade II astrocytomas for which positive TN-C expression is associated with a higher risk of recurrence. We also analysed TN-C expression specifically in vascular areas of low-grade astrocytomas without demonstrating any prognostic value for this additional feature. RESULTS: Similarly to normal brain, low-grade astrocytomas exhibit variations in TN-C expression with site, and this expression is associated with an independent prognostic value in terms of recurrence.

Stereotactic comparison among cerebral blood volume, methionine uptake, and histopathology in brain glioma.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Vascularity, metabolism, and histologic grade are related in gliomas but the exact determinants of these relationships are not fully defined. We used image coregistration and stereotactic biopsies to regionally compare cerebral blood volume (CBV) and (11)C-methionine (MET) uptake measurements in brain gliomas and to assess their relationship by histopathologic examination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients with brain gliomas underwent MR imaging, including dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced MR and positron-emission tomography (PET) using MET acquired in identical stereotactic conditions before biopsy. MR-based CBV maps were calculated and both CBV maps and PET images were coregistered to anatomic images. Sixty-five biopsy samples were obtained on trajectories targeted toward high MET uptake area. The following histopathologic features were semiquantified in each sample: mitotic activity, endothelial proliferation, cellular pleomorphism, and tumor necrosis. CBV and MET uptake values were measured in the biopsy area and normalized to contralateral white matter. CBV ratios were compared with MET uptake ratios, and both measurements were compared with histologic features of each sample. RESULTS: CBV ratios ranged from 0.08 to 10.24 (median = 1.73), and MET uptake ratios ranged from 0.30 to 4.91 (median = 1.67). There was a positive correlation between CBV ratios and MET uptake ratios (r = 0.65, P < .001). Both CBV and MET uptake ratios were found to be significantly related to endothelial proliferation and mitotic activity (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Within glial tumors, there is a local relationship between CBV and MET uptake measurements. Both provide indices of focal malignant activity.

The in vitro influences of neurotensin on the motility characteristics of human U373 glioblastoma cells.

Astrocytic tumours are associated with dismal prognoses due to their pronounced ability to diffusely invade the brain parenchyma. Various neuropeptides, including gastrin, are able to modulate tumour astrocyte migration. While neurotensin has been shown to influence the proliferation of glioma cells and the migratory ability of a large set of other cell types, its role in glioma cell migration has never been investigated. Neurotensin-induced modifications to the motility features of human U373 glioblastoma cells therefore constitute the topic of the present study. We evidenced that three subtypes of neurotensin receptors (NTR1, NTR2 and NTR3) are expressed in U373 glioblastoma cells, at least as far as their mRNAs are concerned. Treating U373 tumour cells with 10 nM neurotensin markedly modified the morphological patterns of these cells and also profoundly altered the organization of their actin cytoskeletons. Pull-down assays revealed that neurotensin induced the activation in U373 cells of both Rac1 and Cdc42 but not RhoA. Scratch wound assays evidenced that neurotensin (0.1 and 10 nM) very significantly inhibited wound colonization by U373 cells cultured in the absence of serum. In addition, quantitative phase-contrast videomicroscopy analyses showed that neurotensin decreases the motility levels of U373 glioblastoma cells when these cells are cultured on plastic. In sharp contrast, neurotensin stimulates the motility of U373 cells when they are cultured on laminin, which is a pro-adhesive extracellular matrix component ubiquitously secreted by glioma cells. Our data thus strongly suggest that, in addition to gastrin, neurotensin is a neuropeptide capable of modulating tumour astrocyte migration into the brain parenchyma.

Co-expression/co-location of S100 proteins (S100B, S100A1 and S100A2) and protein kinase C (PKC-beta, -eta and -zeta) in a rat model of cerebral basilar artery vasospasm.

OBJECT: The cellular events leading to cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid haemorrhages (SAH) involve a number of members of the protein kinase C (PKC) family. However, whereas calcium is thought to play a number of major roles in the pathophysiology of SAH, a number of PKCs function independently of calcium. We recently emphasized the potential role of the calcium-binding S100 proteins in a 'double haemorrhage' rat model of SAH-induced vasospasm. A number of S100 proteins are known to interfere directly with PKC, or indirectly with PKC substrates. We therefore investigated whether specific S100 proteins and PKCs are co-expressed/co-located in a rat model of SAH-induced vasospasm. METHODS AND RESULTS: SAH-induced vasospasm in rats (by means of a double cisternal injection of autologous blood from a rat femoral artery) distinctly modified the expression levels of calcium-dependent PKC-alpha and PKC-beta and calcium-independent PKC-eta and PKC-zeta in endothelial and smooth-muscle cells. The RNA levels of these four PKC isotypes were determined by quantitative RT-PCR. The present study reveals that, in endothelial cells, the S100B expression/location correlate well with those of PKC-eta, and those of S100A1 with PKC-beta. In smooth-muscle cells S100A2 expression/location correlate with those of PKC-eta, and those of S100B with PKC-zeta. CONCLUSION: The present data argue in favour of a joint action of the S100 protein network and the PKC signalling pathway during cerebral vasospasm.

Human galectin-2: expression profiling by RT-PCR/immunohistochemistry and its introduction as a histochemical tool for ligand localization.

Sugar-encoded information of glyco-conjugates is translated into cellular responses by endogenous lectins. Galectins stand out against other lectin families due to their wide range of functions including cell adhesion, tissue invasion or growth regulation exerted at extracellular, membrane, cytoplasmic and nuclear sites. This remarkable versatility warrants close scrutiny of their emerging network, in this study with focus on homodimeric human galectin-2. We first detected presence of specific mRNA in various tissue types by processing post mortem and surgical specimens by RT-PCR protocols. Overlap of gene expression was noted with proto-type galectins-1 and -7 and also family members from the other two subgroups. To monitor expression on the level of protein a polyclonal anti-galectin-2 antibody was raised. Immunopositivity was semi-quantitatively assessed in sections of 209 human samples establishing an array both of normal tissues and samples with inflammation or benign/malignant growth. In general, positivity was predominantly epithelial without restriction of staining to certain tissue types, as fittingly indicated by our RT-PCR analysis. Staining was not limited to the cytoplasm but also included nuclear sites. To examine the suitability of the labeled lectin as a histochemical probe we biotinylated galectin-2 under activity-preserving conditions and introduced it to tissue profiling. Specific cytoplasmic staining proved the validity of the concept. Our results encourage systematic histopathologic studies by immuno- and lectin histochemistry, especially by adding galectin-2 as study object to galectin fingerprinting which has already yielded prognostic information on galectins-1, -3, -4 and -8 and hereby contributed to define functional overlap/divergence in this lectin family.

The differential expression of Galectin-1 and Galectin-3 in normal lymphoid tissue and non-Hodgkin's and Hodgkin's lymphomas.

The WHO classification of lymphomas was established on the basis of clinical, morphological, immunohistochemical and genetic criteria. However, each entity displays its own spectrum of clinical aggressiveness. Treatment success varies widely and is not predictable. Since galectins are involved in oncogenesis and the physiology of immune cells, we investigated whether galectin-1 and galectin-3 immunohistochemical expression could differ in 25 normal lymphoid tissues, 42 non-Hodgkins and 14 Hodgkins lymphomas. Immunohistochemical galectin expression was submitted to semi-quantitative and quantitative (computer-assisted microscopy) evaluations. This study is completed by an analysis (by means of quantitative RT-PCR) of galectin-3 mRNA expression in 3 normal lymph nodes, 3 follicular lymphomas (FLs) and 3 diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs). The data show that in normal lymphoid tissue, lymphocytes do not express galectin-1 and rarely express galectin-3. In contrast, galectin-3 was expressed in 8 of the 16 DLBCL cases and in 1 of the 8 FL cases. Furthermore, galectin-3 mRNA was expressed 3 times more in the DLBCLs than in the FLs. While the blood vessel walls of the lymphomas expressed galectin-1, the vessel walls of normal lymphoid tissues did not. This expression of galectin-1 in blood vessel walls was correlated with vascular density. The present study thus shows that DLBCL can be distinguished from normal lymphoid tissue and other lymphomas on the basis of galectin-3 expression.

Tracking of migrating cells under phase-contrast video microscopy with combined mean-shift processes.

In this paper, we propose a combination of mean-shift-based tracking processes to establish migrating cell trajectories through in vitro phase-contrast video microscopy. After a recapitulation on how the mean-shift algorithm permits efficient object tracking we describe the proposed extension and apply it to the in vitro cell tracking problem. In this application, the cells are unmarked (i.e., no fluorescent probe is used) and are observed under classical phase-contrast microscopy. By introducing an adaptive combination of several kernels, we address several problems such as variations in size and shape of the tracked objects (e.g., those occurring in the case of cell membrane extensions), the presence of incomplete (or noncontrasted) object boundaries, partially overlapping objects and object splitting (in the case of cell divisions or mitoses). Comparing the tracking results automatically obtained to those generated manually by a human expert, we tested the stability of the different algorithm parameters and their effects on the tracking results. We also show how the method is resistant to a decrease in image resolution and accidental defocusing (which may occur during long experiments, e.g., dozens of hours). Finally, we applied our methodology on cancer cell tracking and showed that cytochalasin-D significantly inhibits cell motility.

The infrared spectrum of human glioma cells is related to their in vitro and in vivo behavior.

The present research investigates whether infrared spectra can be related to the biological characteristics of glioma cell lines. We used nine human glioma cell lines for which a series of in vitro and in vivo biological features had already been established [Glia 36 (2001) 375] and were able to show that their characteristic infrared spectra reflect their in vitro migration (i.e., motility and invasiveness) properties and their in vivo aggressiveness. More particularly, the infrared data evidenced correlations at the level of the lipid/protein ratio. These relationships were found to be tissue-dependent when controlled on seven pancreatic carcinoma cell lines. We also showed that oligodendroglial and astrocytic tumor cells, whose identification remains difficult, can easily be identified by their infrared spectra in the lipid acyl chain region as well as in the nucleic acid region. We concluded that infrared spectroscopy could usefully complement information provided by more conventional diagnostic and prognostic (e.g., morphological and molecular) approaches.

S100A5: a marker of recurrence in WHO grade I meningiomas.

Some WHO grade I intracranial meningiomas resected from the same sites and with the same quality of resection (Simpson's grading scale) recur, while others do not. The reasons for this variability in occurrence of recurrence have not yet been determined. We therefore investigated the prognostic recurrence value of seven biological markers on a series of completely resected WHO grade I meningiomas. For this purpose, we analysed a series of 33 WHO grade I meningiomas totally resected between 1980 and 1990 (a follow-up of 10 years), including 14 cases of recurrence. The fixed tumour material from each meningioma was submitted to histochemical analyses targeting galectin-3 and its binding sites, the S100A5, S100A6 and S100B proteins, and cathepsin-B and -D. The levels of expression were assessed semi-quantitatively (in terms of the staining intensity and the labelling index) and submitted to uni- and multivariate analyses. Of all the markers investigated, only S100A5 expression can be associated with any significant prognostic value in the matter of recurrence. More particularly, the meningiomas with high levels of S100A5 staining intensity either did not recur, or recurred later than those with a low immunopositive S100A5 intensity (P = 0.004). Cox regression analyses demonstrated that this latter marker was associated with significant prognostic values independent of the patients' ages. Furthermore, the combination of the patients' ages and S100A5 staining intensity permitted the identification of a group with a particularly high risk of recurrence, that is, the patients younger than 55 and with meningiomas exhibiting low S100A5 intensities (P = 0.001). In conclusion, the S100A5 protein could play a role in the recurrence of totally resected WHO grade I meningiomas.

Differential expression of S100 calcium-binding proteins in epidermoid cysts, branchial cysts, craniopharyngiomas and cholesteatomas.

AIMS: To investigate whether epidermoid cysts, branchial cysts, craniopharyngiomas and cholesteatomas express S100 proteins differentially by immunohistochemical assaying the presence of S100A1, S100A2, S100A3, S100A4, S100A5, S100A6 and S100B. METHODS AND RESULTS: Immunopositivity/negativity was recorded for each S100 protein in a series of 52 cases consisting of 12 epidermoid cysts, 12 branchial cysts, 15 adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas and 13 acquired cholesteatomas. Except in the case of the craniopharyngiomas, immunoreactivity was assessed independently in the basal membrane and the basal, the internal and the keratin layers. Our data show that in contrast to S100B, which was rarely expressed, S100A1, S100A2, S100A4 and S100A5 were often present in these four types of epithelial lesions. S100A3 and S100A6 and, to a lesser extent, S100A5 were the most differentially expressed proteins across the different histopathological groups analysed. These three proteins are expressed more often in craniopharyngiomas and cholesteatomas, the two more aggressive types of lesions. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to report data on the expression of seven S100 proteins in different histopathological groups of epithelial head and neck lesions, whose precise embryological origins are still a matter of debate. S100 proteins could possibly be used as markers to target this embryonic origin, since our results show that S100A3 and S100A6 (and, to a lesser extent, S100A5) are expressed differentially across these different groups of epithelial lesions.