Membrane Mucin Muc4 promotes blood cell association with tumor cells and mediates efficient metastasis in a mouse model of breast cancer.

Mucin-4 (Muc4) is a large cell surface glycoprotein implicated in the protection and lubrication of epithelial structures. Previous studies suggest that aberrantly expressed Muc4 can influence the adhesiveness, proliferation, viability and invasiveness of cultured tumor cells, as well as the growth rate and metastatic efficiency of xenografted tumors. Although it has been suggested that one of the major mechanisms by which Muc4 potentiates tumor progression is via its engagement of the ErbB2/HER2 receptor tyrosine kinase, other mechanisms exist and remain to be delineated. Moreover, the requirement for endogenous Muc4 for tumor growth progression has not been previously explored in the context of gene ablation. To assess the contribution of endogenous Muc4 to mammary tumor growth properties, we first created a genetically engineered mouse line lacking functional Muc4 (Muc4ko), and then crossed these animals with the NDL (Neu DeLetion mutant) model of ErbB2-induced mammary tumorigenesis. We observed that Muc4ko animals are fertile and develop normally, and adult mice exhibit no overt tissue abnormalities. In tumor studies, we observed that although some markers of tumor growth such as vascularity and cyclin D1 expression are suppressed, primary mammary tumors from Muc4ko/NDL female mice exhibit similar latencies and growth rates as Muc4wt/NDL animals. However, the presence of lung metastases is markedly suppressed in Muc4ko/NDL mice. Interestingly, histological analysis of lung lesions from Muc4ko/NDL mice revealed a reduced association of disseminated cells with platelets and white blood cells. Moreover, isolated cells derived from Muc4ko/NDL tumors interact with fewer blood cells when injected directly into the vasculature or diluted into blood from wild type mice. We further observed that blood cells more efficiently promote the viability of non-adherent Muc4wt/NDL cells than Muc4ko/NDL cells. Together, our observations suggest that Muc4 may facilitate metastasis by promoting the association of circulating tumor cells with blood cells to augment tumor cell survival in circulation.

Neoplastic transformation of porcine mammary epithelial cells in vitro and tumor formation in vivo.

BACKGROUND: The mammary glands of pigs share many functional and morphological similarities with the breasts of humans, raising the potential of their utility for research into the mechanisms underlying normal mammary function and breast carcinogenesis. Here we sought to establish a model for the efficient manipulation and transformation of porcine mammary epithelial cells (pMEC) in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. METHODS: We utilized a vector encoding the red florescent protein tdTomato to transduce populations of pMEC from Yorkshire -Hampshire crossbred female pigs in vitro and in vivo. Populations of primary pMEC were then separated by FACS using markers to distinguish epithelial cells (CD140a-) from stromal cells (CD140a+), with or without further enrichment for basal and luminal progenitor cells (CD49f+). These separated pMEC populations were transduced by lentivirus encoding murine polyomavirus T antigens (Tag) and tdTomato and engrafted to orthotopic or ectopic sites in immunodeficient NOD.Cg-Prkdc (scid) Il2rg (tm1Wjl) /SzJ (NSG) mice. RESULTS: We demonstrated that lentivirus effectively transduces pMEC in vitro and in vivo. We further established that lentivirus can be used for oncogenic-transformation of pMEC ex vivo for generating mammary tumors in vivo. Oncogenic transformation was confirmed in vitro by anchorage-independent growth, increased cell proliferation, and expression of CDKN2A, cyclin A2 and p53 alongside decreased phosphorylation of Rb. Moreover, Tag-transformed CD140a- and CD140a-CD49f + pMECs developed site-specific tumors of differing histopathologies in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Herein we establish a model for the transduction and oncogenic transformation of pMEC. This is the first report describing a porcine model of mammary epithelial cell tumorigenesis that can be applied to the study of human breast cancers.

Metaplastic breast tumors with a dominant fibromatosis-like phenotype have a high risk of local recurrence.

BACKGROUND: In the current study the authors describe the clinicopathologic characteristics of a low grade variant of spindle cell metaplastic tumors of the breast. Previously these tumors have been considered within a larger group recognized as metaplastic carcinoma, including cases with higher grade features. METHODS: Breast tumors comprised predominantly of low grade spindle cells, with sparse low grade epithelial elements, were selected. Clinical features as well as macroscopic, microscopic, and immunohistochemical findings were reviewed with emphasis on the biologic behavior and the differential diagnosis from other spindle cell lesions. RESULTS: Of 30 tumors fulfilling strict criteria, 20 contained squamous or glandular elements associated with the spindle cells. Ten tumors were comprised entirely of low grade spindle cells with limited clustered epithelioid cells. At the periphery, all tumors showed a proliferation of bland spindle cells infiltrating the adjacent parenchyma and mimicking fibromatosis. The epithelioid cells and some spindle cells expressed both vimentin and one or more cytokeratins. Seven of eight patients treated by excisional biopsy developed local recurrence, whereas only one of ten patients treated with wide excisional biopsy developed a local recurrence. No distant or regional metastases occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of limited clusters of epithelioid cells along with a dominant fibromatosis-like pattern may be unique in the breast. The biologic potential of the fibromatosis-like, spindle cell, metaplastic breast tumors most likely is defined by their major histologic phenotype; they are capable of local recurrence with no demonstrated distant spread or regional metastases, as in pure fibromatosis of the breast.

Breakpoints of the t(11;18)(q21;q21) in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma lie within or near the previously undescribed gene MALT1 in chromosome 18.

Lymphomas arising in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) are indolent B-cell tumors that have a predilection for epithelial sites and often develop in a setting of chronic inflammation or autoimmunity. As many as 50% of low-grade MALT lymphomas contain an (11;18)(q21; q21) chromosomal translocation. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, we have analyzed the position of recombination within chromosome 18 DNA in three examples of MALT lymphoma bearing this translocation. In all three cases, the breakpoint maps to DNA in BAC b357H2, covering about 150 kb of sequence. A previously undescribed, ubiquitously expressed gene, which we refer to as MALT1, was identified within this sequence and was found to be broken in one case for which we have definitively located the position of recombination between chromosomes 18 and 11. The sequence of this gene indicates the presence of two immunoglobulin-like C2 domains and a region of partial homology to caspases, suggesting a possible role for MALT1 in the regulation of apoptosis.

Development, progression, and androgen-dependence of prostate tumors in probasin-large T antigen transgenic mice: a model for prostate cancer.

Probasin (PB) gene product is prostate-specific, epithelial cell in origin, and androgen-regulated. A large 12-kb promoter fragment of the PB gene (LPB) was linked to the simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen (Tag) deletion mutant (that removes the expression of the small t antigen) to deliver consistently high levels of transgene expression to the transgenic mouse prostate. Seven male founders, their male offspring, and all the male offspring from two female founders developed at least prostatic epithelial cell hyperplasia by 10 weeks of age, indicating that the incidence of transformation was 100%. Tumorigenesis in the LPB-Tag animals progressed in a manner similar to that observed in the human prostate. Initially, multifocal proliferating lesions were detected in the prostatic epithelium, which continued to progress into hyperplasia involving the entire epithelium and then low-grade dysplasia. Reactive stromal proliferation was induced and continued to develop throughout the progression to high-grade dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, and adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemical studies indicated that most stromal cells stained positively for both androgen receptor and smooth muscle alpha-actin, suggesting that stromal overgrowth largely represented mesenchymal cells that had differentiated into smooth muscle cells. Epithelial cell transformation was accompanied by the down-regulation of differentiated function, as suggested by the loss of dorsolateral prostate-specific secretory proteins. Tumor growth was regarded as androgen-dependent because tumors regressed in animals castrated at 11 weeks of age, and androgen treatment restored both epithelial/stromal cell ratio and tumor growth. Furthermore, small populations of prostatic epithelial cells in castrated animals continued to proliferate, suggesting the potential for androgen-independent growth. Although prostatic metastasis to other organs was not observed, local invasion was detected. In summary, the LPB-Tag animal model is unique in that it is the only model generated with the Tag alone, thereby eliminating any influences of the small t antigen on prostate tumor formation. Moreover, this model undergoes molecular changes similar to those found in human prostate including: (a) the multi-focal nature of tumorigenesis, (b) the progressive histopathologic changes from low- to high-grade dysplasia similar to human prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, (c) stimulation of reactive stromal proliferation, and (d) the androgen-dependent growth of the primary tumor. Thus, the LPB-Tag prostate tumor model will be useful for studying the sequential mechanisms underlying the development of multistep tumorigenesis.

Development, progression, and androgen-dependence of prostate tumors in probasin-large T antigen transgenic mice: a model for prostate cancer.

Probasin (PB) gene product is prostate-specific, epithelial cell in origin, and androgen-regulated. A large 12-kb promoter fragment of the PB gene (LPB) was linked to the simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen (Tag) deletion mutant (that removes the expression of the small t antigen) to deliver consistently high levels of transgene expression to the transgenic mouse prostate. Seven male founders, their male offspring, and all the male offspring from two female founders developed at least prostatic epithelial cell hyperplasia by 10 weeks of age, indicating that the incidence of transformation was 100%. Tumorigenesis in the LPB-Tag animals progressed in a manner similar to that observed in the human prostate. Initially, multifocal proliferating lesions were detected in the prostatic epithelium, which continued to progress into hyperplasia involving the entire epithelium and then low-grade dysplasia. Reactive stromal proliferation was induced and continued to develop throughout the progression to high-grade dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, and adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemical studies indicated that most stromal cells stained positively for both androgen receptor and smooth muscle alpha-actin, suggesting that stromal overgrowth largely represented mesenchymal cells that had differentiated into smooth muscle cells. Epithelial cell transformation was accompanied by the down-regulation of differentiated function, as suggested by the loss of dorsolateral prostate-specific secretory proteins. Tumor growth was regarded as androgen-dependent because tumors regressed in animals castrated at 11 weeks of age, and androgen treatment restored both epithelial/stromal cell ratio and tumor growth. Furthermore, small populations of prostatic epithelial cells in castrated animals continued to proliferate, suggesting the potential for androgen-independent growth. Although prostatic metastasis to other organs was not observed, local invasion was detected. In summary, the LPB-Tag animal model is unique in that it is the only model generated with the Tag alone, thereby eliminating any influences of the small t antigen on prostate tumor formation. Moreover, this model undergoes molecular changes similar to those found in human prostate including: (a) the multi-focal nature of tumorigenesis, (b) the progressive histopathologic changes from low- to high-grade dysplasia similar to human prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, (c) stimulation of reactive stromal proliferation, and (d) the androgen-dependent growth of the primary tumor. Thus, the LPB-Tag prostate tumor model will be useful for studying the sequential mechanisms underlying the development of multistep tumorigenesis.

Quantification of tumor vascularity and flow with amplitude color Doppler sonography in an experimental model: preliminary results.

This study was designed to evaluate a system to quantitate vascularity and tumor blood flow with amplitude (power) color Doppler sonography. The vascularity of nine transplanted murine tumors was determined with quantitated amplitude color Doppler sonography and compared to tumor vascularity estimated by histologic examination. The system used seemed to provide an accurate depiction of the vascularity of tumor vis-àa-vis histologic estimation of vessel density (r = 0.80). Time-activity curves showed greater flow in the experimental group injected with an exotoxin than in the group injected with saline solution. Vascular density quantification with amplitude color Doppler sonography also was more accurate when an intravascular agent (such as an exotoxin) was used than when saline infusions were given. This quantification scheme may allow the development of a system to assess the probability of malignancy and to monitor tumor response to treatment on the basis of the vascularity of the mass.

Volvulus due to a tumor of Meckel's diverticulum.

Small-bowel obstruction in an old woman was the result of a twisted Meckel's diverticulum containing a large neoplasm. As neoplasms comprise only 1.2-1.4% of the complications of the diverticulum, and generally bleed or cause intussusception, we believe that the condition described is not common.