The development of primary cutaneous adenoid cystic carcinoma in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis treated with etanercept.

The tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibitors are widely used in the treatment of some autoimmune disorders with promising results. However, their safety has been questioned with multiple postmarketing reports of increased risk for malignancies. The case of a patient with ankylosing spondylitis who developed cutaneous adenoid cystic carcinoma after three years of treatment with anti-TNF-alpha therapy is discussed.

Somatic mitochondrial DNA mutations in oral cancer of betel quid chewers.

Somatic mitochondrial DNA alteration is a general phenomenon that occurs in cancerous cells. Although numerous mtDNA mutations have been identified in various tumors, the pathogenic significance of these mutations remains unclear. In order to better understand the role of mtDNA mutations in the neoplastic process of oral cancer, the occurrence of mtDNA mutations in oral squamous cell carcinomas was screened by temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TTGE). The entire mitochondrial genome was amplified with 32 pairs of overlapping primers. The DNA fragments showing different banding patterns between normal and tumor mtDNA were sequenced for the identification of the mutations. Fourteen of 18 (77.8%) tumors had somatic mtDNA mutations with a total of 26 mutations. Among them, 6 were in mRNA coding region. Three were missense mutations (C14F, H186R, T173P) in NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2). One frameshift mutation, 9485delC, was in cytochrome c oxidase subunit III. Eight (44%) tumors had insertion or deletion mutations in the np303-309 poly C region of the D-loop. Our results demonstrate that somatic mtDNA mutations occur in oral cancer. The missense and frameshift mutations in the evolutionary conserved regions of the mitochondrial genome may have functional significance in the pathogenesis of oral cancer.

Expression of alveolar type II cell markers in acinar adenocarcinomas and adenoid cystic carcinomas arising from segmental bronchi. A study in a heterotopic bronchogenic carcinoma model in dogs.

The type II alveolar epithelial cell is one of two pluripotential stem cell phenotypes in normal mammalian lung morphogenesis; cells manifesting this phenotype have been found to constitute bronchioloalveolar regions of canine adenocarcinomas. We now studied type II cell expression in canine acinar adenocarcinomas and adenoid cystic (bronchial gland) carcinomas, using the same bronchogenic carcinoma model (subcutaneous bronchial autografts treated with 3-methylcholanthrene). Distinctive features of type II cells are the approximately cuboid cell shape, large and roundish nucleus, immunofluorescent staining of the cytoplasm for the surfactant protein SP-A, and presence of multilamellar bodies or their precursory forms. Cells with these type II cell characteristics were found in the basal epithelial layer of all tumor lesions and in upper layers as far as the lumen, singly or in clusters; they were also found in early invasive carcinomatous lesions but not in bronchial glands or bronchial epithelium before carcinogen exposure. Immunoblots of tumor homogenates showed reactive proteins within size classes of SP-A (28 to 36 kd) or its dimeric form (56 to 72 kd). These findings and those previously reported are consistent with the concept that chemical carcinogenesis in the adult bronchial epithelium may lead to type II cell carcinomas of varying glandular (acinar, adenoidcystic or bronchioloalveolar) growth patterns.

[Malignant diseases of the inner nose--epidemiology and occupational medicine aspects]. / Bösartige Erkrankungen der inneren Nase--Epidemiologie und arbeitsmedizinische Aspekte.

Squamous cell carcinomas are the most frequent malignancies of the inner nose, followed by adenocarcinomas, adenoid cystic carcinomas, and other malignant neoplasms. Carcinomas of the nose can be recognized as occupational diseases if there has been a professional exposition to ionizing rays, certain arsenic compounds, hexavalent chrome compounds, nickel, oak or beech wood dust. The sources of danger relevant in industrial medicine are indicated. At present, adenocarcinomas induced by dust of wood are of special significance: 16 out of 22 carcinomas of the nose recognized as occupational diseases between 1978 and 1986 are due to oak and beech wood dust.

Morphological and biological characteristics of mammary tumours induced by the direct application of DMBA powder to rat mammary glands.

Mammary tumours were induced by the direct dusting of 1 mg, 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) powder onto the mammary gland of both 30-day-old female and male Sprague-Dawley rats, and the tumours were examined histologically. Mammary tumours developed in 43/43 (100%) of the females 11 to 20 weeks after DMBA dusting and 16/23 (70%) of the males 18 to 28 weeks after dusting, while non-mammary spindle cell sarcomas occurred in 5/23 (22%) of the males 15 to 24 weeks after dusting. A variety of benign and malignant mammary tumours of epithelial and/or mesenchymal origin were induced, which are comparable to human mammary tumours. Different histological patterns were observed in different areas of the same tumours. Ovariectomy revealed hormone (ovary)-dependency in 10/17 (59%) of the tumours, revealing regressing epithelial and proliferating mesenchymal tumour elements on histological examination.

Ultrastructure of mammary carcinomas in male rats induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene.

The morphology of mammary tumors induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene in male rats was investigated by light and electron microscopy. All tumors induced in male rats were carcinomas with prominent epithelial growth which shows a medullary or cribriform appearance. Neither mammary dysplasias nor fibroadenomas were induced in male rats. Foci of adenoid cystic carcinoma were encountered in some parts of tumors. Papillary and/or tubular patterns, which have been observed frequently in mammary carcinomas in female rats, were not prominent histologic features in male rats. Secretory activity was not remarkable. The morphology of mammary carcinomas in male rats was unchanged in primary and transplanted tumors under various hormonal conditions. This finding supports our previously published results that the mammary carcinomas in male rats are hormone-independent, although our previous biochemical study revealed that the tumors contain both estrogen and estrogen-dependent progesterone receptors.

Effect of dimethylnitrosamine on the concentration of polyamines in rat liver and kidney.

Newborn female rats were injected once with dimethylnitrosamine. The polyamine content of the liver and kidneys was measured and compared to the respective controls. Both liver and kidney polyamine concentrations were found to decrease in both organs up to one month of age. The polyamine concentrations then increased in the carcinogen treated animals, whereas the control levels remained unchanged. The concentration of polyamines was greater in the left kidney than in the right one. A close correlation was found between the concentration of polyamines and histological findings during tumour development.

Epidemiological study of nasal and nasopharyngeal cancer and their relation to phenoxy acid or chlorophenol exposure.

Soft tissue sarcoma and malignant lymphoma have been related to exposure to chlorinated phenoxy acids or chlorophenols as well as exposure to organic solvents and malignant lymphoma. However, colon cancer studied by the same case-referent design did not show any such associations, which helps to rule out alleged systematical bias of the study approach. Further considerations about exposure routes for phenoxy acids and chlorophenols suggested that nasal and nasopharyngeal cancers should be studied. Forty-four cases with nasal cancer and 27 cases with nasopharyngeal cancer were eligible for study during 1970-1979 together with 541 referents, as utilized also in the aforementioned studies. Exposure to phenoxy acids gave formally a doubled but insignificant risk for the studied cancer types. Exposure to chlorophenols, as present particularly in woodwork, was related to an about sevenfold and significant increase in the risk for both cancer types. In woodworkers without exposure to chlorophenols there was an approximate normal risk, but cabinet makers, even without exposure to chlorophenols, had nearly doubled (but insignificant) risk of nasal cancer.