A method for scoring 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide-induced murine esophageal squamous neoplasia.

A mouse model for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is induced by oral administration of the carcinogen 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO). There is not an objective method for determining histopathologic severity of disease in this model. We aim to create a clearly defined and easily applied scoring system that can quantify the severity of 4-NQO-induced murine ESCC. Fifteen wild-type C57BL/6J mice were treated with 4-NQO for 8 (n = 8) or 16 (n = 7) weeks, while the rest (n = 9) were treated with vehicle, as 8 weeks of 4-NQO typically results in dysplasia and 16 weeks in carcinoma. We identified histologic abnormalities of the esophagus in this model and developed metrics to grade severity of dysplasia, papillomas, and invasion. Scores were then calculated using quantitative digitized image analysis for measuring depth and extent of each feature within the entire sample. Each feature was also assigned a weight based on its relation to cancer severity. Histology scores were significantly different in the three groups, suggesting that this method can discriminate dysplasia from carcinoma. This model can be applied to any mouse treated with 4-NQO.

Association Between Serological Responses to Two Zoonotic Ruminant Pathogens and Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Questionnaire data have linked contact with ruminants to the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in high-risk Asian populations. To better understand this observed association, we investigated exposure to two major zoonotic ruminant pathogens relative to ESCC risk. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunofluorescence assay, and Brucella microagglutination test assays, we measured immunoglobulin G anti-Coxiella burnetii and anti-Brucella spp. antibodies in patients with ESCC (n = 177) and population-based controls (n = 177) matched by age, gender, and residence area from the Golestan case-control study in Iran. We found a similarly high seroprevalence of C. burnetii in ESCC cases and controls (75% and 80%, respectively), and a similarly low seroprevalence of Brucella spp. (0% and 0.6%, respectively). While documenting a high exposure to one of two zoonotic ruminant infections, this exposure failed to explain the observed association of ruminant contact and ESCC risk in this high-risk population.

Antemortem diagnosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in a blue-fronted Amazon parrot (Amazona aestiva) and a mealy Amazon parrot (Amazona farinosa).

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 28-year-old blue-fronted Amazon parrot (Amazona aestiva) with a 1 -week history of regurgitation-like movement of the neck and a 34-year-old mealy Amazon parrot (Amazona farinosa) with a 1- to 2-day history of regurgitation and crop distention were evaluated. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Full-body radiography of the blue-fronted Amazon parrot revealed a soft tissue structure in the right side of the neck, cranial to the crop. Results of cytologic examination of a fine-needle aspirate specimen of the mass were diagnostic for an epithelial sarcoma involving the esophagus. For the mealy Amazon parrot, CT revealed diffuse esophageal thickening that was most consistent with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma on the basis of its location and appearance. Both parrots had secondary bacterial ingluvitis. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Given the location and extent of the neoplasm in each bird, surgical excision was not undertaken. Options of chemotherapy and radiation therapy were explored but declined by the owners owing to concerns regarding the parrots' quality of life. Both parrots were euthanized, and necropsy findings confirmed the diagnosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in both cases. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Both parrots of the present report had a palpable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma detected during physical examination. Although rare, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma should be included as a differential diagnosis for psittacines with upper gastrointestinal tract signs. Treatment to extend duration or quality of life of affected parrots hinges on antemortem diagnosis, which appears feasible in clinical practice.

Bovine upper alimentary squamous cell carcinoma associated with bracken fern poisoning: Clinical-pathological aspects and etiopathogenesis of 100 cases.

Upper digestive tract (UDT) cancer is rare in cattle, however in Southern Brazil, the UDT squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are relatively common and have been associated with bracken fern consumption and the presence of papillomas. Although a theory of pathogenesis considers bovine papillomavirus type 4 (BPV-4) as a cofactor in the development of these SCCs, some aspects of the etiopathogenesis of this disease need to be more investigated. In fact, detection of BPV-4 in UDT papillomas is scarce in other regions of the world and has not been performed in Brazil. Therefore, this study had two aims: 1) to analyze the epidemiological, clinical and pathological aspects of 100 natural cases of SCCs in the UDT of cattle grazing on bracken fern (Pteridium arachnoideum) highly contaminated areas, investigating the associations between these parameters; and 2) to investigate the presence of papillomavirus DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the UDT papillomas (n = 47) from 30 cattle that also had UDT SCCs. There were statistically significant associations between clinical signs and tumor localization in the UDT; between histological grade of differentiation and tumor localization; and a trend towards significant association between histological grade of differentiation and presence of metastases. The average age of cattle with oropharyngeal SCCs was 7.39 years, with statistically significant difference comparing to cattle with esophageal SCCs (8.6 years). No statistical association was observed among other clinical-pathological parameters (growth pattern and primary site of the tumor) analyzed. No BPV DNA was detected in papillomas by PCR. Therefore, these results suggest the possibility that papillomas of the UDT are not necessarily associated with BPV infection.