Single Oncology Center Research Articles

Characterization of Overt B-Cell Lymphomas in Patients With Hepatitis C Virus Infection

A pathogenetic role of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been hypothesized for a subset of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs). However, the preliminary characterization of B-cell NHLs in HCV-infected individuals has been poorly addressed. In the present study, we report detailed information on 35 consecutive patients with overt B-cell NHL of recent onset and HCV infection; all patients referred to a single oncological center in Northeast Italy. Histopathologic evaluation was performed by a single reference hemopathologist, and the link with the two relevant autoimmune diseases predisposing to B-cell NHL and in which HCV has been implied, ie, “essential” mixed cryoglobulinemia (EMC) and Sjögren's syndrome, was investigated. Control groups included 122 consecutive HCV-negative patients with B-cell NHL and 464 consecutive histopathologic cases of B-cell NHL referred to the same center, as well as 127 consecutive patients with HCV infection and without lymphoma referred to a different center in the same geographical area. B-cell NHLs in HCV-infected patients frequently presented at onset (1) an extranodal localization with peculiar target organs of HCV infection (ie, the liver and major salivary glands) being significantly overrepresented; (2) a diffuse large cell histotype without any prior history of low-grade B-cell malignancy or bone marrow involvement; and (3) a weak association with a full-blown predisposing autoimmune disease, although serum autoimmune features were common and cryoglobulins were always present. Therefore, the HCV-related B-cell NHLs in this oncological series presented distinctive features compared with B-cell NHLs in HCV-negative patients, and they differed from bone marrow low-grade NHLs frequently diagnosed in HCV-positive patients with EMC. Such novel information may be relevant for future research aimed at clarifying the possible link between HCV infection, autoimmunity, nonmalignant B-cell lymphoproliferation, and overt B-cell malignancy.

728 Expression of adhesion molecules related to tumour-progression in colorectal carcinoma: Grading, staging and follow up

Introduction Tumour progression and metastasis is accompanied by altered expression of adhesion molecules. The purpose of this prospective study was to analyse expression of adhesion molecules in colorectal carcinomas based on a cohort derived from a single surgical oncology center. At that end CD44 variant is forms, E-Cadherin, β-Catenin as well as α and β-integrin subunits were investigated both on the mRNA- and on the protein level. Snap frozen samples of normal colorectal mucosa, primary tumours, and metastases were collected from 120 patients during 1992–1994. All data were correlated to TNM-stages and clinical status. Results CD44H is broadly expressed in all tissues. CD44 variant is form expression is transient, being up-regulated as early as in adenomas. Maximum expression is observed in UICC stage III primary tumours, but significant loss of CD44 isoform expression is observed in all sites of metastasis. Adherent junction molecule expression is correlating with histological grading. The same is observed for α-2,3,6- and β-1,3,4-Integrins. Conclusions The strength of expression of various molecules in CRC tissue specimens is correlating with histological grading. Up-regulation of expression during tumour suppression is very rare, while down-regulation accompanying increased de-differentiation is the predominant scheme. Only a few molecules studied in this work match valuable prognostic parameters such as TNM-staging or even survival. These could therefore beneficially contribute to the evaluation of the individual tumour patient's prognosis.