Types Of Malignant Transformation Research Articles

Jejunal intussusception and polyps with different types of malignant transformation in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome: Report of a case

Intussusception and malignant polyps are complications of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. Very few cases of intussusception combined with polyps with different types of malignant transformation in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome have been reported to date. In the present study, we describe a case of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome with jejunal intussusception and malignant hamartoma in the jejunum and descending colon, combined with mucinous adenocarcinoma in the sigmoid colon.

Fucosylated haptoglobin is a novel marker for pancreatic cancer: Detailed analyses of oligosaccharide structures

Changes in oligosaccharide structures have been reported in certain types of malignant transformation and thus can be used as tumor markers in certain types of cancer. In the case of pancreatic cancer (PC) cell lines, a variety of fucosylated proteins are secreted into the conditioned media. To identify fucosylated proteins in the sera of patients with PC, we performed Western blot analysis using Aleuria Aurantia Lectin (AAL), which is specific for fucosylated structures. An approximately 40 kD protein was found to be highly fucosylated in PC and N-terminal analysis revealed that it was the beta chain of haptoglobin. While the appearance of fucosylated haptoglobin has been reported in other diseases such as hepatocellular carcinoma, liver cirrhosis, gastric cancer, and colorectal cancer, the incidence was significantly higher in the case of PC. Fucosylated haptoglobin was observed more frequently at the advanced stage of PC and disappeared after operation. Haptoglobin has four sites of N-glycans and site-directed oligosaccharide analysis involving MS was performed. Site-specific increases in fucosylation of bi-antennary glycans of sites 2 and 4, and of tri-antennary glycans of all sites were observed in PC, compared to in normal volunteers and chronic pancreatitis. Therefore, increases in fucosylation seem to be not due to inflammation, but cancer itself. Coculturing of a human hepatoma cell line, Hep3B, with PC cells-induced production of fucosylated haptoglobin, suggesting that PC produces a factor that induces the production of fucosylated haptoglobin. On clinical investigation of 100 cases of colorectal cancer, cases in which it was located near the liver showed a higher positive rate of fucosylated haptoglobin, suggesting that the location of the cancer might also be an important factor for fucosylated haptoglobin if cancer tissues produce such inducible factors. Thus, fucosylated haptoglobin could become a novel tumor marker for PC and complicated mechanisms would be involved in its production.

Simultaneous adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma arising from a mediastinal cystic teratoma: Case report and literature review

Summary Teratoma with malignant transformation is rarely seen in gonadal or extra-gonadal sites. Extra-gonadal teratoma with malignant transformation is usually found in the mediastinum. More than two-thirds of mediastinal teratoma with malignant transformation cases receive chemotherapy or irradiation at the time of diagnosis. Herein, we report a naturally occurring mediastinal teratoma with malignant transformation in a 43-year-old man complaining of chest tightness and severe dyspnea. A huge cystic mediastinal mass was discovered from chest-computerized tomography scan. Emergent thoracostomy was performed to remove the tumor because of impending respiratory failure. The histology of the tumor was compatible with cystic teratoma, and the transformed non-germ cell region showed both adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The patient underwent postoperative chemotherapy. However, his condition deteriorated rapidly and he expired 8 months after diagnosis. Summarizing previous case reports in the literature: (1) 34.6% of mediastinal teratoma with malignant transformation patients survive after treatment; (2) the malignant components are sarcoma and carcinoma; similar survival rates are achieved where both histological features are present, however, survival is reduced with multiple or mixed types of malignant transformation; (3) the delineation between treatment-induced and naturally occurring teratoma with malignant transformation at the mediastinal site is indistinct; and, (4) complete surgical eradication is still the mainstay of treatment for prolonged survival in patients with mediastinal teratoma with malignant transformation.

The role of Fli-1 in normal cell function and malignant transformation

Aberrant expression of the Fli-1 transcription factor following genetic mutation has been recognized as a seminal event in the initiation of certain types of malignant transformation. Indeed, the etiology of a number of virally induced leukemias, including Friend virus-induced erythroleukemia, has been associated with Fli-1 overexpression. The clinical relevance of Fli-1 becomes apparent in human Ewing's sarcoma in which Fli-1 is the target of a characteristic chromosomal translocation. As such, Fli-1 has generated considerable interest over the past several years for its role in malignant transformation and tumor progression. This review will present a synopsis of the current research on Fli-1 with emphasis on its function in malignant transformation. Moreover, the possible role of Fli-1 in cellular proliferation, differentiation and survival, as well as the recent development of transgenic and knock-out mice to investigate the function of Fli-1 will be discussed. Finally, the significance of identifying target genes that are regulated by Fli-1 and their role in cellular function will be reviewed.