HISTOLOGIC GRADE, AND CONTENT AND IMAGE ANALYSIS OF SOFT TISSUE TUMORS

Flow cytometry and image analysis technique were used to quantltate the nuclei of various soft tissue tumors. A single representing section from soft tissue sarcoma was used for histologic grading. Histologlc and cytometric comparative analyses showed that all 21 benign tumors were diploid. Among 62 cases of soft tissue sarcoma, 45(73%) were aneuploid. There was a significant difference in the nuclear area between benign and malignant tumors (P<0. 01), dlploid and aneuploid tumors (P<0. 05). The two new techniques are valuable In cellular quantitative measurement for soft tissue tumors.

Characteristics of primary giant cell tumor in soft tissue on magnetic resonance imaging:A case report

BACKGROUND Primary soft tissue giant cell tumor(GCT-ST)is rare and has relatively low malignant potential.Most reports are pathological and clinical studies,while imaging studies have only been reported in cases of adjacent bone or with atypical cystic degeneration.With regard to the findings on magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)or ultrasonography,superficial masses can be further identified based on facial edema,skin thickening,skin contact,internal hemorrhage or necrosis and lobulation of the mass.Unlike deep-seated masses,MRI features do not always provide an accurate diagnosis for benign and malignant patients with superficial soft-tissue lesions.Thus,the application of diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI)to evaluate superficial soft tissue tumors is necessary.CASE SUMMARY A 36-year-old woman who had a suspected malignant tumor in the upper limb on ultrasound and computed tomography is reported.The signal intensity of the suspected tumor was heterogeneous on plain MRI;nodular and heterogeneous enhancement was observed in the tumor with irregular shapes and blurred margins on dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI.The lesion on DWI was hyperintense with a higher mean apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)value.Finally,a GCT-ST was confirmed by pathology.This case suggests that GCT-ST should be distinguished as a benign soft tissue mass from giant cell-rich soft tissue neoplasms or malignant tumors.CONCLUSION The MRI features of the superficial GCT-ST in the upper limb included heterogeneous signal intensity within the lesion on T2-weighted image(T2WI)and T1-weighted fat-saturation spoiled gradient recalled echo(T1 FSPGR),nodular enhancement with blurred margins,irregular shapes,and a slow-increased enhancement.DWI could be used to differentiate a benign soft tissue mass from a malignant mass by the mean ADC value and provide more radiologic-pathologic information for the diagnosis of GCT-ST.Comprehensive imaging of primary GCT-ST could help complete tumor resection,and in turn likely prolong survival after surgery.

New trends in the surgical management of soft tissue sarcoma: The role of preoperative biopsy

Soft tissue sarcoma(STS)accounts for 1%of all malignant neoplasms in adults.Their diagnosis and management constitute a challenging target.They originate from the mesenchyme,and 50 subtypes with various cytogenetic profiles concerning soft tissue and bones have been recognized.These tumors mainly affect middle-aged adults but may be present at any age.Half of the patients have metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis and require systemic therapy.Tumors above 3-5 cm in size must be suspected of potential malignancy.A thorough history,clinical examination and imaging that must precede biopsy are necessary.Modern imaging techniques include ultrasound,computed tomography(CT),new magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),and positron emission tomography/CT.MRI findings may distinguish low-grade from high-grade STS based on a diagnostic score(tumor heterogeneity,intratumoral and peritumoral enhancement).A score≥2 indicates a high-grade lesion,and a score≤1 indicates a lowgrade lesion.For disease staging,abdominal imaging is recommended to detect early abdominal or retroperitoneal metastases.Liquid biopsy by detecting genomic material in serum is a novel diagnostic tool.A preoperative biopsy is necessary for diagnosis,prognosis and optimal planning of surgical intervention.Core needle biopsy is the most indicative and effective.Its correct performance influences surgical management.An unsuccessful biopsy means the dissemination of cancer cells into healthy anatomical structures that ultimately affect resectability and survival.Complete therapeutic excision(R0)with an acceptable resection margin of 1 cm is the method of choice.However,near significant structures,i.e.,vessels,nerves,an R2 resection(macroscopic margin involvement)preserving functionality but having a risk of local recurrence can be an acceptable choice,after informing the patient,to prevent an unavoidable amputation.For borderline resectability of the tumor,neoadjuvant chemo/radiotherapy has a place.Likewise,after surgical excision,adjuvant therapy is indicated,but chemotherapy in nonmetastatic disease is still debatable.The five-year survival rate reaches up to 55%.Reresection is considered after positive or uncertain resection margins.Current strategies are based on novel chemotherapeutic agents,improved radiotherapy applications to limit local side effects and targeted biological therapy or immunotherapy,including vaccines.Young age is a risk factor for distant metastasis within 6 mo following primary tumor resection.Neoadjuvant radiotherapy lasting 5-6 wk and surgical resection are indicated for highgrade STS(grade 2 or 3).Wide surgical excision alone may be acceptable for patients older than 70 years.However,locally advanced disease requires a multidisciplinary task of decision-making for amputation or limb salvage.

Close relationship between mediators of inflammation and pancreatic cancer:Our experience

In this editorial,we focus specifically on the mechanisms by which pancreatic inflammation affects pancreatic cancer.Cancer of the pancreas remains one of the deadliest cancer types.The highest incidence and mortality rates of pancreatic cancer are found in developed countries.Trends of pancreatic cancer incidence and mortality vary considerably worldwide.A better understanding of the etiology and identification of the risk factors is essential for the primary prevention of this disease.Pancreatic tumors are characterized by a complex microenvironment that orchestrates metabolic alterations and supports a milieu of interactions among various cell types within this niche.In this editorial,we highlight the foundational studies that have driven our understanding of these processes.In our experimental center,we have carefully studied the mechanisms of that link pancreatic inflammation and pancreatic cancer.We focused on the role of mast cells(MCs).MCs contain pro-angiogenic factors,including tryptase,that are associated with increased angiogenesis in various tumors.In this editorial,we address the role of MCs in angiogenesis in both pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tissue and adjacent normal tissue.The assessment includes the density of c-Kit receptor-positive MCs,the density of tryptase-positive MCs,the area of tryptasepositive MCs,and angiogenesis in terms of microvascularization density.

Treatment of large defect of abdominal wall after tumors resection by transposition of tissue flaps with pedicle

Objective To report evaluat of division region of abdominal wall large defect after tumors resection and repair methods by tissue flaps with pedicle. Methods Form October 1992 to September 2001, 8 cases large abdominal wall defect after malignant tumors resection(10 × 10 cm-32 cm×32 cm) were reviewed. The defectcontributed:Ⅰ region, 2 cases; twin-Ⅱ region, 2; Ⅲ region, 2; Ⅰ and Ⅱ region of one side, 1 and total abdominal wall,one case, The tissue flaps of transposition included: gracilis myocutaneous flaps, 4; retus abdominal myocutaneous flaps, 2; external abdominal obligue musculo-fascia flaps, 2; latissimus dorsi muscle, tensor fasciae latae muscle and retus femoris muscle flaps each, 1. One patient used MycroMesh also. Results In the course of peroperation, the incisions of 8 cases healed in first time; total tissue flaps survived and all pateints started exercise left the bed in 3 weeks. All 8 patients were followed up average of 2 years and 5 months: the success rate of reconstruction

Expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 9 is positively correlated with the autophagy level in colon cancer

BACKGROUND Cyclin-dependent kinase 9(CDK9)expression and autophagy in colorectal cancer(CRC)tissues has not been widely studied.CDK9,a key regulator of transcription,may influence the occurrence and progression of CRC.The expression of auto-phagy-related genes BECN1 and drug resistance factor ABCG2 may also play a role in CRC.Under normal physiological conditions,autophagy can inhibit tumorigenesis,but once a tumor forms,autophagy may promote tumor growth.Therefore,understanding the relationship between autophagy and cancer,partic-ularly how autophagy promotes tumor growth after its formation,is a key motivation for this research.AIM To investigate the relationship between CDK9 expression and autophagy in CRC,assess differences in autophagy between left and right colon cancer,and analyze the associations of autophagy-related genes with clinical features and prognosis.METHODS We collected tumor tissues and paracarcinoma tissues from colon cancer patients with liver metastasis to observe the level of autophagy in tissues with high levels of CDK9 and low levels of CDK9.We also collected primary tissue from left and right colon cancer patients with liver metastasis to compare the autophagy levels and the expression of BECN1 and ABCG2 in the tumor and paracarcinoma tissues.RESULTS The incidence of autophagy and the expression of BECN1 and ABCG2 were different in left and right colon cancer,and autophagy might be involved in the occurrence of chemotherapy resistance.Further analysis of the rela-tionship between the expression of autophagy-related genes CDK9,ABCG2,and BECN1 and the clinical features and prognosis of colorectal cancer showed that the high expression of CDK9 indicated a poor prognosis in colorectal cancer.CONCLUSION This study laid the foundation for further research on the combination of CDK9 inhibitors and autophagy inhibitors in the treatment of patients with CRC.

Sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma of the pancreas:A case report

BACKGROUND A sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma(SEF)is a rare malignant fibroblastic soft tissue tumor that rarely occurs in intra-abdominal organs.A case of a SEF in the pancreatic head is reported herein,including its clinical manifestations,preoperative imaging features,gross specimen and pathological findings.CASE SUMMARY A 33-year-old male patient was admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital in December 2023 due to a one-year history of intermittent upper abdominal pain and the discovery of a pancreatic mass.The patient underwent an enhanced computed tomography scan of the abdomen,which revealed a welldefined,round mass with clear borders and calcifications in the pancreatic head.The mass exhibited progressive,uneven mild enhancement,measuring approximately 6.6 cm×6.3 cm.The patient underwent laparoscopic pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy.Postoperative pathological examination revealed that the lesion was consistent with a SEF.At the 3-month postoperative follow-up,the patient did not report any short-term complications,and there were no signs of tumor recurrence.CONCLUSION SEFs are rare malignant fibrous soft tissue tumors.SEFs rarely develop in the pancreas,and its preoperative diagnosis depends on imaging findings,with confirmation depending on pathological examination and immunohistochemistry.Currently,only four cases of pancreatic SEF have been reported in studies written in English.This case is the first reported case of a pancreatic SEF by a clinical physician.

COAGULATION ACTIVITY IN VARIOUS STRAINS OF YOSHIDA ASCITES HEPATOMA TISSUES AND CELLS OF RAT

To investigate the mechanism of chemotherapy related DIC, a quantitative and comparative study was carried out on the coagulation activities of tumor cells and tumor tissues in three strains of rat ascites hepatoma AH109A, AH272 and LY80. The content of thrombo-plastin was expressed as the relative concentration against that in the brain tissue. Ascites hepatoma cell and tissue of each strain obviously have different quantities of coagulants, such as tissue thromboplastin. Coagulation activities of tumor tissues are higher than that of tumor cells. The coagulation activities of tumor tissues and cells of AH272 were higher than that of AH109A and LY80. Our findings suggest that the initiation of DIC not only depend on the tissue thromboplastin, the other factors or the other mechanisms should be considered.

Clinical and imaging features of desmoid tumors of the extremities

BACKGROUND Desmoid fibroma is a rare soft tissue tumor originating from the aponeurosis,fascia,and muscle,and it is also known as aponeurotic fibroma,invasive fibroma,or ligamentous fibroma.AIM To investigate the clinical and imaging features of desmoid tumors of the extremities.METHODS Thirteen patients with desmoid fibroma of the extremities admitted to our hospital from October 2016 to March 2021 were included.All patients underwent computed tomography(CT),magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),and pathological examination of the lesion.Data on the diameter and distribution of the lesion,the relationship between the lesion morphology and surrounding structures,MRI and CT findings,and pathological features were statistically analyzed.RESULTS The lesion diameter ranged from 1.7 to 8.9 cm,with an average of 5.35±2.39 cm.All lesions were located in the deep muscular space,with the left and right forearm each accounting for 23.08%of cases.Among the 13 patients with desmoid fibroma of the extremities,the lesions were"patchy"in 1 case,irregular in 10,and quasi-round in 2.The boundary between the lesion and surrounding soft tissue was blurred in 10 cases,and the focus infiltrated along the tissue space and invaded the adjacent structures.Furthermore,the edge of the lesion showed"beard-like"infiltration in 2 cases;bone resorption and damage were found in 8,and bending of the bone was present in 2;the boundary of the focus was clear in 1.According to the MRI examination,the lesions were larger than 5 cm(61.54%),round or fusiform in shape(84.62%),had an unclear boundary(76.92%),showed uniform signal(69.23%),inhomogeneous enhancement(84.62%),and"root"or"claw"infiltration(69.23%).Neurovascular tract invasion was present in 30.77%of cases.CT examination showed that the desmoid tumors had slightly a lower density(69.23%),higher enhancement(61.54%),and unclear boundary(84.62%);a CT value<50 Hu was present in 53.85%of lesions,and the enhancement was uneven in 53.85%of cases.Microscopically,fibroblasts and myofibroblasts were arranged in strands and bundles,without obvious atypia but with occasional karyotyping;cells were surrounded by collagen tissue.There were disparities in the proportion of collagen tissue in different regions,with abundant collagen tissue and few tumor cells in some areas,similar to the structure of aponeuroses or ligaments,and tumor cells invading the surrounding tissues.CONCLUSION Desmoid tumors of the extremities have certain imaging features on CT and MRI.The two imaging techniques can be combined to improve the diagnostic accuracy,achieve a comprehensive diagnosis of the disease in the clinical practice,and reduce the risk of missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis.In addition,their use can ensure timely diagnosis and treatment.

Primary Malignant Musculosqueletal Tumors of Members in Adult in Togo

Purpose: Primary malignant musculosqueletal tumors in adult are rare affections group and its treatment is still a real challenge today. The aim of this work was to describe the epidemiologic and treatment aspects of these tumors in the national reference center of our country. Materiel and Methods: It was a retrospective review of primary malignant musculosqueletal tumors treated in orthopedics and trauma unit of Sylvanus Olympio teaching hospital of Lomé, Togo from January 2000 to December 2014. Results: During the study period, 28 cases were selected and reviewed. There were 17 men (60.71%) and 11 women (39.29%). The average age was 32.7 years. There were 20 cases (71%) of primary malignant bone tumors (PMBT) and 8 cases (29%) of primary malignant soft tissues tumors (PMSTT). There were 6 (30%) of osteosarcoma. The tumor was located in the bones of the forearm and wrist/hand in 2 (10%) patients for each anatomical site;for the lower limb, around knee in 7 (35%) patients. Eight patients had PMSTT (28, 57%). There were three cases of rhabdomyosarcoma, 2 cases of fibrosarcoma. Tumors were located around knee in 4 cases and around ankle/foot in 3 cases. In the two groups of tumor, tumor resection was performed in 5 patients (17.86%) and limb amputation indicated in 23 patients (82.14%), was performed in 15 (53.57%) and 8 patients (37.78%), rejected it and left hospital against medical advice. Conclusion: Malignant musculoskeletal tumors are relatively rare in Togo. Their treatment is based on radical surgery which is often not supervised by adjuvant therapies. Ignorance, poverty of the population and embryonic state of diagnostic and treatment infrastructures are the obstacles to their care. Education and awareness must be integrated to care and fight against this group of diseases.

Unusual Presentation of a Large Multi-Septated Cystic Hygroma: A Case Report and Comprehensive Literature Review

Background: Cystic hygromas are primarily found in the cervicofacial, thoracic, and abdominal regions, with limited occurrences in other areas. Despite existing literature on this condition, comprehensive descriptions and MRI findings of cystic hygromas in the extremities are rare. Aim: This case report aims to present a unique instance of a cystic hygroma in the left thigh. The objective is to provide detailed insights into the characteristics of this atypical presentation. Case Presentation: The case involves a 2-year-10 month-old girl with a cystic hygroma in her left thigh. The report includes a comprehensive description of the lesion’s clinical features and diagnostic evaluation, emphasizing the MRI findings to enhance understanding of this rare occurrence. Conclusion: This case report highlights the rarity of cystic hygromas outside the cervicofacial, thoracic, and abdominal regions, explicitly focusing on the occurrence in the left thigh. By presenting detailed insights into the clinical features, MRI findings, histopathological findings, and the surgical approach employed, this report contributes to the existing knowledge on this condition in atypical locations and informs future treatment strategies.

Exosomes derived from tumor adjacent fibroblasts efficiently target pancreatic tumors

The application of extracellular vesicles,particularly exosomes(EXs),is rapidly expanding in the field of medicine,owing to their remarkable properties as natural carriers of biological cargo.This study investigates utilization of exosomes derived from stromal cells of tumor adjacent normal tissues(NAF-EXs)for personalized medicine,which can be derived at the time of diagnosis by endoscopic ultrasound.Herein,we show that exosomes(EXs)derived from NAFs demonstrate differential bio-physical characteristics,efficient cellular internalization,drug loading efficiency,pancreatic tumor targeting and delivery of payloads.NAF-derived EXs(NAF-EXs)were used for loading ormeloxifene(ORM),a potent anti-cancer and desmoplasia inhibitor as a model drug.We found that ORM maintains normal fibroblast cell phenotype and renders them incompatible to be triggered for a CAF-like phenotype,which may be due to regulation of Ca^(2+) influx in fibroblast cells.NAF-EXs-ORM effectively blocked oncogenic signaling pathways involved in desmoplasia and epithelial mesenchymal transition(EMT)and repressed tumor growth in xenograft mouse model.In conclusion,our data suggests preferential tropism of NAF-EXs for PDAC tumors,thus imply feasibility of developing a novel personalized medicine for PDAC patients using autologous NAF-EXs for improved therapeutic outcome of anti-cancer drugs.Additionally,it provides the opportunity of utilizing this biological scaffold for effective therapeutics in combination with standard therapeutic regimen.

Differential DNA methylation analysis of SUMF2,ADAMTS5,and PXDN provides novel insights into colorectal cancer prognosis prediction in Taiwan

BACKGROUND Patients with colorectal cancer(CRC)undergo surgery,as well as perioperative chemoradiation or adjuvant chemotherapy primarily based on the tumor–node–metastasis(TNM)cancer staging system.However,treatment responses and prognostic outcomes of patients within the same stage vary markedly.The potential use of novel biomarkers can improve prognostication and shared decision making before implementation into certain therapies.AIM To investigate whether SUMF2,ADAMTS5,and PXDN methylation status could be associated with CRC prognosis.METHODS We conducted a Taiwan region cohort study involving 208 patients with CRC recruited from TriService General Hospital and applied the candidate gene approach to identify three genes involved in oncogenesis pathways.A methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction(MS-PCR)and Epi TYPER DNA methylation analysis were employed to detect methylation status and to quantify the methylation level of candidate genes in tumor tissue and adjacent normal tissue from participants.We evaluated SUMF2,ADAMTS5,and PXDN methylation as predictors of prognosis,including recurrence-free survival(RFS),progression-free survival(PFS),and overall survival(OS),using a Cox regression model and Kaplan–Meier analysis.RESULTS We revealed various outcomes related to methylation and prognosis.Significantly shorter PFS and OS were associated with the CpG_3+CpG_7 hypermethylation of SUMF2 from tumor tissue compared with CpG_3+CpG_7 hypomethylation[hazard ratio(HR)=2.24,95%confidence interval(CI)=1.03-4.85 for PFS,HR=2.56 and 95%CI=1.08-6.04 for OS].By contrast,a significantly longer RFS was associated with CpG_2 and CpG_13 hypermethylation of ADAMTS5 from normal tissue compared with CpG_2 and CpG_13 hypomethylation[HR(95%CI)=0.15(0.03-0.71)for CpG_2 and 0.20(0.04-0.97)for CpG_13].The relationship between the methylation status of PXDN and the prognosis of CRC did not reach statistical significance.CONCLUSION Our study found that CpG_3+CpG_7 hypermethylation of SUMF2 from tumor tissue was associated with significantly shorter PFS and OS compared with CpG_3+CpG_7 hypomethylation.CpG_2 and CpG_13 hypermethylation of ADAMTS5 from normal tissue was associated with a significantly longer RFS compared with CpG_2 and CpG_13 hypomethylation.These methylationrelated biomarkers which have implications for CRC prognosis prediction may aid physicians in clinical decision-making.

Multiple well-differentiated retroperitoneal liposarcomas with different patterns of appearance on computed tomography:A case report

BACKGROUND Primary retroperitoneal liposarcoma(PRPLS)is a rare soft tissue tumor with nonspecific clinical symptoms;it has different computed tomography(CT)image features according to pathological types.Some patients with a single tumor have been previously reported in the literature.We present an exceptional case of a PRPLS patient with multiple large tumors exhibiting different patterns of appearance on CT and confirmed as atypical lipomatous tumor/welldifferentiated liposarcoma by postoperative pathology.CASE SUMMARY A 64-year-old man presented with abdominal distension for 1 year.The patient was diagnosed with PRPLS based on physical examination,laparotomy,ultrasonography,CT scan,and surgery.Both of the tumors were completely resected through surgery and confirmed as atypical lipomatous tumor/welldifferentiated liposarcoma by postoperative pathology.The postoperative course was uneventful without recurrence or metastasis,as demonstrated by abdominalpelvic CT during an 18 mo follow-up.CONCLUSION Multiple large Well-differentiated liposarcomas with different patterns of appearance on CT image can occur simultaneously in the same patient,to which more attention should be paid to make an effective differential diagnosis.

Molecular pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies of human osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma（OS）is a devastating illness with rapid rates of dissemination and a poor overall prognosis,despite aggressive standard-of-care surgical techniques and combination chemotherapy regimens.Identifying the molecular mechanisms involved in disease pathogenesis and progression may offer insight into new therapeutic targets.Defects in mesenchymal stem cell differentiation,abnormal expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressors,and dysregulation within various important signaling pathways have all been implicated in development of various disease phenotypes.As such,a variety of basic science and translational studies have shown promise in identifying novel markers and modulators of these disease-specific aberrancies.Born out of these and similar investigations,a variety of emerging therapies are now undergoing various phases of OS clinical testing.They broadly include angiogenesis inhibitors,drugs that act on the bone microenvironment,receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors,immune system modulators,and other radio-or chemo-sensitizing agents.As new forms of drug delivery are being developed simultaneously,the possibility of targeting tumors locally while minimizing systemic toxicityis is seemingly more achievable now than ever.In this review,we not only summarize our current understanding of OS disease processes,but also shed light on the multitude of potential therapeutic strategies the scientific community can use to make long-term improvements in patient prognosis.

Sacro-anterior haemangiopericytoma: a case report

Haemangiopericytoma(HPC) is a rare vascular tumor with borderline malignancy, considerable histological variability, and unpredictable clinical and biological behavior. HPC can present a diagnostic challenge because of its indeterminate clinical, radiological, and pathological features. HPC generally presents in adulthood and is equally frequent in both sexes. HPC can arise in any site in the body as a slowly growing and painless mass. The precise cell type origin of HPC is uncertain. One third of HPCs occur in the head and neck areas. Exceptional cases of hemangioblastoma arising outside the head and neck areas have been reported, but little is known about their clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features. This study reports on a case of a large sacro-anterior HPC in a 65-year-old male.

Incubation and application of transgenic green fluorescent nude mice in visualization studies on glioma tissue remodeling

Background The primary reasons for local recurrence and therapeutic failure in the treatment of malignant gliomas are the invasion and interactions of tumor cells with surrounding normal brain cells. However, these tumor cells are hard to be visualized directly in histopathological preparations, or in experimental glioma models. Therefore, we developed an experimental human dual-color in vivo glioma model, which made tracking solitary invasive glioma cells possible, for the purpose of visualizing the interactions between red fluorescence labeled human glioma cells and host brain cells. This may offer references for further studying the roles of tumor microenvironment during glioma tissue remodeling. Methods Transgenic female C57BL/6 mice expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein （EGFP） were crossed with male Balb/c nude mice. Then sib mating was allowed to occur continuously in order to establish an inbred nude mice strain with 50% of their offspring that are EGFP positive. Human glioma cell lines U87-MG and SU3 were transfected with red fluorescent protein （RFP） gene, and a rat C6 glioma cell line was stained directly with CM-Dil, to establish three glioma cell lines emitting red fluorescence （SU3-RFP, U87-RFP, and C6-CM-Dil）. Red fluorescence tumor cells were inoculated via intra-cerebral injection into caudate nucleus of the EGFP nude mice. Tumor-bearing mice were sacrificed when their clinical symptoms appeared, and the whole brain was harvested and snap frozen for further analysis. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was performed to monitor the mutual interactions between tumor cells and host brain cells. Results Almost all the essential tissues of the established EGFP athymic Balb/c nude mice, except hair and erythrocytes, fluoresced green under excitation using a blue light-emitting flashlight with a central peak of 470 nm, approximately 50% of the offsprings were nu/nu EGFP＋. SU3-RFP, U87-RFP, and C6-CM-Dil almost 100% expressed red fluorescence under the fluorescence microscope. Under fluorescence microscopic view, RFP＋ cells were observed growing wherever they arrived at, locating in the brain parenchyma, ventricles, and para-vascular region. The interactions between the transplanted tumor cells and host adjacent cells could be classified into three types： （1） interweaving; （2） mergence; and （3） fusion. Interweaving was observed in the early stage of tumor remodeling, in which both transplantable tumor cells and host cells were observed scattered in the tumor invading and spreading area without organic connections. Mergence was defined as mutual interactions between tumor cells and host stroma during tumorigenesis. Direct cell fusion between transplantable tumor cells and host cells could be observed occasionally. Conclusions This study showed that self-established EGFP athymic nude mice offered the possibility of visualizing tumorigenesis of human xenograft tumor, and the dual-color xenograft glioma model was of considerable utility in studying the process of tumor remodeling. Based on this platform, mutual interactions between glioma cells and host tissues could be observed directly to further elucidate the development of tumor microenvironment.

A Novel Putative Tumor Associated Antigen

A is a tumor associated antigen. Monoclonal antibody (mAb) against 17 1A has been used in adjuvant therapy of colorectal carcinoma. Using mAb against 17 1A antigen on affinity chromatography, a novel putative tumor associated antigen (P50) whose relative molecular mass is 5 0×10 4 has been isolated from human colorectal tumor tissues which are recognized by mAbs 17 1A and M79, while the relative molecular mass of 17\|1A antigen isolated from several colorectal tumor cell lines is 3 3×10 4. P50 was recognized by mAbs 17 1A and M79 which are specific mAbs against 17 1A antigen.

Preliminary study of 3T 1H MR spectroscopy in bone and soft Lissue tumors

Background Magnetic resonance spectroscopy （MRS） is one method that can examine noninvasively the alive specimen of the organ, metabolism of the organ and cell, and the biochemistry change. MRS provides the biochemistry information that may be used to diagnose tumors or differentiate the malignant tumor from benign. The objective of this study is to investigate the benign and malignant bone and soft tissue tumors by 1H-MR spectroscopy （^1H-MRS） on a 3 Tesla MR scanner, then to assess the usefulness of ^1H-MRS in diagnosing bone and soft tissue tumors and distinguishing benign from malignant tumors.Methods Fifty-six patients with bone and soft tissue tumors proved clinically and pathologically were examined with ^1H-MRS. ^1H-MRS was performed to study malignant musculoskeletal tumors, benign tumors and normal muscle adjacent to lesions to analyze the characteristics, and single-voxel point-resolved spectroscopy sequence was used. Proton brain exam-single voxel of ^1H-MRS which directly appeared in the spectrum, was observed to find the peak height of choline compounds （Cho） opposite to the creatine （Cr）, and whether there was a Cho peak. Metabolite values were calculated automatically from the area under each metabolite peak by the Functool 3.1 software. Metabolite ratios of Cho/Cr were manually calculated. Then according to the results, it was judged whether there existed benign or malignant tumors. The Kappa statistical test was used to analyze the MRS results, the histopathology data and the surgical situation. Statistics processing was performed using the software packaqe SPSS11.5 for Windows.Results ^1H-MRS spectra style of bone and soft tissue tumors was different from that of normal muscle, and differences also existed between benign and malignant tumors. Choline level in malignant tumor was markedly higher than that in benign tumors. Cho/Cr in malignant tumor was higher than in benign tumor significantly （P〈0.05）. The true positive rate of bone and soft tissue between benign and malignant tumors was 34/36, the true negative rate was 15/18, the false positive rate was 3/18 and the false negative rate was 2/36. Therefore in the group, sensitivity of the ^1H-MRS was 94% （34/36）, specificity was 83% （15/18）, positive predictive value was 92% （34/37）, negative predictive value was 88% （15/17） and the accuracy rate was 91% （49/54）. The MRS results and the histopathology inspection conclusions had very good uniformity. The K value was 0.76±0.10 （P 〈0.01）.Conclusions The increase of Cho level measured by ^1H-MRS is related to the bone and soft tissue malignant tumor. Cho/Cr in malignant tumor was higher than in benign tumor, so they will play a vital role in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of bone and soft tissue tumors.

Expression of glycoprotein non-metastatic melanoma protein B in cutaneous malignant and benign lesions： a tissue microarray study

Background Glycoprotein non-metastatic melanoma protein B （GPNMB） plays an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and malignant diseases. We investigated the expression of GPNMB in benign and malignant skin diseases. Methods Tissue microarray was performed in the skin tissues of 102 cases including malignant melanoma （MM）, squamous cell carcinoma （SCC）, basal cell carcinoma （BCC）, and benign dermatosis. The expression of GPNMB in the tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. Twenty cases of normal skin and adjacent neoplastic normal skin tissues were selected as controls. Results GPNMB was positively stained in skin malignancies （38/50, 76%）, which was significantly higher than that in the control and the benign skin tissues （P=0.001 and 〈0.001 respectively）. GPNMB was positively stained in MM （13/15, 87%） and SCC （16/20, 80%） （P 〈0.001）. Significant higher expression of GPNMB was observed in patients aged 〉65 years than those less than 65 years （n=11 and n=9 respectively, P=0.027）. No significant difference of the expression rates was observed between normal control and BCC; however, stronger intensity was detected in the latter. Negative or weak expression was observed in the controls. Conclusion Over-expression of GPNMB correlated strongly and might play an important role in the pathogenesis of MM and SCC.