Helix pomatia agglutinin binding activity is a predictor of survival time for patients with gastric carcinoma

Article Abstract:

Stomach cancer has a relatively poor prognosis. However, even among stomach cancers, there seems to be wide variability in the characteristics of the cancer, including its aggressiveness and its potential to spread to distant parts of the body. Nature appears to have provided a useful tool for distinguishing some of the more aggressive stomach cancers. Many plants, particularly beans, contain proteins called lectins, or agglutinins. These substances were first noticed for their ability to bind blood cells together in the laboratory. It is now known that lectins bind to sugar molecules, and their ability to bind cells results from the binding of sugar regions of glycoproteins on the surfaces of cells. Different lectins bind different sugar structures, and therefore may be used as a tool for identifying complex sugar structures quickly and easily in the laboratory. Using a lectin from Helix pomatia, called Helix pomatia agglutinin or HPA, to stain microscopic sections of tumor, researchers found that 96 of 163 stomach cancer specimens tested positive. Since HPA binds to N-acetyl-D-galactosamine and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, it appears that the proteins on these specimens contain one or both of these complex sugars in their proteins. This fact would be of only academic interest, were it not for the finding that these 96 patients were more likely to have tumor growth and penetration, cancer invasion of the lymphatic system, and metastatic cancer spread to distant parts of the body than were the 67 patients whose cancer did not bind to HPA. These pathological features were reflected in a lower survival rate for the patients with HPA-staining cancers. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Prognosis, Lectins, Agglutinins, Blood Agglutination, Plant lectins

---

Changes in gastric mucosa that antedate gastric carcinoma

Article Abstract:

Samples of the mucosal tissue, which lines the inner surface of the stomach, were obtained by biopsy from 13 patients diagnosed with gastric (stomach) cancer. Specimens from patients with gastric cancer and from 40 subjects without cancer were compared for the presence of abnormal tissue microscopic features; type of intestinal metaplasia, the conversion of normal intestinal tissue into abnormal tissue; and the presence of immunoreactive carcinoembryonic antigens (CEA). (Antigens are elements that are capable of activating immune reactions, and CEA are a class of antigens normally present in the fetus.) CEA were originally isolated from colon tumors, but may be found in other tumors as well. If previously elevated levels of CEA recover to normal after removal of a colon tumor, the surgery is considered successful. Various abnormalities in the physical features of the gastric mucosal tissue were identified in patients with gastric cancer; these are described. Patients with gastric cancer also had a specific type of intestinal metaplasia and CEA detected within the cells of the foveolar epithelium, the pitted portion of the surface layer of mucosal tissue. These findings show that the epithelium of patients with gastric cancer is abnormal in its physical features and serves as the base for the development of gastric cancer. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Abnormalities, Measurement, Physiological aspects, Biopsy, CEA (Oncology), Carcinoembryonic antigen, Gastric mucosa

---

Advanced gastric carcinoma simulating early gastric carcinoma

Article Abstract:

Advances in diagnostic techniques have increased the number of stomach cancers that are detected in the early stages. Simultaneously, there has been an increase in the number of gastric cancers which at first diagnosis appear to be early stage, but upon histological examination are found to be advanced gastric carcinoma. The prognosis for advanced gastric carcinoma simulating early gastric carcinoma is considerably better than that reported for advanced carcinoma. Advanced carcinomas with small invasion growth or growth associated with ulcers have better prognoses than carcinomas with blood vessel permeation or diffuse infiltration. In addition, the examination of 33 cases of advanced gastric carcinoma simulating early gastric carcinoma with DNA cytophotometric analysis revealed that tumors with a certain type of DNA pattern, suggestive of abnormal chromosome content, indicate a poor prognosis. Since clinical and gross pathologic examination alone may seriously understage the tumor, it is important that a precise histopathologic examination be performed to obtain an accurate prognosis. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Diagnosis, Cancer, Histology, Pathological, Pathological histology, Cancer diagnosis

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Effect of HLA compatibility on engraftment of bone marrow transplants in patients with leukemia or lymphoma. Transplantation of bone marrow as compared with peripheral-blood cells from HLA-identical relatives in patients with hematologic cancers
• Abstracts: Effects of human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in a patient with idiopathic neutropenia. Treatment of cyclic neutropenia with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor
• Abstracts: Candidates for thrombolysis among emergency room patients with acute chest pain. Effect of race on the presentation and management of patients with acute chest pain
• Abstracts: Pelvic exenteration, University of Michigan: 100 patients at 5 years. The surgical management of recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva
• Abstracts: Von Willebrand factor multimeric levels and patterns in patients with severe preeclampsia. Antepartum and intrapartum events in women exposed in utero to diethylstilbestrol

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.