Preferential expression of alpha-B-crystallin in astrocytic elements of neuroectodermal tumors

Article Abstract:

Abnormal and diseased tissues often contain structures which are not observed in normal tissues. An example is Rosenthal fibers, which are carrot-shaped or beaded structures that can be observed within brain cells under pathological conditions. They may be found in astrocytes that are proliferating in response to an injury, or in astrocytic tumors. Chemical analysis has shown that these Rosenthal fibers are actually made of crystallin, a protein normally found in the lens of the eye. Crystallins can pack together with great efficiency to produce a structure through which light passes readily. The function of these proteins in other tissues remains unknown, however. The observation that the pathological Rosenthal fibers are composed of crystallins has prompted investigators to further study the occurrence of these proteins in brain tumor cells, even tumor cells in which Rosenthal fibers could not be observed. A total of 115 tumor specimens were examined; these specimens covered a wide range of brain tumors. All the tumors, however, shared the common feature of arising from some cell which was neuroectodermal. (This refers to the embryonic origin of the cells which give rise to the tumor; it excludes brain tumors such as meningiomas and metastatic brain tumors.) The researchers found that crystallins were commonly present in tumor cells that arose from astrocytes in the brain. Tumors such as ependymoma, which arise from other cells, contained few or no crystallins. Furthermore, in some tumors involving a mixture of cell types, only the astrocytic elements of the tumor were found to contain crystallins. Various types of gliomas that are predominantly astrocytic, such as anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme, often contained much crystallin. These results indicate that crystallins are a common component of tumors with astrocytic components, regardless of whether the tumor contains Rosenthal fibers or not. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Physiological aspects, Gliomas

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Repeated dearterialization of hepatic tumors with an implantable occluder

Article Abstract:

Like healthy cells, cancer cells require blood vessels to supply both oxygen and nutrients. In the case of liver cancer, attempts have been made to treat the cancer by occluding arteries supplying the tumor with oxygen, but permanent occlusion of one artery often results in other arteries sprouting new branches to supply the deprived area. To deprive liver cancers of oxygen without stimulating the development of new collateral vessels, researchers have devised an inflatable ring that may be surgically implanted around the hepatic artery. The ring is connected to the outside of the body by a silicone tube; injection of a few milliliters of saline into the tube inflates the ring and occludes the artery. Patients can perform this procedure at home for one hour twice daily. The procedure was evaluated in 13 patients: 2 with primary liver cancer and 11 with metastatic colorectal cancer in their liver. A complete remission was obtained by one patient with primary liver cancer. Partial responses were observed in three patients, and stable disease in another two. In five patients the cancer progressed despite treatment. Among the patients with colorectal cancer, the median survival was 15 months. One of the patients with primary liver cancer was alive and disease-free 18 months after starting the occlusive therapy. The treatment method was safe and well-tolerated by the patients. However, controlled studies will be necessary to determine the actual therapeutic value of the procedure and, perhaps, to identify a subset of patients who would be most likely to benefit. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Surgery, Liver cancer, Arteries

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