The role of substance P (SP) in physiological haematopoiesis is well established. However, it also seems to be important in the neoplastic transformation of bone marrow, leading to the development of acute leukaemia in children, and also metastases to bone marrow of solid tumours (particularly neuroblastoma and breast cancer) in early stages of these diseases. This review summarises the available data on SP involvement in both processes. In the future, SP antagonists may be used as anti-neoplastic drugs, for example by direct or indirect blocking of tumour cell proliferation through inhibition of growth factor production and interleukin-1b synthesis.

Abstract:To evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of VEGF-C, CD34 and VEGFR-2 in cancer tissue of children diagnosed with stadium 4 neuroblastoma (NB) and correlate their presence with the survival rate of children diagnosed with that stage of the disease. Eighteen children assigned to stadium 4 composed the study group. Fourteen patients (allocated to stadium 3) formed a control group. VEGF-C, CD34 and VEGFR-2 expressions were evaluated by immunohistochemical assay. Consecutive slides incubated with anti-CD34 and anti-VEGFR-2 antibodies revealed that the two markers were colocalized within endothelial layer of the blood vessels. On the other hand, VEGF-C was expressed exclusively in tumour cells. As demonstrated by Fisher's exact test, the risk of NB treatment failure (progression or relapse) as well as tumour related death, when all the patients were considered, was found to be significant in VEGF-C positive patients. VEGF-C expression in NB constitutes a potent risk factor and may direct future anti-angiogenic treatment strategy. The proximity of VEGF-C and CD34/VEGFR-2 of NB could be the equivalent of a potentially interesting VEGF-C fashion involving a tumour cell invasion into the blood vessels in an early phase of metastases promoting.

Abstract:Background: Galectins are a family of ancient animal carbohydrate binding proteins; the name is from their description as β-galactoside-specific lectins. They have been strongly implicated in inflammation and cancer. Studies of the association of galectins with various aspects of kidney disease in humans are still at an early stage. In line with the above, the aim of the present report was to analyse the immunohistochemical expression of galectin-3 (the only chimera galectin currently identified) in renal biopsy specimens of children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS). Patients and Methods: Eighteen children with minimal change disease (MCD), 30 with diffuse mesangial proliferation (DMP) and 11 with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) treated between 2003 and 2006 in the Department of Paediatric Cardiology and Nephrology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences. An indirect immunohistochemical protocol using a polyclonal rabbit antibody against human galectin-3 was employed. Results: In the control, MCD and DMP children who responded to steroid therapy anti-galectin-3 reactivity was present both in renal cortex and medulla. It was the strongest within cortical collecting ducts and subjectively less expressed in distal tubules. The total number of galectin-3 positive cortical and medullary segments of collecting ducts was significantly higher in the subjects who did not respond to steroid therapy These patients revealed also immunohistochemical reactivity of galectin-3 within nuclei of individual glomerular mesangial cells (p<0,001). Conclusions: A suggested galectin-3 authority in mature human glomeruli during proteinuric glomerulopathies may indicate, on the one hand, its anti-inflammatory effect, but on the other can prognosticate a further glomerular reconstruction leading to FSGS. Taken together, both glomerular and extraglomerular galectin-3 immunoreactivity in certain DMP individuals could be regarded as the factor of unfavourable prognosis.