It is suggested that the cytoplasmic overexpression of EGFr plays a significant role in the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, especially in the invasion and acquisition of aggressive clinical behavior. Both membrane and cytoplasmic expression of HER-2 showed no significant correlation between tumor differentiation and poor survival.

L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1), a neutral amino acid transporter, requires covalent association with the heavy chain of 4F2 cell surface antigen (4F2hc) for its functional form. We investigated the importance of LAT1 and 4F2hc expressions to progression in upper urinary tract cancer. We examined their expressions and their relationships to clinicopathologic parameters and clinical outcome in 124 cases. Positive expressions of LAT1 (protein and messenger ribonucleic acid) and 4F2hc (protein) were recognized in 79.8, 89.5, and 87.9% of tumor samples, respectively. In tumor cells, LAT1 protein was detected either as nodular granules within the cytoplasm or diffusely within the cytoplasm and/or on plasma membrane. In the normal urothelium, its expression was detected as nodular granules within the cytoplasm. A correlation with stage was shown for LAT1 protein expression and for a cooperative expression of LAT1 protein with 4F2hc protein (active form of LAT1 protein). Further, in all tumors, a cooperative expression of LAT1 protein and 4F2hc protein was significantly correlated with both overall and disease-free survival rates in the univariate analysis but not in the multivariate analysis. In conclusion, the detection of the active form of LAT1 protein would appear to be of value in informing the risk of progression in transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract.

Amplification of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and/or c-erbB-2 oncogenes and overexpression of their proteins are detected in 30% of gastric carcinomas, but there are few reports regarding the correlation between gene amplification and protein overexpression. We examined the correlation between amplification of the EGFR and c-erbB-2 genes, detected using fluorescence in situ hybridization, and overexpression of their proteins, detected using immunohistochemistry, in formalin-fixed tissue sections of 54 surgically resected gastric carcinomas. A mean EGFR copy number per nucleus of four or more and an EGFR/chromosome 7 centromere (CEP7) ratio of 1.7 or more were each detected in 4 specimens (7%). The sensitivity and specificity of both criteria for EGFR protein overexpression were 75% and 92%, respectively. A mean c-erbB-2 copy number per nucleus of 7.0 or more and a c-erbB-2/chromosome 17 centromere (CEP17) ratio of 2.0 or more were detected in six (11%) and eight (15%) specimens, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the former criterion to c-erbB-2 overexpression were 83% and 98%, respectively, while those of the latter were 63% and 98%. A mean EGFR gene copy number of 4.0 or more and/or an EGFR/CEP7 ratio of 1.7 and a mean c-erbB-2 gene copy number of 7.0 or more and/or a c-erbB-2/CEP17 ratio of 2.0 or more would be useful in defining increased EGFR and c-erbB-2 gene copy numbers, respectively, in gastric carcinomas.

We report 3 cases of solitary papillomas located in peripheral regions of the lung that are extremely rare in the literature. The patients were 75-year-old and 72-year-old men and a 53-year-old woman. One patient complained of recurrent hemoptysis. The other 2 had no symptoms, but abnormal nodular shadows were revealed by chest radiographs during a health check. The maximum diameters of the tumors were 1.0, 1.4, and 1.1 cm, respectively. The 3 tumors gave almost the same histologic findings. Papillomatous fronds lined by a stratified columnar epithelium were seen in the lumens of peripheral bronchi, bronchioles, or alveoli. The stratified columnar epithelium consisted of ciliated, mucous, and basal cells. The neoplastic epithelium extended to the alveolar region and showed a similar appearance to bronchioloalveolar or papillary type adenocarcinomas. For differential diagnosis, it is noteworthy that endobronchiolar papillomatous fronds constantly exist and spreading along alveolar walls is limited in adjacent alveoli in peripheral papillomas. The presence of ciliated cells and basal cells is considered an important finding to suggest benign character of the lesion.

A 58-year-old female presented with a rare case of intracranial solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) manifesting as progressive ataxic gait and hearing loss on the left persisting for 6 months with recent symptoms of increased intracranial pressure. Computed tomography demonstrated a large isodense irregular-shaped mass in the left posterior cranial fossa. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging showed two components appearing as very low intensity and high intensity. Extreme-lateral suboccipital craniotomy was performed. Gross total resection was achieved except for some dural attachment in the jugular foramen. All symptoms and signs subsided after surgery. Histological, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopic examinations led to a diagnosis of SFT. The strongly hypointense areas on the T2-weighted images were hypocellular region characterized by disorganized spindle cells and thick bands of collagen. The hyperintense areas on the T2-weighted images were hypercellular region mimicking hemangiopericytoma. Strong immunoreactivity for CD34 was also helpful in the diagnosis. Electron microscopy revealed absence of pinocytic vesicles and dense laminae which are characteristic of hemangiopericytoma. The magnetic resonance imaging appearance of SFT seems to be pathognomonic.