Human pathology
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There is increasing evidence that stromal reaction in cancer has an important diagnostic and prognostic significance. Recent studies have shown that CD34-positive stromal cells and myofibroblasts may play an important role in host response to invasive cancer. The aim of our study was to analyze the expression of CD34, alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA), and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) in squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the larynx and hypopharynx, to establish their significance, and to elucidate the mechanism of myofibroblast formation. ⋯ Our study shows that disappearance of CD34-positive stromal cells and appearance of SMA-positive stromal myofibroblasts are associated with transformation of laryngeal SILs to SCC. This pattern of stromal reaction was found not only in the tumor but also in the peritumoral zone, defined as a band of host tissue between the invasive tumor front and adjacent normal tissue. Our findings also support the suggestion that overproduced TGFbeta1 in carcinoma cells mediates one of the mechanisms of transformation of stromal cells to myofibroblasts in laryngeal carcinogenesis.
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The rare condition of women with erythrocytosis and a concurrent myomatous uterus has been classified as "myomatous erythrocytosis syndrome". Substantial myoma size has been noted as a common denominator in this condition in which recent evidence have confirmed erythropoietin (Epo) production by myoma tissues themselves. Apart from its primary endocrine role in controlling erythropoiesis, Epo has been demonstrated to mediate several cellular processes such as angiogenesis, mitogenesis, and inhibition of apoptosis by autocrine and paracrine mechanisms. ⋯ The striking presence of Epo-R within myoma tissues in the case of the myomatous erythrocytosis syndrome allows us to speculate that myoma Epo production, besides determining erythrocytosis through systemic effects, may contribute, acting by autocrine and paracrine mechanisms, in determining the large myoma size almost always observed in this condition. Finally, we confirm a less but specific immunostaining for Epo in uterine myomas of patients without erythrocytosis and, as a first in the literature, we prove a weak and sporadic Epo-R expression in these lesions. These last results may contribute to knowledge of the yet unclear etiopathogenesis of the most common human gynecologic neoplasm.