Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0017638 (glioma)
 30,880 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Precise localization of alkaline phosphatase (ALPase) activity in human gliomas was examined by light and electron microscopy in association with malignant transformation, paying much attention to changes in blood-brain barrier. Materials used were eight cases of gliomas four of which were astrocytoma grade 2, one astrocytoma grade 3, and three, glioblastoma multiforme, respectively. Specimens were quickly fixed in cacodylate-buffered 2% glutaraldehyde at 4 degrees C for 1 hour and rinsed overnight in the same buffer. Frozen or nonfrozen sections (40 microns thick) were made and incubated at 20 degrees C for 40 min, and processed for light and electron microscopy. For the demonstration of ALPase activity, the lead citrate method (Mayahara et al., 1967) was employed. By light microscopy, ALPase activity appeared to be mainly restricted to the capillary wall. By electron microscopy, reaction product representing ALPase activity was distributed in the plasma membrane of endothelial cells both in astrocytomas and in glioblastoma. In astrocytoma grade 2, activity was primarily localized along the abluminal surface of endothelial cells. In glioblastoma, on the other hand, ALPase activity was positive on the luminal surface of the plasma membrane of endothelial cells. It was much more intense than that along the abluminal surface. Regional differences in enzyme cytochemistry may represent functional heterogeneity in the endothelial cell membrane. In brain tumors, changes in distribution pattern of enzyme activity were visualized in the present study in association with glioma malignancy. This might represent a functional aspect of changes in blood-brain barrier in human glioma tissue during course of its malignant transformation.
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PMID:[Alkaline phosphatase activity in human gliomas as revealed by light and electron microscopy]. 304 56

The proliferation rate of 40 intracranial neoplasms (30 gliomas, 1 hemangioblastoma, 3 meningiomas, 1 neurinoma and 5 brain metastases) was investigated using the monoclonal antibody Ki-67. In eleven of the gliomas recurrences could be observed, and two of them recurred for second time. In total the Ki-67 labelling indices of 53 specimens were investigated. The Ki-67 nuclear antigen was demonstrated in frozen sections by application of the appropriate monoclonal antibodies according to a modified alkaline phosphatase-antialkaline phosphatase (APAAP) technique. The proliferation rate was evaluated by cell count calculation of the staining index. Ki-67-labelled glioma cells varied from 0.2 percent in one meningioma (WHO-grade I) to 9.1 percent in one glioblastoma. In ten glioma recurrences, higher Ki-67 staining indices could be observed than in their primaries, even when the histological grading did not change substantially. In a cerebellar hemangioblastoma, a trigeminal neurinoma and two endotheliomatous meningiomas the fraction of stained nuclei was less than one percent; however, one recurrent transitional meningioma without any histological sign of malignancy showed a staining index of 2.4 percent. The staining indices of five brain metastases of different malignancies ranged from 1.5 percent in a malignant melanoma to 6.1 percent in bronchial carcinoma. In the majority of the cases examined, the percentage of Ki-67 labelled cells was in accordance with the histologic grade of the neoplasm. In general, there was a direct relationship between the number of stained nuclei and the frequency of mitoses (mitotic index) evaluated in hematoxylin-eosin stained frozen sections. Interestingly, the frequency of mitosis and stained nuclei were higher in tumor recurrences than in the primaries. The results of this study imply that immunohistological labelling of the proliferating cell fraction should become an important additional criterion to predict the biological behaviour of human nervous system neoplasms.
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PMID:Relationship between Ki-67 positive cells, growth rate and histological type of human intracranial tumors. 305 45

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and glioma-associated antigens (GAA) defined by monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were demonstrated simultaneously in human astrocytoma tissue. GFAP was stained by PAP-method, GAA were visualized by avidin-biotin-technique using alkaline phosphatase. In primary and secondary tumors as well as in tissue culture heterogeneity of GFAP- and GAA-expression is obvious. GFAP is mostly restricted to cell processes and less marked in the perinuclear space. Depending on the individual antibody, MAbs-positive material is located either in the tumor cell plasma (MUC 8-22) or on cell surface membranes (MUC 2-63). There is remarkable expression of GAA in cell clusters which fail to express GFAP. At higher magnification, 3 types of cellular reactivity are detectable: (a) cells which react only with anti-GFAP, (b) cells which react only with anti-GAA and (c) cells which express both, GFAP and GAA, especially those of protoplasmic astrocyte type. These cells also occur in subcutaneous tumor grafts, and may thus represent not only a reactive event, but be part of tumor cell populations.
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PMID:Simultaneous demonstration of glia- and glioma-associated antigens in human astrocytomas. 316 45

The C6 spheroid implantation glioma model is a simple, easily reproduced model for primary gliomas in which C6 astrocytoma cells are grown in vitro as spheroids and subsequently implanted into the brains of Sprague Dawley rat hosts. This report describes the growth, histology, vessel architecture and vascular permeability of the resulting tumors. The appearance of the tumor was investigated by light and electron microscopy, and by using the alkaline phosphatase technique. The leakage of tracer was measured from vessels in the tumor and peritumoral area at various times during tumor development. The spheroid implant produces a fully vascularized, rapidly growing tumor with many of the characteristics of glioblastoma multiforme, from an avascular focus of neoplastic cells. The major advantage of this model is that the tumors grow in a spheroidal fashion and the tumor-brain interface can be easily located. Many of the important events in the process of vascularization take place at the tumor-brain interface. Two distinctive vascular events appear to occur simultaneously: proliferation of blood vessels and their growth into the tumor mass so that they develop into typical, permeable tumor vessels, and migration of tumor cells along normal vessels into the surrounding brain. Tumor vessels were permeable to the tracer Evans Blue (EB) from the earliest days of ingrowth. Leakage of the EB increased as the tumors increased in size, but eventually leakage plateaued as tumors developed necrotic centers. It is well known that the structural and permeability characteristics of vessels associated with the tumor affect tumor growth. This model will be useful for a number of proposed studies including assessment of various clinical therapies on tumor growth and development, and more specifically, quantitative analysis of the vascularization process in tumors.
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PMID:A new glioma model in rat: the C6 spheroid implantation technique permeability and vascular characterization. 357 71

Stem cell factor (SCF), a hematopoietic growth factor, is the ligand of the tyrosine kinase receptor encoded by the c-kit proto-oncogene. Beside the important role of this receptor-ligand complex in hematopoiesis, gametogenesis and melanogenesis, SCF and its receptor have been shown to be expressed in the brain. We have studied the expression of SCF and c-kit in 20 human malignant glioma cell lines at the mRNA as well as at the protein level. In addition, recombinant human (rh) SCF was tested in [3H]thymidine uptake assays for a mitogenic effect on these cells. SCF and c-Kit proteins were detected in the cytoplasm of glioma cells by alkaline phosphatase-monoclonal anti-alkaline phosphatase immunostaining and Western blot analysis. However, neither SCF nor c-Kit were seen on the cell surface by flow cytometry. Furthermore, none of the proliferation assays showed a mitogenic effect for exogenously added rhSCF. Blocking studies using an anti-SCF antibody failed to demonstrate modulating effects on the growth of selected cell lines. These results suggest that SCF and c-Kit may mediate non-proliferative signals or may employ intracellular mechanisms for autocrine growth regulation of glioma cells.
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PMID:Coexpression of stem cell factor and its receptor c-Kit in human malignant glioma cell lines. 753 28

Rat brain microvessel endothelial cells were immortalized by transfection with a plasmid containing the E1A adenovirus gene. One clone, called RBE4, was further characterized. These cells display a nontransformed phenotype and express typical endothelial markers, Factor VIII-related antigen and Bandeiraea simplicifolia binding sites. When RBE4 cells were grown in the presence of bFGF and on collagen-coated dishes, confluent cultures developed sprouts that extend above the monolayer and organized into three-dimensional structures. The activity of the blood-brain barrier-associated enzyme, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma GTP), was expressed in these structures, not in the surrounding monolayer. Similar results were obtained with the microvessel-related enzyme alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Addition of agents that elevate intracellular cAMP reduced the formation of three-dimensional structures, but every cell inside the aggregates still expressed gamma GTP and ALP activities. Such structures, associated with high levels of gamma GTP and ALP activities, were also induced by astroglial factors, including (1) plasma membranes from newborn rat primary astrocytes or rat glioma C6 cells, (2) C6 conditioned media, or (3) diffusible factors produced by primary astrocytes grown in the presence of, but not in contact with RBE4 cells. RBE4 cells thus remain sensitive to angiogenic and astroglial factors for the expression of the blood-brain barrier-related gamma GTP activity, as well as for ALP activity, and could constitute the basis of a valuable in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier.
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PMID:Regulation of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and alkaline phosphatase activities in immortalized rat brain microvessel endothelial cells. 790 23

During postnatal development, the formation of new blood vessels is possible only through angiogenesis. The initial growth of solid neoplasms, including childhood brain tumors, during the genetically determined stages of carcinogenesis, even at clinically undetectable sizes (a few mm3), depends upon the continuous formation of new blood capillaries [i.e. neovascularization (NV)/neoplasm-related angiogenesis (NRA)]. The generation of a malignant, invasive cellular immunophenotype (CIP) and distant metastases are also NRA-dependent processes. Endothelial cells undergo rapid proliferation during brain tumor related angiogenesis. Human endoglin (CD105/EDG), is a homodimeric cell surface component of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) type I receptor complex and is also a proliferation-associated antigen (PAA) expressed at high density on endothelial cells. Formalin fixed, paraffin-wax embedded (3-5 microns thick), as well as frozen tissue sections (6 microns thick) of 62 childhood brain tumors [34 medulloblastomas (MEDs) and 28 astrocytomas (ASTRs)], were employed for the assessment of EDG expression. Both an indirect, four-step, alkaline phosphatase (AP) conjugated, biotin-streptavidin based (or a diamino-benzidine [DAB]) conjugated immunoperoxidase antigen detection technique were employed, utilizing the SN6h anti-EDG monoclonal antibody (DAKO Corp.). Another antigen detection method, based on the Histogold (Zymed) reaction was also employed using the same antibody on formalin fixed, paraffin-wax embedded tissues. Strong expression (A; +3 to +4) of EDG on endothelial cells and demonstrated in all 62 childhood brain tumor cases. The most striking feature of the newly formed tumor-related capillaries was the presence of a markedly enlarged perivascular space. Blood vessels in several normal human tissues (cortex, cerebellum, thymus, tonsil, spleen, lymph node, skin) used as control tissues contained significantly lower levels of EDG (B and mostly C; +/- to +), in accordance with the extremely slow turnover rate of normal endothelial cells. A close apposition between the capillaries and the adjacent parenchyma was also observed. Brain tumors, especially glioblastoma, are among the most vascularized human neoplasms, and thus are candidates for antiangiogenic therapy. VEGF/PF-R1 (flt-1) and VEGF/PF-R2 (flk-1) are formed de novo in a glioma progression-dependent manner. Further studies should substantiate the importance of EDG in the earliest possible detection, diagnosis and NRA inhibition-based treatment of mammalian solid neoplasms, especially childhood brain tumors.
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PMID:Upregulation of endoglin (CD105) expression during childhood brain tumor-related angiogenesis. Anti-angiogenic therapy. 967 60

GLIOMAS: As we demonstrated for supratentorial, diffuse gliomas in adults, a stratification into just two grades of malignancy, 'low' and 'high grade,' proved reliable and prognostically relevant. The discriminating histomorphological criterion for high-grade astrocytoma (WHO glioblastoma) as well as anaplastic oligodendroglioma and anaplastic oligoastrocytoma is endothelial hyperplasia/proliferation, which is usually associated with uptake of contrast medium in computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. As neoangiogenesis indicates glioma progression, it is worthwhile considering these radiographic features to judge the representativeness of the tumor samples critically. MENINGIOMAS: The revised edition of the WHO classification of brain tumors now includes the 'atypical' meningioma (WHO 'grade' II): Based on both its histomorphological features and prognosis, it should be placed between the common type and anaplastic meningioma. Nuclear area related Ki-67 proliferation indices, as determined by morphometry, were the prerequisite for outlining its histomorphological spectrum better. Cytogenetically, the most consistent progression-associated feature was loss of the distal part of the short arm of one chromosome 1 (1p-). Thus, a screening method using the tissue non-specific form of alkaline phosphatase (ALPL) as the respective marker enzyme was established. Diagnosing a meningioma of the intermediate type implies careful clinical and radiological patient follow-ups to detect tumor recurrences early.
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PMID:[Classification and grading of gliomas and meningiomas]. 986 48

Apoptosis is a physiological process wherein the cell initiates a sequence of events culminating in the fragmentation of its DNA, nuclear collapse, and finally disintegration of the cell into small, membrane-bound apoptotic bodies. Expression of Fas (APO-1, CD95) Receptor (FasR) and programmed or active cell (PCD) death was studied in childhood astrocytomas (ASTRs) with varying stages of malignancy, including pilocytic ASTR, low grade ASTR, anaplastic ASTR, and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). The great majority of childhood glial tumors, particularly ASTRs express FasR whereas normal cells in the central nervous system (CNS) do not. FasR represents a transmembrane glycoprotein which belongs to the nerve growth factor/tumor necrosis factor (NGF/TNF) receptor superfamily. Apoptosis within ASTRs is triggered by the binding of FasR to its natural ligand (FasL) or by cross-linking with antibodies developed against FasR. Presence of FasL was also detected in childhood glial tumors. The expression of both FasR and FasL was also observed within the same ASTRs. Therefore, spontaneous, IP regulatory, intratumoral apoptotic cell death (autocrine suicide) is possible in childhood glial tumors. During a systematic, immunocytochemical screening of 42 childhood ASTRs tissues divided according to WHO classification: 6 WHO grade I or pilocytic ASTRs; 14 WHO grade II or low grade ASTRs; 16 WHO grade III or anaplastic ASTRs and 6 WHO grade IV or glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), we detected strong expression (intensity of staining: "A"--the highest possible; number of stained cells: +2 to +4, between 20% to 90%) of FasR, employing 4 microns thick, formalin fixed, paraffin-wax embedded tissue slides. FasR was present on 70% to 90% of tumor cells in pilocytic ASTRs, in 50% to 60% of the tumor cells in low grade ASTRs, in between 30% and 40% of the tumor cells in anaplastic ASTRs, and in between 20% to 35% of GBM cells. The panel of normal tissues employed as positive and negative tissue controls demonstrated presence of FasR in the prenatal thymus, mature tonsils and colonic epithelium. The use of a sensitive, indirect, six step immunoperoxidase or alkaline phosphatase conjugated streptavidin-biotin antigen detection technique provided excellent immunocytochemical results. A broad spectrum of neoplastic cells have been identified to express FasR: 1) carcinomas of epithelial origin, such as breast (ductal invasive, lobular invasive, mucinous), renal cell, gastric, colorectal, endometrial, prostate, pancreas, hepatocellular and large cell and squamous cell lung carcinomas: 2) non-epithelial neoplasms such as B cell mediastinal B cell and nodal non-Hodgkin's lymphomas large granular lymphocytic leukemia of T or NK cell origin malignant fibrous histiocytoma, malignant mesothelioma, leiomyosarcoma, epitheloid sarcoma and alveolar soft part sarcoma, as well as melanomas. Flow cytometry studies have also detected FasR expression on cells of adult T cell, and hairy cell leukemias, as well as in chronic B cell lymphocytic leukemia (BCLL). The coexpression of both FasR and FasL on several malignant cell types may represent an effective mechanism of tumor escape from the cellular immunological response of the host. It has been well established that brain tumors and melanomas produce their autocrine FasL, and even become capable of switching the signal transduction associated with FasL-FasR coupling from the PCD pathway to a tumor growth, proliferative pathway. It seems that the therapeutical use of FasR-FasL (main apoptotic pathway) may represent a new and exciting type of immunotherapy in the treatment of primary childhood glial tumors.
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PMID:Fas (Apo-1, CD95) receptor expression in childhood astrocytomas. Is it a marker of the major apoptotic pathway or a signaling receptor for immune escape of neoplastic cells? 1058 78

Central nervous system (CNS) tumors are the most common solid neoplasms in children. Medulloblastomas (MEDs) resemble embryonic neuroectodermal stem cells and their immature, uncommitted neuronal and glial progeny. Apoptosis is a basic physiological process wherein the cell initiates a sequence of events culminating in the fragmentation of its DNA, nuclear collapse, and finally, disintegration of the cell into small, membrane-bound apoptotic bodies. Expression of Fas (APO-1, CD95) receptor (FasR) and programmed or active cell death (PCD) was studied in childhood MEDs with varying stages of malignancy, and cell differentiation features. The majority of neoplastically transformed, neuroectodermal in origin cells, particularly in MEDs, express FasR, whereas normal cells in the CNS do not. FasR is a transmembrane glycoprotein, which belongs to the nerve growth factor/tumor necrosis factor (NGF/TNF) receptor superfamily. Apoptosis within childhood PNETs/MEDs is triggered by the binding of FasR to its natural ligand (FasL) or by cross-linking with anti-section i FasR antibodies. The resence of FasL has also been detected in childhood glial tumors. Therefore, a spontaneous, cellular immunophenotype (IP) regulatory, intratumoral apoptotic cell death (autocrine suicide) is possible in childhood brain tumors during neoplastic growth and progression. During our systematic immunocytochemical screening, we employed formalin fixed, paraffin-wax embedded tissue sections, as well as frozen sections of 34 primary human childhood PNETs/MEDs. The use of a sensitive, indirect, six step immunoperoxidase or alkaline phosphatase conjugated streptavidin-biotin antigen detection technique, modified by us, provided excellent immunocyto-chemical results. A systematic observation of the presence of apoptosis related markers (especially FasR) and cells in PCD was carried out. A strong expression (intensity of staining: "A"-the highest possible; number of stained neoplastic cells: +3 to +4, between 50% to 90%) of FasR, was detected employing 4 microns thick, formalin fixed, paraffin-wax embedded tissue slides. The panel of normal tissues employed as positive and negative tissue controls demonstrated presence of FasR in the prenatal thymus, mature tonsils and colon epithelium. Certainly, the coexpression of FasR, FasL, and other PCD-related proteins have also been reported in other human malignancies: breast cancer, colorectal carcinomas, large granular lymphocytic leukemia of T or NK cell origin, melanomas, lung, prostate, pancreas, and hepatocellular carcinomas. The coexpression of both FasR and FasL on several neoplastic cell types may represent an effective mechanism for tumor escape of the cellular immunological response of the host. It has been well established that brain tumors and melanomas produce their autocrine FasL, and even become capable of switching their signal transduction from the PCD pathway to a tumor growth, proliferative pathway. It seems that the therapeutical use of FasR-FasL (main apoptotic pathway) represents a new and exciting immunotherapeutical possibility in the treatment of primary childhood neuroectodermal tumors.
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PMID:Fas (APO-1, CD95) receptor expression and new options for immunotherapy in childhood medulloblastomas. 1065 26


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