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In several cancers, the acidic microenvironment of cancer cells has been implicated in enhanced malignancy and metastasis. In the present study, it was observed that gastric cancer cell lines, SNU601 and AGS, exposed to an acidic medium had increased invasiveness, as assessed using Matrigel‑coated Transwell analysis. The factors regulating such acidity‑mediated enhancement of invasiveness were investigated and it was revealed that a low‑pH environment markedly increased kallikrein‑related peptidase 7 (KLK7) and kallikrein‑related peptidase 8 (KLK8) expression. Gene silencing assays confirmed that these peptidases were involved in acidity‑promoted invasion. Acidic conditions also increased the expression of cyclooxygenases (COX), key regulatory enzymes in the catalytic pathway of prostaglandin production. Notably, these enzymes appeared to be involved in the acidity‑mediated expression of KLK7 and KLK8, as revealed using COX inhibitors. Therefore, it was indicated that tumor invasion enhancement by extracellular acidity is regulated at least in part through the induction of the COX/KLK7 and KLK8 axis in gastric cancer cells.

Bilateral variations in the formation and branching of brachial plexus are rare. Variations between median and musculocutaneous nerves were observed on both sides during the dissection of an 87-year-old Korean female cadaver, whose cause of death was cholangiocarcinoma. The variations found were bilateral, in which each musculocutaneous nerve did not pierce the coracobrachialis muscle. The musculocutaneous nerve was rudimentary in the right arm and all branches arose from the median nerve separately, which corresponds to previous classification type 0-2. In the case of the left arm, the musculocutaneous nerve originated from the lateral cord, but had connections between median and musculocutaneous nerves below the coracobrachialis muscle, which corresponds to previous classification type 1-B-2. To the best of our knowledge, the bilateral variations between median and musculocutaneous nerves in this case have different features from other previous reports. Awareness of the possible variations between median and musculocutaneous nerves is important to both anatomists and clinicians.

We analyzed six cystectomized specimens diagnosed as transitional cell carcinoma by immunohistochemical evaluation to determine the presence of c-erbB2, transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), c-myc, c-fos, and c-fms. Representative sections of flat lesions with atypia (e.g., reactive atypia, dysplasia, and carcinoma in situ) and invasive neoplasms (transitional cell carcinoma, TCC) were selected for each cystectomy specimen according to the new WHO/ISUP classification. The average percentage of cells found positive for c-erbB2 were 16.3%, 45.5%, 46.1% and 67.7% in the reactive atypia, dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, and invasive TCC, respectively. The average percentage of cells found positive for TGF-alpha were 9.7%, 13.3%, 13.5%, 30.3%, respectively. The cells were negative for the oncoproteins c-myc and c-fos. The average percentage of cells found positive for the oncoprotein c-fms was 10.6%, 15.5%, 16.7%, and 45.5% respectively. The results of this study indicated that various oncoproteins are expressed differently. c-erbB2, TGF-alpha and c-fms expression was gradually increased during tumorous progression of the urothelium from reactive atypia to invasive carcinoma. The presence of c-erbB2, TGF-alpha and c-fms is an important marker for detection of an early precursor lesions of invasive carcinoma. However, c-myc and c-fos were not expressed in the urothelial reactive atypia and dysplasia and did not correlate with tumor progression.

A giant hidradenocarcinoma presented by a 75-year-old female is reported. The patient had a malignant transformation within a nodular hidradenoma involving the right postauricular area, which was treated by mass removal and a right radical neck dissection with a free-flap covering. Malignant hidradenocarcinoma is the least common adnexal tumor of uncertain origin. They are usually malignant from their inception, but some develop from a benign counterpart. To the authors' knowledge, only three cases have been reported previously. Two histologically distinct components were seen in this tumor: (i) typical nodular hidradenoma, which constituted a small part of the tumor; and (ii) carcinoma with areas of transition. The secretory cells of hidradenocarcinoma showed decapitation secretion on light and electron microscopic observations, which is evidence of apocrine differentiation. Histologically, this case was concluded as a hidradenocarcinoma arising from a long-standing nodular hidradenoma. A literature review is presented and the histological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural features are described.

Malignant mixed mullerian tumors (MMMT) are unusual neoplasms occurring mostly in the uterus. In the ovary, they are very rare and represent fewer than 1% of all ovarian malignancies; in the salpinx, they are even rarer than those of the ovary. We report a carcinosarcoma of the left adnexa having features of neuroendocrine differentiation in a 69-year-old female. The tumor contained both adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma having dear cell change admixed with an undifferentiated malignant mesenchymal component. The sarcoma components consisted of spindle cells, small-round cells and bizarre giant cells mimicking rhabdomyoblast. Almost all of the carcinomatous glandular components and some foci of the squamous cell and undifferentiated carcinomatous components were focal positive for S-100 protein, chromogranin, neuron specific enolase, synaptophysin and Leu-7. Electron microscopy revealed membrane-bound neurosecretory granules in the cytoplasm of some glandular epithelial cells. Histologically, the tumor involved the left adnexa, abdominal peritoneum, surface of the bladder dome, omentum and left external iliac lymph node (stage IIIc).

Mantle cell lymphoma, blastoid variant (B-MCL), is a very rare type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma exhibiting an aggressive clinical course. We describe a case of B-MCL showing generalized lymphadenopathy and leukemic conversion in a 62-yr-old man. The case was diagnosed and subclassified as B-MCL on the basis of cyto-morphology and immunophenotype. Microscopic examination of the peripheral blood (PB) showed a spectrum of cells ranging from small mature lymphocytes to medium- and large-sized lymphocytes with blast-like chromatin and prominent nucleoli. The lymphoma cells were monoclonal B cells with moderately intense surface IgM. They were CD5 positive, cyclin D1 positive, CD10 negative, and CD23 negative. The flow cytometric immunophenotyping and DNA ploidy analysis of the PB and material obtained by aspiration cytology supported the diagnosis of B-MCL. These findings underline the utility of aspiration cytology in diagnosing B-MCL when cytomorphologic examination is combined with flow cytometric analysis of immuno-phenotype and demonstration of proliferation markers.

Background Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma is an extremely rare disease that usually occurs in the parotid gland but can occur in a variety of sites such as the nasal cavity, paranasal sinus, and base of the tongue. Case presentation We report a rare case of epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma, which developed in the subglottic region. A 78-year-old Korean woman visited our hospital complaining of hoarseness, which had developed 1 month previously. Flexible laryngoscopy showed a round mass that blocked approximately 80 % of the tracheal diameter. Complete excision of the mass was carried out under general anesthesia, using a transoral approach. Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma was diagnosed following immunohistochemical analysis. Conclusions We report a rare case of epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma that occurred in the subglottic region. To the best of our knowledge, only one other case has been reported since this disease was first identified approximately 40 years ago.