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Capsaicin, a pungent compound found in hot chili peppers, induces apoptotic cell death in various cell lines, however, the precise apoptosis signaling pathway is unknown. Here, we investigated capsaicin-induced apoptotic signaling in the human breast cell line MCF10A and found that it involves both endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and calpain activation. Capsaicin inhibited growth in a dose-dependent manner and induced apoptotic nuclear changes in MCF10A cells. Capsaicin also induced degradation of tumor suppressor p53; this effect was enhanced by the ER stressor tunicamycin. The proteasome inhibitor MG132 completely blocked capsaicin-induced p53 degradation and enhanced apoptotic cell death. Capsaicin treatment triggered ER stress by increasing levels of IRE1, GADD153/Chop, GRP78/Bip, and activated caspase-4. It led to an increase in cytosolic Ca(2+), calpain activation, loss of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential, release of mitochondrial cytochrome c, and caspase-9 and -7 activation. Furthermore, capsaicin-induced the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway through calpain-mediated Bid translocation to the mitochondria and nuclear translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF). Capsaicin-induced caspase-9, Bid cleavage, and AIF translocation were blocked by calpeptin, and BAPTA and calpeptin attenuated calpain activation and Bid cleavage. Thus, both ER stress- and mitochondria-mediated death pathways are involved in capsaicin-induced apoptosis.

We present a case of OEIS complex (omphalocele, exstrophy of bladder, imperforated anus, spinal defect) combined with colonic agenesis and glomerulocystic kidney disease (GCKD). The baby was born at 35.2 weeks of gestational age, weighing 2.51 kg. A prenatal ultrasound examination showed spina bifida, hydroureter, and a unilateral polycystic kidney. The postdelivery examination, which included a physical examination, simple X-ray, and pelvic MRI, showed a lower abdominal wall defect through which a small pouch with a segment of bowel protruded, imperforated anus, ambiguous external genitalia, spina bifida with meningomyelocele at the lumbosacral junction, and nonunion of pubic symphysis. The baby underwent surgery, including nephrectomy, colostomy, and repair of the abdominal wall defect. In addition to the abnormalities mentioned, a tailgut as a result of colonic agenesis and 2 appendices were identified in the course of surgery. The result of histopathological examination confirmed the polycystic kidney identified as GCKD. These radiological, surgical, and histopathologic findings are consistent with the OEIS complex. The postoperative course was uneventful during a period of 4 months of follow up. We herein report a case of the very rare OEIS complex in a newborn male baby and review the available literature.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma is a frequent diagnosis, but the relationship of the tumors to histologically similar soft tissue neoplasms is controversial. In this study, 157 examples representing the 4 main subtypes were reviewed by light microscopy and each tumor was studied with the electron microscope. Immunohistochemical stains were performed on 77 tumors. Electron micrographs on 100 fibrosarcomas were reviewed for comparison. Malignant fibrous histiocytomas often closely resemble fibrosarcomas at the ultrastructural level and differences between the two are generally of degree only. Evidence for true histiocytic differentiation was not found. The immunohistochemical results did not contradict the authors' impression from electron microscopy that malignant fibrous histiocytoma forms part of the histologic spectrum of tumors of fibroblasts.

Malignant transformation of ovarian mature cystic teratomas is reported to occur in about 1% of cases. The most common malignant evolution is that of squamous cell carcinoma and one of the least common is that of small cell carcinoma. We report a case of distant metastasis from a small cell carcinoma arising in a mature cystic teratoma. A 28-year-old nulliparous female presented with signs of supraclavicular lymph node metastasis. This is the first known case report of lymph node metastasis as an initial sign of cancer developing in a pre-existing mature cystic teratoma. Histologically, the tumor cells had microscopic features similar to those of pulmonary small cell carcinoma. This report gives a literature review, and the histological, immunohistochemical, flow cytometric and ultrastructural features are described.

Ultrastructural observations on 60 fibrosarcomas are presented. Myofibroblastic differentiation was found in 33 tumors but usually in scattered cells. Diffuse aggregates of nonspecific intermediate filaments were present in a number of the tumors. Electron microscopy is useful to distinguish fibrosarcoma from other soft tissue sarcomas that it can resemble by routine light microscopy, and its value is enhanced when selected immunocytochemical procedures are also performed.

Maspin is a unique serine proteinase inhibitor that has tumor suppressor activity. It has been reported that maspin is expressed in normal human mammary epithelial cells and it is down-regulated during the progression of cancer. However, to date, there is very limited data on the clinical significance of maspin expression in human breast cancer. In this study, maspin expression was assessed immunohistochemically from 80 invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) specimens of the breast. Also, maspin expression was compared with the clinicopathological factors (age, grade, tumor size and lymph node status), the expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and p53, DNA ploidy and the overall survival in an attempt to assess its prognostic value. The maspin expression was positive in 25 IDC cases (31.3%). The maspin expression in IDC was significantly correlated with a higher histologic grade, a larger tumor size, a positive p53 status and shorter survival. There was an inverse association with maspin expression and the PR status. These findings suggest that maspin expression is not down-regulated with the progression of cancer and maspin expression may be associated with a poor prognosis. The immunohistochemical detection of maspin in breast cancers may be helpful for predicting an aggressive phenotype.

Specimens of 47 tumors diagnosed by routine light microscopy as Ewing's sarcoma of bone, and 5 similar soft tissue tumors (extraskeletal Ewing's sarcomas), were examined by transmission electron microscopy. Immunohistochemical stains were performed on all the tumors, and pre-therapy and post-therapy specimens from 5 of the patients were compared. Cell and nuclear areas were assessed in 41 cases by cytomorphometry by using low-magnification electron micrographs. DNA ploidy was determined by static cytometry on 51 of the tumors. None of the methods revealed differences between the bone and soft tissue tumors. The ultrastructural spectrum extended imperceptibly from the typical forms to markedly irregular variants, and was much broader than could be anticipated from the light microscopy. Neural features were observed but they were not common. Comparison of the Ewing's sarcomas with a group of other small round cell tumors (rhabdomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma, small cell carcinoma) using the same techniques showed that they have similar cell and nuclear areas despite the obvious differences in their immunophenotypes and ultrastructure. The collective findings are in keeping with the currently favored view that Ewing's sarcoma and peripheral primitive neuro-ectodermal tumor are the extremes in a morphologic continuum within which neural differentiation ranges from absent to prominent.

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).

Background: Of the many prognostic factors for breast cancer, the relationship between an infil tration of inflammatory cells and the prognosis is debatable. Of the chemokines affecting cancer’s inflammatory reactions, chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 16 (CXCL16) has attracted attention for its prognostic value in many cancers, including colorectal cancer and renal cell carcinoma. But the situation for breast carcinoma is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the prognostic factors and the CXCL16 expression in patients with breast carcinoma. Methods: The patients (n= 106) diagnosed with invasive ductal cancer of the breast were enrolled. We reviewed the clinicopathological factors of these patients, hematoxylin and eosin stains were prepared and estrogen receptor (ER), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/ neu) and CXCL16 immunostaining was performed. Results: The ER expression was significantly correlated with age and inflammation. A CXCL16 expression was noted in 81.1% of the cases. No association was evident between a CXCL16 expression and any other parameter, including the survival rate. Multivariate analysis did not implicate ER, HER2/neu or CXCL16 as an independent prognostic factor, but the tumor size was independent predictive factor for the patient outcome. Conclusions: An inflammatory reaction mediated by CXCL16 is not associated with the prognosis of breast cancer or any clinicopathological factors.

This study sponsored by the Lymphoreticular Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists was carried out to provide nationwide data about the histopathologic-immunophenotypic features of malignant lymphomas in Korea. Two hundred and ninety Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) among 312 malignant lymphomas collected from three representative areas in Korea were histologically reclassified. Two hundred and fifty three cases were immunohistochemically studied. T-cell lymphoma comprised 35.2% of NHL in this study and showed a quite comparable incidence to that of Japan and China, but it was much higher than in Western countries. A very low prevalence rate of the follicular variety (4.0%) and a higher propensity of primary extranodal involvement (60%) are additional characteristics of NHL in Korea. The most common histologic subtype of B cell lymphoma was diffuse large cell type, whereas the most common subtype of T cell lymphoma was diffuse mixed small and large cell type.