Publications (93) View all
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Article: Multiple paraneoplastic diseases occurring in the same patient after thymomectomy.
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ABSTRACT: Thymoma-associated paraneoplastic diseases include myasthenia gravis (MG), neuromyotonia (NMT), Morvan's syndrome, and several non-neurological paraneoplastic manifestations, including glomerulonephritis. Paraneoplastic syndromes often precede the occurrence of thymoma, but cases occurring after thymomectomy, which sometimes herald the recurrence of thymoma, have also been described. We report on a patient who developed MG after thymomectomy for a malignant thymoma. After MG remission, NMT and Morvan's syndrome occurred, which heralded a mediastinic recurrence, as demonstrated only by autopsy findings.Journal of Neuro-Oncology 02/2010; 99(2):287-8. · 3.21 Impact Factor -
Article: Insulin receptor and glucose transporters mRNA expression throughout the menstrual cycle in human endometrium: aphysiological and cyclical condition of tissue insulin resistance.
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ABSTRACT: The expression of insulin receptor (IR), together with that of glucose transporters 1 and 4 (GLUT1-4) and of Insulin Growth Factor-I and -II (IGF-I,-II) in the endometrium of healthy and young women in both phases of menstrual cycle was assessed. Sixteen out of 20 healthy and normal menstruating volunteers were studied. Endometrial samplings were performed in every subject, twice in the same cycle, during the follicular and luteal phase respectively. The mRNA expression of IR, GLUT1-4, IGF-I and -II were evaluated by real-time quantitative RT-PCR and immunostaining reactions. Our results indicate that IR, GLUT1-4, IGF-I and -II mRNAs were expressed in both phases of the endometrial cycle: GLUT4 and IGF-I mRNA expression were significantly higher in the follicular phase and localized at the epithelial and stromal cell level, respectively, whereas IR, GLUT1 and IGF-II mRNA expression were mostly present in the secretory phase and mainly localized at the stromal level. An inverse tendency of IR and GLUT4 mRNA expression was respectively observed from follicular to luteal phase. In conclusion our data suggest that IR, glucose transporters and IGFs are significantly and differently expressed at the endometrial level throughout the menstrual cycle and that human endometrium cyclically undergoes through a transitory condition from normal to an insulin-resistance state.Gynecological Endocrinology 09/2012; · 1.58 Impact Factor -
Article: Nm23-H1 nuclear expression is associated with a more favourable prognosis in laryngeal carcinoma: univariate and multivariate analysis.
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ABSTRACT: Marioni G, Ottaviano G, Lionello M, Lora L, Lovato A, Staffieri C, Favaretto N, Giacomelli L, Stellini E, Staffieri A & Blandamura S (2012) Histopathology Nm23-H1 nuclear expression is associated with a more favourable prognosis in laryngeal carcinoma: univariate and multivariate analysis Aims: To use image analysis and multivariate analysis to investigate the prognostic significance of Nm23-H1 subcellular localization in a large cohort of laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (LSCCs). Methods and results: Nm23-H1 total and nuclear levels were immunohistochemically determined and calculated with an image analysis system in 104 consecutively operated LSCCs. The mean follow-up was 58.3 ± 35.1 months (median 45 months). Total Nm23-H1 levels correlated only with patient stratification by pT (P = 0.01). Mean nuclear Nm23-H1 levels were lower in patients with recurrent disease (P = 0.01), and disease-free survival (DFS) was longer in patients whose nuclear levels of Nm23-H1 were >2.0% than in those with levels ≤2.0% (P = 0.019). On multivariate analysis, Nm23-H1 nuclear expression [hazard ratio (HR) 2.59, P = 0.005] and N stage (HR 3.60, P = 0.0001) were prognostically significant in relation to DFS. Conclusions: In LSCC, Nm23-H1 nuclear expression may be useful for identifying patients at higher risk of recurrence after treatment and who might be considered for more aggressive therapy. Further investigations are needed before Nm23-H1 can be considered for use in targeted treatments for LSCC.Histopathology 05/2012; · 3.08 Impact Factor -
Article: Laryngeal carcinoma lymph node metastasis and disease-free survival correlate with MASPIN nuclear expression but not with EGFR expression: a series of 108 cases
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ABSTRACT: Despite advances in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) treatment, patient survival has not improved in the last two decades. Novel, more effective strategies should be based on receptor-mediated LSCC-targeted therapy. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is the most widely studied molecular target. MASPIN multifaceted anti-tumor effects have been rarely evaluated in LSCC. The aims of this study were to investigate EGFR and MASPIN expression and the role of sub-cellular MASPIN localization in LSSC. MASPIN and EGFR expression and the sub-cellular localization of MASPIN were assessed using a computerized image analysis system in 108 consecutive cases of operable LSCC. The rates of occurrence of lymph node metastases and recurrent disease were lower in patients with a nuclear pattern of MASPIN expression (p=0.004, p=0.0028). As expected, the loco-regional recurrence rate was lower in N0 patients (p=0.009), but the disease recurrence rate was even lower in N0 patients with a nuclear localization of MASPIN (p=0.020). Disease-free survival was longer in cases of LSCC with a nuclear MASPIN pattern (p=0.003). The intensity of EGFR reactivity and the EGFR area fraction were unrelated to the clinico-pathological and prognostic parameters in LSCC. A nuclear MASPIN pattern is a promising prognostic indicator in LSCC, but further evidence is needed before elective neck dissection can be considered for cN0 LSCCs with a non-nuclear MASPIN pattern. Although a better understanding of the mechanisms behind sub-cellular MASPIN localization is mandatory, re-activating nuclear MASPIN in association with specific chemotherapeutic agents may be an important goal in the treatment of LSCC. KeywordsMASPIN-EGFR-Laryngeal carcinoma-Targeted therapy-PrognosisArchiv für Klinische und Experimentelle Ohren- Nasen- und Kehlkopfheilkunde 04/2012; 267(7):1103-1110. · 1.29 Impact Factor -
Article: MASPIN subcellular localization and expression in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma
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ABSTRACT: MASPIN, a member of serpin superfamily, has multifaceted biological functions and an unique tumour suppressing activity. Experimental evidences showed that MASPIN suppresses tumour growth, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis. Only a very limited number of studies considered MASPIN expression in the upper aero-digestive tract carcinomas. It was recently found that nuclear localization of MASPIN was significantly associated with lower recurrence rate and longer disease-free interval in laryngeal carcinoma. The present study investigated the biological and prognostic role of MASPIN in relation to its subcellular localization in oral carcinoma. Sub-cellular pattern of distribution of MASPIN, nuclear and cytoplasmic MASPIN expressions were immunohistochemically determined in 56 consecutive cases of oral carcinoma. Statistical analysis found a significant association between pN-stage and recurrence of disease (P=0.032) and a significantly longer disease-free interval in pN0 patients than in pN+ ones (P=0.038). None of the subcellular expressions of MASPIN was significantly correlated with recurrence of disease and disease-free interval in our series of oral carcinomas. Sixty-one percent of pN0 cases was strongly MASPIN-positive in the cytoplasm of primary carcinoma cells, 33% of the pN+ cases was MASPIN-positive in the cytoplasm. Statistical analysis found a significant association between MASPIN cytoplasmic expression and pN-stage (P=0.032). Negative MASPIN immunoreactivity in carcinoma cells cytoplasm may be useful to identify patients at risk of disease disseminating to neck lymph nodes. Further investigations are necessary to understand the biological role of cytoplasmic MASPIN localization in oral carcinoma.Archiv für Klinische und Experimentelle Ohren- Nasen- und Kehlkopfheilkunde 04/2012; 265:97-104. · 1.29 Impact Factor
