0000000000867246
AUTHOR
Albert Roessner
Expression of thrombospondin-1 in pancreatic carcinoma: correlation with microvessel density.
Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is a multifunctional platelet and extracellular matrix protein that is involved in angiogenesis. Under certain pathological conditions, e.g., malignant tumors, high concentrations of TSP-1 work as an angiogenic agonist. Here we examined 98 pancreatic carcinomas with respect to TSP-1 immunoreactivity and its correlation to intratumoral microvessel density (MVD), a representation of the overall degree of angiogenesis in carcinomas. Northern blot analysis for TSP-1 mRNA was performed in seven additional cases. Eighty-seven tumors showed strong TSP-1 immunoreactivity, nine carcinomas were only weakly positive, and two lesions were negative for TSP-1. TSP-1 immunoreactiv…
Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma of the salivary gland--a low grade malignant neoplasm? Report of two cases and review of the literature.
Summary Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinomas (EMC) are rare neoplasms of the salivary gland with an incidence of less than 1% arising predominantly in the parotid gland. Although they are thought to be of low grade malignancy, fatal courses are described. We report a case of EMC of the parotid gland in a 58-year-old woman with an unfavorable course of this disease in long term follow-up. The malignant potential of this tumor is discussed. In addition, we include another case of EMC of the submandibular gland.