Integrated nuclear fluorescence and expression of hormone-binding sites in malignant pleural effusions.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate potential disease- and prognosis-associated nuclear and cellular features from cell properties in a prospective study on malignant pleural effusions.


METHODS
Integrated nuclear fluorescence and the expression of binding capacities of carrier-immobilized estradiol, progesterone and testosterone; and of labeled sarcolectin; and the presence of calcyclin were measured in 50 cases with proven malignant pleural effusions (10 mesotheliomas, 40 metastasizing tumors). A double fluorescence technique using the fluorochrome DAPI and a Texas Red-based avidin-biotin detection system were applied. Detailed clinical data, including the follow-up for up to 40 months, were included.


RESULTS
Pleural effusions in all patients with mesotheliomas occurred prior to (9/10) or at the time of histologic confirmation. Mesotheliomas had the highest tumor cell fraction (12.4%) in S phase and breast carcinomas the lowest (10.7%). More than 80% of malignant cells expressed binding capacities for the applied probes. A statistically significant correlation was noted between the S-phase-related tumor cell fraction and the expression of progesterone receptors. Survival was associated with tumor origin, treatment by pleurodesis, and certain cytometric and histochemical features.


CONCLUSIONS
The immunofluorescence double-staining technique can be applied successfully in malignant effusions to combine DNA measurements with those of immunohistochemical and ligand histochemical reactivity.
Kayser
K
K
Department of Pathology, Thoraxklinik, Heidelberg, Germany. klkayser@lung.de
Märkle
C
C
Kugler
C
C
Andre
S
S
Schüring
M P
MP
Zeng
F Y
FY
Gabius
H J
HJ
D000368:Aged; D001665:Binding Sites; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007211:Indoles / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D014966:Xanthenes / Q000378:metabolism
D007211:Indoles; D014966:Xanthenes; D013739:Testosterone; C007293:DAPI; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; C034657:Texas red; D004247:DNA