Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine

Haeng Ji Kang

4 Articles

Expression of Urokinase-type Plasminogen Activator (uPA) and Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in Gallbladder Carcinoma.: Kee Hyung Lee, Haeng Ji Kang, Seung Yeoun Lee, Moon Hyang Park; Korean J Pathol. 2003;37(6):384-392.

Abstract PDF: BACKGROUND
There are evidences that uPA and its inhibitor play a key role in tumor spread. We studied whether uPA and PAI-1 expressions could serve as prognostic parameters along with clinical, gross and microscopic findings in gallbladder carcinomas.
METHODS
We analyzed 42 cases of gallbladder carcinomas by immunohistochemical staining and clinicopathologic parameters.
RESULTS
uPA and PAI-1 were more frequently expressed in the adenocarcinoma than in the normal or benign gallbladder tissue. The uPA expression in the glands of low grade adenocarcinoma was significantly correlated with both distant and lymph node metastases. The uPA expression in the stroma around the low grade adenocarcinoma was significantly correlated with either distant or lymph node metastasis. The PAI-1 expression was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis only for both distant and lymph node metastases. In multivariate analysis, the lymphatic invasion was significantly related to poor survival (p= 0.0115). In univariate analysis, the cases without lymphatic invasion had prolonged survival. Positive expression of uPA in the glands of low-grade adenocarcinoma was significantly correlated with poor survival (p=0.0391).
CONCLUSION
In conjunction with clinicopathologic findings, expressions of uPA and PAI-1 may be useful prognostic markers in gallbladder carcinomas.

Granular Cell Tumor of the Thyroid.: Haeng Ji Kang, Eun Kyung Hong, Moon Hyang Park, Jung Dal Lee; Korean J Pathol. 1998;32(1):63-67.

Abstract PDF: Granular cell tumor is not uncommon and is a well recognized entity which may arise at virtually any site of the body. However, occurrence in the thyroid is extremely rare and has not been described well. Only three cases could be found in the English literatures. We report a case of granular cell tumor of the thyroid in a 30 year-old woman. The tumor was illdefined, infiltrative and was composed of diffuse sheets of polygonal to fusiform cells with abundant eosinophilic granular cytoplasm. The tumor showed evidence of Schwann cell differentiation in immunohistochemical and ultrastructural examinations. Differentiation from more common thyroid tumors having oncocytic granular cytoplasm should be made by immunohistochemistry or electron microscopy.

E-Cadherin Expression in Breast Carcinoma: Correlation with Tumor Grade and Hormone Receptor.: Haeng Ji Kang, Chan Pil Park, Chan Kum Park; Korean J Pathol. 1997;31(11):1172-1179.

Abstract: E-cadherin (E-CD), a Ca2+ -dependent adhesion molecule, plays a major role in the maintenance of intercellular junctions in normal epithelial cells in most organs. Recently, a correlation has been observed between a loss of E-CD and increased invasiveness of neoplastic cells. In this study, E-CD expression in the breast carcinoma was investigated using monoclonal antibody, anti-E-CD by immunohistochemical method. Expression of E-CD were evaluated in 57 breast carcinomas and correlated with their tumor grade, lymph node involvement, and hormonal receptor status. Histological types included in this study were 54 invasive ductal carcinomas (IDCs) of otherwise not specified and 3 invasive lobular carcinomas. Cases of histologic grade I IDC were 6, grade II 30, and grade III 18. Of 54 IDCs 39 (72.2%) showed moderate to strong linear staining at the cell borders regardless of their histologic grade, status of lymph node metastasis, and status of hormone receptor. Staining intensity of E-CD was reduced in 54 cases (83%) of IDC when compared with that of normal or benign breast lesions (P<0.01). All seven cases of intraductal carcinoma, which were included in 54 IDCs showed one or two grade reduced expression of E-CD than that of infiltrative lesions. Three invasive lobular carcinomas showed strong (1 case), moderate (1 case), and negative reactivity (1 case). The data indicated that loss of E-CD expression is a crucial event in the development of breast carcinoma.

Alpha-Fetoprotein-Producing Carcinoma of the Gallbladder.: Young Ha Oh, Haeng Ji Kang, Hyoung Guen Lee, Eun Kyung Hong, Yong Il Kim, Jung Dal Lee; Korean J Pathol. 1996;30(5):453-456.

Abstract PDF: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a well-known tumor marker for hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatoblastoma, and yolk sac tumors. There are several studies on AFP-producing tumors that arose from the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, lung, kidney, and urachal tract. AFP-producing carcinoma of the gallbladder is extremely rare. We report a case of AFP-producing carcinoma of the gallbladder without liver involvement in a 58-year-old man with a gallstone, on which clinical, morphologic, and immunohistochemical studies were performed.

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