High levels of cellular retinol binding protein-1 expression in leiomyosarcoma: possible implications for diagnostic evaluation

Abstract

Retinoid bioavailability is regulated by the activity of specific cytoplasmic receptors.

High levels of cellular retinol binding protein-1 (CRBP-1) have been documented during experimental arterial and wound-healing processes, but data concerning neoplastic smooth muscle tissues are scarce and/or controversial.

This study reports that the expression of CRBP-1 is markedly higher in uterine and gastrointestinal leiomyosarcomas than in leiomyomas and normal myometrium; CRBP-1 was practically absent in normal gastrointestinal smooth muscle tissue.

CRBP-1 positivity was particularly elevated in the epithelioid variant of leiomyosarcoma; it was associated with increased proliferative and apoptotic rates and inversely related to smooth muscle differentiation evaluated by alpha- and gamma-smooth muscle actin and desmin expression.

Western blotting and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction confirmed the observations concerning CRBP-1 and actin isoform expression and revealed higher NF-kappa-Bp65 and RAR alpha and lower Bax protein levels in leiomyosarcoma than in the other conditions.

These findings document that a high CRBP-1 expression is associated with smooth muscle malignancy and suggest that CRBP-1 expression represents a new useful marker for the classification of unusual variants of smooth muscle tumors.

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See also:

- All-Trans-Retinoic Acid (ATRA - analogues and/or derivatives);

- Solution of retinoids in vitamin E in the Di Bella Method biological multitherapy;

- Congenital fibrosarcoma in complete remission with Somatostatin, Retinoids, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Melatonin, Calcium, Chondroitin sulfate associated with low doses of Cyclophosphamide in a 14-year Follow Up;