Malignant Mesothelioma—A Connective Tissue Tumor with Proteoglycan-Dependent Differentiation
Tuesday, July 29th, 2008.
Connective Tissue Research. 2008;49(3):249-51. [Link]
Hjerpe A, Dobra K.
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract
Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a connective tissue tumor with partial epithelioid differentiation. The pattern of proteoglycan (PG) expression by epithelioid and fibroblast-like (sarcomatoid) MM cells differ; cell surface PGs being more abundant in the former phenotype and matrix PGs in the latter. The differentiation as well as much of the malignant nature of these tumors is dependent on the expression of surface PGs. The syndecans, however, also translocate to the nucleus for an as yet unknown function.
Glossary
- nucleus
- (new-clee-us) the center of a cell where the DNA is housed and replicated. Studying the size and shape of a cell's nucleus under the microscope can help pathologists distinguish cancer cells from benign cells.
- differentiation
- (dif-er-en-she-A-shun) the normal process through which cells mature so they can carry out the jobs they were meant to do. Cancer cells are poorly differentiated.
- cell
- the basic unit of which all living things are made. Cells replace themselves by splitting and forming new cells (mitosis). The processes that control the formation of new cells and the death of old cells are disrupted in cancer.
- tissue
- a collection of cells, united to perform a particular function.
- tumor
- an abnormal lump or mass of tissue. Tumors can be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
- mesothelioma
- a tumor derived from mesothelial tissue, such as the peritoneum (lining the abdomen) or pleura (lining the lungs). More on mesothelioma.
