Use of antimesothelial cell antibody and computer assisted quantitative analysis for distinguishing between reactive and neoplastic serosal tissues

Our plain-English summary of Use of antimesothelial cell antibody and computer assisted quantitative analysis for distinguishing between reactive and neoplastic serosal tissues, by A. Donna, P.G. Betta, F. Robutti (Journal of Clinical Pathology, 1987).

The study

• Authors: A. Donna, P.G. Betta, F. Robutti
• Journal: Journal of Clinical Pathology
• Published: 1987;40(12):1428-31
• Cited by: 6 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

Abstract

Nine malignant mesotheliomas and 12 specimens of benign reactive mesothelial hyperplasia were examined using a specific antimesothelial cell antibody. Immunostaining intensity was subsequently estimated by means of image analysis. The mean and standard deviation of integrated optical density in the malignant mesotheliomas differed significantly from those in the mesothelial hyperplasias. In all mesotheliomas but one the integrated optical density was greater than in reactive mesothelial hyperplasia. No significant difference in optical density was observed between the two groups; the standard deviation was significantly higher in the reactive lesions. This technique may be adopted to complement the traditional morphological assessment of primary lesions of the serosal cavities.

In plain English

This laboratory study, from a pathology department in Alessandria, Italy, tested whether a computer image analysis system measuring staining by an antimesothelial cell antibody could help tell malignant mesothelioma from benign reactive mesothelial hyperplasia in tissue samples. The authors examined 9 malignant mesotheliomas and 12 specimens of benign reactive hyperplasia, measuring 300 cells in each case. The study did not look at asbestos exposure. Optical density, a measure of staining darkness, did not differ significantly between the groups (p greater than 0.10). Integrated optical density was higher in the mesotheliomas: a mean of 2130, against 1203.17 in the reactive lesions (p less than 0.01). All mesotheliomas but one fell in a high cluster (1742 to 2756). All reactive lesions had low values (849 to 1669). The one exception, at 1455, was a mainly sarcomatous tumour. The spread of optical density values was greater in the reactive lesions. The authors concluded the technique seems of value in histological diagnosis, but only as one of many supporting tests alongside traditional microscopic assessment. They said further studies with serous fluids and small biopsy specimens are needed.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: Laboratory diagnostic study of archived tissue specimens: immunostaining with a polyclonal antimesothelial cell antibody, with staining intensity measured by computer image analysis and the two groups compared by Student's t test
• Who was studied: 9 cases of malignant mesothelioma, previously reviewed and classified by the Commission of the European Communities Mesothelioma Panel, and 12 specimens of benign reactive mesothelial hyperplasia, obtained at surgery or necropsy. The study was from the Department of Pathology, City Hospital, Alessandria, Italy. The article does not state the tumour site (pleural or peritoneal) or the dates the specimens were collected.
• Exposure: No asbestos or other exposure was studied. The test under study was immunoperoxidase staining with a primary polyclonal antimesothelial cell antibody, measured as optical density and integrated optical density in 300 mesothelial cells per case with a Zeiss Kontron IBAS 2000 image analysis system.
• Main results:
  • Optical density ranged from 0.220 to 0.370 for the mesotheliomas and from 0.260 to 0.430 for the reactive hyperplasias. There was no significant difference between the two groups (p greater than 0.10).
  • All malignant mesotheliomas but one had high integrated optical density values (1742 to 2756). All reactive lesions had low values (849 to 1669). The difference between the groups was highly significant (p less than 0.01).
  • Mean integrated optical density was 1203.17 (238.87) for benign reactive lesions and 2130 (421.74) for malignant mesotheliomas (p less than 0.01).
  • The standard deviation of optical density was higher in the benign reactive lesions, 0.078 (0.025), than in the malignant mesotheliomas, 0.048 (0.015) (p less than 0.01).
  • One mesothelioma, with an integrated optical density of 1455, fell near the upper edge of the reactive cluster. It was of a mainly sarcomatous type.
  • When only lesions with an epithelial pattern were considered, the authors could separate them into two discrete clusters with no overlap of integrated optical density values.
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that the technique seems to be of value in the histological diagnosis of mesothelioma, but only as one of many supporting tests that may complement traditional morphology, especially in problem cases.
• Limitations the authors state:
  • The authors stated that further studies with serous fluids and small biopsy specimens are required before complete reliance can be placed on this approach for clinical diagnosis.

Topics

The National Library of Medicine indexes this study under subjects our site covers: Mesothelioma.

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Malignant Mesothelioma, Reactive Mesothelial Hyperplasia, Mesothelioma.

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