Abstract
LITTLE is known about the factors which influence cartilaginous and bony metaplasia in tumours apart from the presence of calcified debris and mucinous infiltration in the stroma of these tumours. Willis1 discusses the association of frequent bony metaplasia in carcinomas of the large intestine, and suggests that this may be associated with the alkaline phosphatase content of these tumours. He furthermore suggests that studies of phosphatases and other enzymes should be undertaken in tumours which show a tendency to bony metaplasia. The presence of an alkaline phosphatase in the ‘fibroblasts’ of fibrous dysplasia2,3 and in the so-called fibrocytes of ossifying fibromas3 certainly lends support to the ossifying properties of this enzyme in certain tumours.
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References
Willis, R. A., “The Borderland of Embryology and Pathology”, 553 (Butterworth and Co., London, 1958).
Changus, G. W., Cancer, 10, 1157 (1957).
Pepler, W. J., J. Path. Bact. (in the press).
Pearse, A. G. E., “Histochemistry: Theoretical and Applied”, 460 (Churchill, London, 1953).
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PEPLER, W. Alkaline Phosphatase in the Meninges and in Meningiomas. Nature 186, 979 (1960). https://doi.org/10.1038/186979a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/186979a0
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