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Sciarra A, Uccella S, Hiroz P, Fournier I, Soubeyran V, Finzi G, La Rosa S. Gastric Amphicrine Carcinoma Showing Neuroendocrine and Pancreatic Acinar Cell Differentiation. Lesson from a Challenging Case Opening New Perspectives in the Diagnostic Work-Up of Gastric Neuroendocrine Neoplasms. Endocr Pathol 2023; 34:349-357. [PMID: 37249796 DOI: 10.1007/s12022-023-09773-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Amphicrine carcinomas are epithelial neoplasms composed of cells with co-existing exocrine-neuroendocrine phenotype and are challenging lesions from both diagnostic and therapeutic perspectives.Here, we report the case of a 63-year-old male patient with a gastric nodule that was endoscopically biopsied, revealing histological features of a type 3 well-differentiated gastric neuroendocrine tumor (NET). At imaging, the lesion was single and limited to the stomach, but did not present In-111Octreotide uptake, despite SSTR2A immunohistochemical expression. The patient underwent a wedge resection of the gastric wall, with a final pathological diagnosis of amphicrine carcinoma with pancreatic acinar cell and neuroendocrine features (pT1b). Predictive immunohistochemistry showed microsatellite stability and negative HER2 status. Hotspot targeted deep sequencing of 57 genes showed no somatic mutation, in agreement with the low mutational burden reported for gastric amphicrine carcinomas. Due to a low stage of the tumor and the poor performance status of the patient, no additional oncological treatment was administered. The patient was disease-free after 18 months.This unusual case highlights the importance of considering amphicrine carcinoma in the diagnostic work-up of gastric type 3 NET. This can be done by including in the immunohistochemical panel non-neuroendocrine markers, such as the pancreatic acinar cell and glandular ones. Correct pathological diagnosis is pivotal to determine the appropriate staging (NET vs exocrine one) for surgical and oncological management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amedeo Sciarra
- Histopathology, Central Institute, Valais Hospital, Avenue du Grand-Champsec 86, CH-1951, Sion, Switzerland.
- Unit of Pathology, Department of Medicine and Technological Innovation, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
| | - Silvia Uccella
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanule, Milan, Italy
- Pathology Service, IRCCS, Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milano, Italy
| | | | - Ian Fournier
- General Surgery, Valais Hospital, Sion, Switzerland
| | | | - Giovanna Finzi
- Unit of Pathology, Department of Oncology, ASST Sette Laghi, Varese, Italy
| | - Stefano La Rosa
- Unit of Pathology, Department of Medicine and Technological Innovation, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
- Unit of Pathology, Department of Oncology, ASST Sette Laghi, Varese, Italy
- Hereditary Cancer Research Center, Department of Medicine and Technological Innovation, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
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Mastrosimini MG, Mafficini A, Tondulli L, Milella M, Piccoli P, Mattiolo P, Fassan M, Hong SM, Scarpa A, Luchini C. Recurrent gastric amphicrine tumor with neuroendocrine and pancreatic acinar cell differentiation and somatic MEN1 inactivation arisen during immunotherapy. Virchows Arch 2023; 483:415-419. [PMID: 37581694 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-023-03624-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Amphicrine neoplasms (ANs) are poorly understood epithelial malignancies composed of cells with co-existing exocrine-neuroendocrine features. Here, we report a recurrent mucin-producing gastric amphicrine tumor co-expressing neuroendocrine (chromogranin-A, synaptophysin, and CD56) and pancreatic acinar cell (BCL10 and trypsin) markers, arisen in a 64-year-old woman during adjuvant immunotherapy for melanoma. Ki-67 was < 2%. The gastric background context was atrophic gastritis. Next-generation sequencing showed MEN1 mutation (p.P71fs*42) coupled with loss of heterozygosity. The key lessons were as follows: (1) gastric ANs can show the co-existence of exocrine mucin-producing elements with neuroendocrine and pancreatic acinar differentiation; (2) they may represent a new entity arising in the context of atrophic gastritis and during immunotherapy; (3) they should be considered in the diagnostic workup of gastric neuroendocrine tumors; and (4) their molecular profile can show striking similarities with well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors. These findings may be of help to improve the knowledge and the biological taxonomy of ANs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria G Mastrosimini
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Piazzale Scuro, 10, 37134, Verona, Italy
| | - Andrea Mafficini
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Piazzale Scuro, 10, 37134, Verona, Italy
- ARC-Net Research Center, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Luca Tondulli
- Department of Medicine, Section of Oncology, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Michele Milella
- Department of Medicine, Section of Oncology, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Paola Piccoli
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Piazzale Scuro, 10, 37134, Verona, Italy
| | - Paola Mattiolo
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Piazzale Scuro, 10, 37134, Verona, Italy
| | - Matteo Fassan
- Surgical Pathology Unit, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, and Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Seung-Mo Hong
- Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Aldo Scarpa
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Piazzale Scuro, 10, 37134, Verona, Italy
- ARC-Net Research Center, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Claudio Luchini
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Piazzale Scuro, 10, 37134, Verona, Italy.
- ARC-Net Research Center, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
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Jung CK, Agarwal S, Hang JF, Lim DJ, Bychkov A, Mete O. Update on C-Cell Neuroendocrine Neoplasm: Prognostic and Predictive Histopathologic and Molecular Features of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma. Endocr Pathol 2023; 34:1-22. [PMID: 36890425 DOI: 10.1007/s12022-023-09753-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a C-cell-derived epithelial neuroendocrine neoplasm. With the exception of rare examples, most are well-differentiated epithelial neuroendocrine neoplasms (also known as neuroendocrine tumors in the taxonomy of the International Agency for Research on Cancer [IARC] of the World Health Organization [WHO]). This review provides an overview and recent evidence-based data on the molecular genetics, disease risk stratification based on clinicopathologic variables including molecular profiling and histopathologic variables, and targeted molecular therapies in patients with advanced MTC. While MTC is not the only neuroendocrine neoplasm in the thyroid gland, other neuroendocrine neoplasms in the thyroid include intrathyroidal thymic neuroendocrine neoplasms, intrathyroidal parathyroid neoplasms, and primary thyroid paragangliomas as well as metastatic neuroendocrine neoplasms. Therefore, the first responsibility of a pathologist is to distinguish MTC from other mimics using appropriate biomarkers. The second responsibility includes meticulous assessment of the status of angioinvasion (defined as tumor cells invading through a vessel wall and forming tumor-fibrin complexes, or intravascular tumor cells admixed with fibrin/thrombus), tumor necrosis, proliferative rate (mitotic count and Ki67 labeling index), and tumor grade (low- or high-grade) along with the tumor stage and the resection margins. Given the morphologic and proliferative heterogeneity in these neoplasms, an exhaustive sampling is strongly recommended. Routine molecular testing for pathogenic germline RET variants is typically performed in all patients with a diagnosis of MTC; however, multifocal C-cell hyperplasia in association with at least a single focus of MTC and/or multifocal C-cell neoplasia are morphological harbingers of germline RET alterations. It is of interest to assess the status of pathogenic molecular alterations involving genes other than RET like the MET variants in MTC families with no pathogenic germline RET variants. Furthermore, the status of somatic RET alterations should be determined in all advanced/progressive or metastatic diseases, especially when selective RET inhibitor therapy (e.g., selpercatinib or pralsetinib) is considered. While the role of routine SSTR2/5 immunohistochemistry remains to be further clarified, evidence suggests that patients with somatostatin receptor (SSTR)-avid metastatic disease may also benefit from the option of 177Lu-DOTATATE peptide radionuclide receptor therapy. Finally, the authors of this review make a call to support the nomenclature change of MTC to C-cell neuroendocrine neoplasm to align this entity with the IARC/WHO taxonomy since MTCs represent epithelial neuroendocrine neoplasms of endoderm-derived C-cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chan Kwon Jung
- Department of Hospital Pathology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea.
- Cancer Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea.
| | - Shipra Agarwal
- Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Jen-Fan Hang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine and Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Dong-Jun Lim
- Cancer Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Andrey Bychkov
- Department of Pathology, Kameda Medical Center, Kamogawa, Chiba, 296-8602, Japan
| | - Ozgur Mete
- Department of Pathology, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada
- Endocrine Oncology Site, Princess Margaret Cancer, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada
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Christofer Juhlin C, Mete O, Baloch ZW. The 2022 WHO classification of thyroid tumors: novel concepts in nomenclature and grading. Endocr Relat Cancer 2023; 30:ERC-22-0293. [PMID: 36445235 DOI: 10.1530/erc-22-0293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The fifth edition of the Classification of Endocrine and Neuroendocrine Tumors has been released by the World Health Organization. This timely publication integrates several changes to the nomenclature of non-neoplastic and neoplastic thyroid diseases, as well as novel concepts that are essential for patient management. The heterogeneous group of non-neoplastic and benign neoplastic lesions are now collectively termed as 'thyroid follicular nodular disease' to better reflect the clonal and non-clonal proliferations that clinically present as multinodular goiter. Thyroid neoplasms originating from follicular cells are distinctly divided into benign, low-risk and malignant neoplasms. The new classification scheme stresses that papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) should be subtyped based on histomorphologic features irrespective of tumor size to avoid treating all sub-centimeter/small lesions as low-risk disease. Formerly known as the cribriform-morular variant of PTC is redefined as cribriform-morular thyroid carcinoma since this tumor is now considered a distinct malignant thyroid neoplasm of uncertain histogenesis. The 'differentiated high-grade thyroid carcinoma' is a new diagnostic category including PTCs, follicular thyroid carcinomas and oncocytic carcinomas with high-grade features associated with poorer prognosis similar to the traditionally defined poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma as per Turin criteria. In addition, squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid is now considered a morphologic pattern/subtype of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. In this review, we will highlight the key changes in the newly devised fifth edition of the WHO classification scheme of thyroid tumors with reflections on its applicability in patient management and future directions in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Christofer Juhlin
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Pathology and Cancer Diagnostics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ozgur Mete
- Department of Pathology, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Endocrine Oncology Site, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Zubair W Baloch
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Asa SL, Mete O. Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma in the IARC/WHO Neuroendocrine Schema. Endocr Pathol 2022; 33:346-347. [PMID: 35939257 DOI: 10.1007/s12022-022-09728-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia L Asa
- Department of Pathology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Institute of Pathology, Room 204, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.
| | - Ozgur Mete
- Department of Pathology, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto General Hospital (UHN), 200 Elizabeth Street, 11th floor, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada.
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