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Gao Y, Pan Y, Luo Y, Cheng R, Zhai Q. Intrathyroid thymic carcinoma: A clinicopathological analysis of 22 cases. Ann Diagn Pathol 2023; 67:152221. [PMID: 37925863 DOI: 10.1016/j.anndiagpath.2023.152221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Intrathyroid thymic carcinoma (ITTC) is a rare malignancy. The current understanding of ITTC is inadequate, and there is no standard treatment for ITTC. In the present study, we aimed to explore the clinicopathological characteristics of ITTC and identify potential therapeutic targets. METHODS The clinicopathological characteristics of 22 ITTC patients at our institution were reviewed. The expression of DNA mismatch repair (MMR) proteins and PD-L1 in ITTC were assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). RESULTS All patients underwent surgery. There were nine females and 13 males, with a slight male predominance. Their ages ranged from 42 to 79 years (average, 54. 1 years). The diameters of the neck masses ranged from 10 to 100 mm (average, 39 mm). Ipsilateral lymph node (LN) dissection was performed in 18 patients: 12 demonstrated LN metastasis, six showed no LN metastasis, and no lymph nodes were dissected in four. One patient had liver metastasis. CK5/6, P63, CD5, and CD117 were expressed in all cases. All cases were negative for TTF1, PAX8, thyroglobulin, and BRAF V600E. DNA MMR protein expression was retained in all tested tumors, and EBV-encoded small RNA (EBER) in situ hybridization was consistently negative. The Ki67 proliferation index ranged from 10 to 70 %. All patients were followed-up for 14-134 months, four died, six were lost to follow-up, and the remaining patients survived without disease. The PD-L1 combined positive score ranged from 10 to 80 (average: 40). CONCLUSION Our results confirm that CD5 and CD117 co-expression support a diagnosis of ITTC. All tumors in this cohort were DNA MMR-proficient and were not associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. A high CPS for PD-L1 suggests that immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy may be worthy of further exploration in patients with ITTC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Gao
- Department of Pathology, National Clinical Research Centre for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Centre for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Huanhu West Road, Hexi District, Tianjin 300060, China.
| | - Yi Pan
- Department of Pathology, National Clinical Research Centre for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Centre for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Huanhu West Road, Hexi District, Tianjin 300060, China
| | - Ye Luo
- Department of Pathology, National Clinical Research Centre for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Centre for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Huanhu West Road, Hexi District, Tianjin 300060, China
| | - Runfen Cheng
- Department of Pathology, National Clinical Research Centre for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Centre for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Huanhu West Road, Hexi District, Tianjin 300060, China
| | - Qiongli Zhai
- Department of Pathology, National Clinical Research Centre for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Centre for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Huanhu West Road, Hexi District, Tianjin 300060, China
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Maniar R, Loehrer PJ. Understanding the landscape of immunotherapy in thymic epithelial tumors. Cancer 2023; 129:1162-1172. [PMID: 36808725 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.34678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are a rare group of malignancies arising from the thymus. Surgery remains the foundation of treatment for patients with early-stage disease. Limited treatment options are available for the treatment of unresectable, metastatic, or recurrent TETs and are associated with modest clinical efficacy. The emergence of immunotherapies in the treatment of solid tumors has generated significant interest in understanding their role in TET treatment. However, the high rates of comorbid paraneoplastic autoimmune disorders, particularly in thymoma, have tempered expectations regarding the role of immune-based therapies. Clinical studies of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) in thymoma and thymic carcinoma have revealed higher frequencies of immune-related adverse events (IRAEs) and limited efficacy. Despite these setbacks, the growing understanding of the thymic tumor microenvironment and systemic immune system has advanced the understanding of these diseases and provided opportunities for novel immunotherapy modalities. Ongoing studies are evaluating numerous immune-based treatments in TETs with the goal of improving clinical efficacy and mitigating IRAE risk. This review will provide insight into the current understanding of the thymic immune microenvironment, outcomes of previous ICB studies, and review treatments currently being explored for the management of TET.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohan Maniar
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana Cancer Pavilion, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Patrick J Loehrer
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana Cancer Pavilion, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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Ao YQ, Gao J, Wang S, Jiang JH, Deng J, Wang HK, Xu B, Ding JY. Immunotherapy of thymic epithelial tumors: molecular understandings and clinical perspectives. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:70. [PMID: 37055838 PMCID: PMC10099901 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01772-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has emerged to play a rapidly expanding role in the treatment of cancers. Currently, many clinical trials of therapeutic agents are on ongoing with majority of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) especially programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) and its ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors. PD-1 and PD-L1, two main immune checkpoints, are expressed at high levels in thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) and could be predictors of the progression and immunotherapeutic efficacy of TETs. However, despite inspiring efficacy reported in clinical trials and clinical practice, significantly higher incidence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) than other tumors bring challenges to the administration of ICIs in TETs. To develop safe and effective immunotherapeutic patterns in TETs, understanding the clinical properties of patients, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of immunotherapy and irAEs occurrence are crucial. In this review, the progress of both basic and clinical research on immune checkpoints in TETs, the evidence of therapeutic efficacy and irAEs based on PD-1 /PD-L1 inhibitors in TETs treatment are discussed. Additionally, we highlighted the possible mechanisms underlying irAEs, prevention and management strategies, the insufficiency of current research and some worthy research insights. High PD-1/PD-L1 expression in TETs provides a rationale for ICI use. Completed clinical trials have shown an encouraging efficacy of ICIs, despite the high rate of irAEs. A deeper mechanism understanding at molecular level how ICIs function in TETs and why irAEs occur will help maximize the immunotherapeutic efficacy while minimizing irAEs risks in TET treatment to improve patient prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Qiang Ao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, 200032, Shanghai, China
- Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Gao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, 200032, Shanghai, China
- Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuai Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, 200032, Shanghai, China
- Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia-Hao Jiang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, 200032, Shanghai, China
- Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Deng
- Institute of Vascular Disease, Shanghai TCM-Integrated Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Hai-Kun Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institute Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Bei Xu
- Department of Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jian-Yong Ding
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, 200032, Shanghai, China.
- Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Watanabe M, Tanakaya K, Furukawa S, Shiotani T, Sato Y, Taniguchi F, Kanaya N, Aoki H, Sugano K, Ishida H, Akagi K, Kataoka K. Two Cases of Thymic Cancer in Patients with Lynch Syndrome. Intern Med 2023; 62:649-653. [PMID: 35908972 PMCID: PMC10017246 DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.9729-22] [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] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
We herein report two cases of thymic cancer with Lynch syndrome showing a high frequency of microsatellite instability and loss of mismatch repair protein expression without MLH1 promoter hyper-methylation. In Case 1, a 71-year-old man had a pathogenic germline variant in MLH1 and underwent tumor resection. No relapse has been reported thus far. In Case 2, a 43-year-old man underwent genetic testing that also showed a pathogenic germline variant in MLH1. Since these two cases had MLH variants, we suspect a possible association between thymic cancer with Lynch syndrome and germline pathogenic variants in MLH1.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Toshio Shiotani
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Iwakuni Clinical Center, Japan
| | - Yumiko Sato
- Department of Pathology, Iwakuni Clinical Center, Japan
| | | | - Nobuhiko Kanaya
- Department of Surgery, Iwakuni Clinical Center, Japan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, USA
| | - Hideki Aoki
- Department of Surgery, Iwakuni Clinical Center, Japan
| | - Koukichi Sugano
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Kyoundo Hospital, Sasaki Foundation, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Ishida
- Department of Digestive Tract and General Surgery, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Japan
| | - Kiwamu Akagi
- Division of Molecular Diagnosis and Cancer Prevention, Saitama Cancer Center, Japan
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Avelumab plus axitinib in unresectable or metastatic type B3 thymomas and thymic carcinomas (CAVEATT): a single-arm, multicentre, phase 2 trial. Lancet Oncol 2022; 23:1287-1296. [DOI: 10.1016/s1470-2045(22)00542-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Conforti F, Pala L, De Pas T, He Y, Giaccone G. Investigational drugs for the treatment of thymic cancer: a focus on phase 1 and 2 clinical trials. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2022; 31:895-904. [PMID: 35961945 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2022.2113373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are rare tumors of thymic epithelial cells. Treatment options for advanced disease patients who failed standard platinum-based chemotherapy are limited. AREAS COVERED Phase I and II trials published in the last five years testing new systemic treatments for advanced TET patients are discussed, as well as ongoing trials. A PubMed database literature review was conducted for articles published between January 2016 and December 2021, and ongoing clinical trials were retrieved from ClinicalTrials.gov database. EXPERT OPINION The most promising classes of new drugs in TET patients are angiogenesis inhibitors and immune checkpoint antibodies (ICIs). Sunitinib and Lenvatinib showed response rates of 26% and 38%, respectively, and ICIs showed durable responses in 20-25% in thymic carcinoma patients (TCs). Both approaches are mainly active in TCs, therefore new treatment options for thymomas is an unmet medical need.Two major new therapeutic strategies are ICIs combinations with other drugs and drugs that target pathways that are dysregulated in TETs.Future challenges include the development of preclinical models to help identify novel targets and test new treatment strategies, and randomized clinical trials to provide reliable evidence based on survival endpoints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Conforti
- Division of Medical Oncology for Melanoma, Sarcoma, and Rare Tumors, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Pala
- Division of Medical Oncology for Melanoma, Sarcoma, and Rare Tumors, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Tommaso De Pas
- Division of Medical Oncology for Melanoma, Sarcoma, and Rare Tumors, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Yongfeng He
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, USA
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Masaoutis C, Palamaris K, Kokkali S, Levidou G, Theocharis S. Unraveling the Immune Microenvironment of Thymic Epithelial Tumors: Implications for Autoimmunity and Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23147864. [PMID: 35887212 PMCID: PMC9323059 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic Epithelial Tumors (TETs) represent a rare tumor family, originating from the epithelial component of the thymus gland. Clinicopathologically, they are segregated into six major subtypes, associated with distinct histological features and clinical outcomes. Their emergence and evolution are accompanied by the generation of a complex tumor microenvironment (TME), dominated by phenotypically and functionally divergent immune cellular subsets, in different maturation states and in analogies that vary significantly among different subtypes. These heterogenous leukocyte populations exert either immune-permissive and tumor-suppressive functions or vice versa, and the dynamic equilibrium established among them either dictates the tumor immune milieu towards an immune-tolerance state or enables the development of a productive spontaneous tumoricidal response. The immunologically “hot” microenvironment, defining a significant proportion of TETs, makes them a promising candidate for the implementation of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). A number of phase I and II clinical trials have already demonstrated significant, type-specific clinical efficacy of PD-L1 inhibitors, even though substantial limitations in their utilization derive from their immune-mediated adverse effects. Moreover, the completed clinical studies involved relatively restricted patient samples and an expansion in the enrolled cohorts is required, so that more trustworthy conclusions regarding the benefit from ICIs in TETs can be extracted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christos Masaoutis
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75, M. Asias Str., Bld 10, Goudi, GR11527 Athens, Greece; (C.M.); (K.P.); (G.L.)
| | - Kostas Palamaris
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75, M. Asias Str., Bld 10, Goudi, GR11527 Athens, Greece; (C.M.); (K.P.); (G.L.)
| | - Stefania Kokkali
- Oncology Unit, 2nd Department of Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippocratio General Hospital of Athens, 114, V. Sofias Str., GR11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - Georgia Levidou
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75, M. Asias Str., Bld 10, Goudi, GR11527 Athens, Greece; (C.M.); (K.P.); (G.L.)
- Second Department of Pathology, Paracelsus Medical University, 90419 Nurenberg, Germany
| | - Stamatios Theocharis
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75, M. Asias Str., Bld 10, Goudi, GR11527 Athens, Greece; (C.M.); (K.P.); (G.L.)
- Correspondence:
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Roden AC, Ahmad U, Cardillo G, Girard N, Jain D, Marom EM, Marx A, Moreira AL, Nicholson AG, Rajan A, Shepherd AF, Simone CB, Strange CD, Szolkowska M, Truong MT, Rimner A. Thymic Carcinomas-A Concise Multidisciplinary Update on Recent Developments From the Thymic Carcinoma Working Group of the International Thymic Malignancy Interest Group. J Thorac Oncol 2022; 17:637-650. [PMID: 35227908 PMCID: PMC11080660 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2022.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Thymic carcinomas are rare malignancies that in general arise in the prevascular (anterior) mediastinum. These tumors are usually invasive, often present at advanced stages, and typically behave aggressively. Studies are hampered by the paucity of these tumors, the large variety of carcinoma subtypes, and the lack of unique morphologic and immunophenotypic features. Despite these challenges, advances in diagnostic imaging, surgical approaches, systemic therapies, and radiation therapy techniques have been made. The WHO classification of thymic epithelial tumors has been updated in 2021, and the eighth tumor nodal metastasis staging by the American Joint Committee on Cancer/Union for International Cancer Control included thymic carcinomas in 2017. Molecular alterations that provide more insight into the pathogenesis of these tumors and that potentially permit use of novel targeted therapies are increasingly being identified. New approaches to radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy are under evaluation. International societies, including the International Thymic Malignancy Interest Group, European Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and Japanese, Chinese, and Korean thymic associations, have been critical in organizing and conducting multi-institutional clinical studies. Herein, we review contemporary multidisciplinary perspectives in diagnosis and management of thymic carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja C Roden
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
| | - Usman Ahmad
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Giuseppe Cardillo
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Carlo Forlanini Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera San Camillo Forlanini, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicolas Girard
- Institut Curie, Institut du thorax Curie Montsouris, Paris, France; Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ), Paris Saclay Campus, Versailles, France
| | - Deepali Jain
- Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Edith M Marom
- Radiology Department, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center Affiliated With Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Alexander Marx
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Andre L Moreira
- Department of Pathology, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York
| | - Andrew G Nicholson
- Department of Histopathology, Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals, London, United Kingdom; National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Arun Rajan
- Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Annemarie F Shepherd
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Charles B Simone
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and New York Proton Center, New York, New York
| | - Chad D Strange
- Division of Diagnostic Imaging, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Malgorzata Szolkowska
- Department of Pathology, National Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mylene T Truong
- Division of Diagnostic Imaging, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Andreas Rimner
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
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Biller LH, Creedon SA, Klehm M, Yurgelun MB. Lynch Syndrome-Associated Cancers Beyond Colorectal Cancer. Gastrointest Endosc Clin N Am 2022; 32:75-93. [PMID: 34798988 DOI: 10.1016/j.giec.2021.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Lynch syndrome (LS) is a common form of inherited cancer susceptibility, which predisposes to colorectal cancer (CRC) along with a wide array of other extracolonic malignancies, including other gastrointestinal cancers, cancers of the gynecologic and genitourinary tracts, and other organ sites. Recent data have provided novel insights into patient-specific factors that can help clinicians understand an individual LS carrier's risk of extracolonic cancers, including sex, specific LS gene, age, family history of cancer, and other factors. This summary seeks to provide an update on extracolonic cancer risks in LS and provide recommendations for surveillance and risk reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah H Biller
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Siobhan A Creedon
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Margaret Klehm
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Matthew B Yurgelun
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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