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Pateras IS, Igea A, Nikas IP, Leventakou D, Koufopoulos NI, Ieronimaki AI, Bergonzini A, Ryu HS, Chatzigeorgiou A, Frisan T, Kittas C, Panayiotides IG. Diagnostic Challenges during Inflammation and Cancer: Current Biomarkers and Future Perspectives in Navigating through the Minefield of Reactive versus Dysplastic and Cancerous Lesions in the Digestive System. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1251. [PMID: 38279253 PMCID: PMC10816510 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In the setting of pronounced inflammation, changes in the epithelium may overlap with neoplasia, often rendering it impossible to establish a diagnosis with certainty in daily clinical practice. Here, we discuss the underlying molecular mechanisms driving tissue response during persistent inflammatory signaling along with the potential association with cancer in the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, extrahepatic bile ducts, and liver. We highlight the histopathological challenges encountered in the diagnosis of chronic inflammation in routine practice and pinpoint tissue-based biomarkers that could complement morphology to differentiate reactive from dysplastic or cancerous lesions. We refer to the advantages and limitations of existing biomarkers employing immunohistochemistry and point to promising new markers, including the generation of novel antibodies targeting mutant proteins, miRNAs, and array assays. Advancements in experimental models, including mouse and 3D models, have improved our understanding of tissue response. The integration of digital pathology along with artificial intelligence may also complement routine visual inspections. Navigating through tissue responses in various chronic inflammatory contexts will help us develop novel and reliable biomarkers that will improve diagnostic decisions and ultimately patient treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis S. Pateras
- 2nd Department of Pathology, “Attikon” University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, Greece; (D.L.); (N.I.K.); (A.I.I.); (I.G.P.)
| | - Ana Igea
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain;
- Mobile Genomes, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Ilias P. Nikas
- Medical School, University of Cyprus, 2029 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Danai Leventakou
- 2nd Department of Pathology, “Attikon” University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, Greece; (D.L.); (N.I.K.); (A.I.I.); (I.G.P.)
| | - Nektarios I. Koufopoulos
- 2nd Department of Pathology, “Attikon” University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, Greece; (D.L.); (N.I.K.); (A.I.I.); (I.G.P.)
| | - Argyro Ioanna Ieronimaki
- 2nd Department of Pathology, “Attikon” University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, Greece; (D.L.); (N.I.K.); (A.I.I.); (I.G.P.)
| | - Anna Bergonzini
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Alfred Nobels Allé 8, 141 52 Stockholm, Sweden;
- Department of Molecular Biology and Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden;
| | - Han Suk Ryu
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea;
| | - Antonios Chatzigeorgiou
- Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece;
| | - Teresa Frisan
- Department of Molecular Biology and Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden;
| | - Christos Kittas
- Department of Histopathology, Biomedicine Group of Health Company, 156 26 Athens, Greece;
| | - Ioannis G. Panayiotides
- 2nd Department of Pathology, “Attikon” University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, Greece; (D.L.); (N.I.K.); (A.I.I.); (I.G.P.)
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Koufopoulos N, Pateras IS, Gouloumis AR, Ieronimaki AI, Zacharatou A, Spathis A, Leventakou D, Economopoulou P, Psyrri A, Arkadopoulos N, Panayiotides IG. Diagnostically Challenging Subtypes of Invasive Lobular Carcinomas: How to Avoid Potential Diagnostic Pitfalls. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12112658. [PMID: 36359501 PMCID: PMC9689338 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12112658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive lobular carcinoma is the most common special breast carcinoma subtype, with unique morphological (discohesive cells, single-cell files, targetoid pattern) and immunohistochemical (loss of E-cadherin and β-catenin staining) features. Moreover, ILC displays a poor response to neoadjuvant therapy, a different metastatic pattern compared to invasive breast carcinoma of no special type, as well as unique molecular characteristics. In addition to the classic variant of invasive lobular carcinoma, several other well-recognized variants exist, including classic, alveolar, tubulolobular, solid, pleomorphic, signet-ring, and mixed. Furthermore, three novel variants of invasive lobular carcinoma, i.e., with extracellular mucin production, papillary features, and tubular elements, have been described during the last decade. We herewith focus on the unique morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics of these novel varieties of invasive lobular carcinoma, as well as differential diagnostic considerations and potential diagnostic pitfalls, especially when dealing with biopsy specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nektarios Koufopoulos
- Second Department of Pathology, Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Chaidari, 12462 Athens, Greece
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-697-203-0941
| | - Ioannis S. Pateras
- Second Department of Pathology, Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Chaidari, 12462 Athens, Greece
| | - Alina Roxana Gouloumis
- Second Department of Pathology, Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Chaidari, 12462 Athens, Greece
| | - Argyro Ioanna Ieronimaki
- Second Department of Pathology, Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Chaidari, 12462 Athens, Greece
| | - Andriani Zacharatou
- Second Department of Pathology, Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Chaidari, 12462 Athens, Greece
| | - Aris Spathis
- Second Department of Pathology, Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Chaidari, 12462 Athens, Greece
| | - Danai Leventakou
- Second Department of Pathology, Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Chaidari, 12462 Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiota Economopoulou
- Medical Oncology Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine-Propaedeutic, Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Chaidari, 12462 Athens, Greece
| | - Amanda Psyrri
- Medical Oncology Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine-Propaedeutic, Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Chaidari, 12462 Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Arkadopoulos
- 4th Department of Surgery, Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Chaidari, 12462 Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis G. Panayiotides
- Second Department of Pathology, Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Chaidari, 12462 Athens, Greece
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