Clinical characteristics of 5 adult patients with rhinofacial entomophthoromycosis in Thailand

Five patients [mean age: 36 years (range: 22-65)] were diagnosed with rhinofacial entomophthoromycosis at our center during the study period. All patients presented with painless cheek and nasal dorsum swelling with nasal obstruction. All pathology reports confirmed rhinofacial entomophthoromycosis, which is characterized by the Splendore-Hoeppli phenomenon. Conidiobolus coronatus was identified from fungal culture in all patients. All patients were successfully treated with various antifungals.

A clinical radiomics nomogram preoperatively to predict ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvasion in women with biopsy-confirmed ductal carcinoma in situ: a preliminary study

PURPOSE

To predict ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvasion (DCISMI) based on clinicopathologic, conventional breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) radiomics signatures in women with biopsy-confirmed ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).

METHODS

Eighty-six women with eighty-seven biopsy-proven DCIS who underwent preoperative MRI and underwent surgery were retrospectively identified. Clinicopathologic, conventional MRI, DCE-MRI radiomics, combine (based on conventional MRI and DCE-MRI radiomics), traditional (based on clinicopathologic and conventional MRI) and mixed (based on clinicopathologic, conventional MRI and DCE-MRI radiomics) models were constructed by logistic regression (LR) with a 3-fold cross-validation, all evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. A clinical radiomics nomogram was then built by incorporating the Radiomics score, significant clinicopathologic and conventional MRI features of mixed model.

RESULTS

The area under the curves (AUCs) of clinicopathologic, conventional MRI, DCE-MRI radiomics, traditional, combine, and mixed model were 0.76 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.59-0.94), 0.77 (95%CI 0.59-0.95), 0.74 (95%CI 0.55-0.93), 0.87 (95%CI 0.73-1), 0.8 (95%CI 0.63-0.96), and 0.93 (95%CI 0.84-1) in the validation cohort, respectively. The clinical radiomics nomogram based on mixed model showed higher AUCs than both clinicopathologic and DCE-MRI radiomics models in training/test (all P < 0.05) set and showed the greatest overall net benefit for upstaging according to decision curve analysis (DCA).

CONCLUSION

A nomogram constructed by combining clinicopathologic, conventional MRI features and DCE-MRI radiomics signatures may be useful in predicting DCISMI from DICS preoperatively.

Carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen 199 and carbohydrate antigen 724 in gastric cancer and their relationship with clinical prognosis

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer (GC) is a common malignant tumor of the digestive system with a high degree of malignancy. It usually develops insidiously without any specific symptoms in the early stages. As one of the diseases caused by abnormal gene changes, GC has abnormal expression of various oncogenes and products during its development. Tumor markers such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 199 (CA199) and carbohydrate antigen 724 (CA724) are not expressed or lowly expressed in normal people, but significantly increased after carcinogenesis. Monitoring the changes in the levels of tumor markers such as CEA, CA199 and CA724 is conducive to early diagnosis and evaluation of the occurrence of some solid tumors.

AIM

To investigate the expression of CEA, CA199 and CA724 in GC and their correlation with clinical features, hoping to provide more effective markers for the early preventive diagnosis of GC.

METHODS

Of 87 patients with GC admitted to our hospital from September 2020 to December 2021 were included in the GC group, and another 80 healthy people who came to our hospital for physical examination with normal results during the same period were selected as the control group. The serum CEA, CA199, and CA724 levels were compared between the two groups, and the serum CEA, CA199, and CA724 levels were compared in patients with GC at different TNM stages, and the differences in the positive rates of CEA, CA199, and CA724 alone and in combination in detecting TNM stages of GC and GC were compared. In addition, the relationship between the levels of tumor markers CEA, CA199 and CA724 and the clinicopathological characteristics of GC patients was also analyzed. The relationship between the serum levels of CEA, CA199 and CA724 and the survival period of GC patients was analyzed by Pearson.

RESULTS

The serum levels of CEA, CA199 and CA724 in GC group were significantly higher than those in control group (P < 0.05). With the increase of TNM stage, the serum CEA, CA199 and CA724 expression levels in GC patients increased significantly, and the differences between groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The positive rate of the CA724 single test was higher than that of CEA and CA199 single test (P < 0.05). The positive rate of the three combined tests was 95.40% (83/87), which was higher than that of CEA, CA199 and CA724 single tests. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The combined detection positive rates of CEA, CA199, and CA724 in stages I, II, III, and IV of GC were 89.66%, 93.10%, 98.85%, and 100.00% respectively, all of which were higher than the individual detection rates of CEA, CA199, and CA724. The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in serum CEA, CA199 and CA724 levels between GC patients with different genders, smoking history and alcohol history (P > 0.05). However, the serum CEA, CA199 and CA724 levels were significantly higher in GC patients aged ≥ 45 years, TNM stage III-IV, with lymph node metastasis and tumor diameter ≥ 5 cm than in GC patients aged < 45 years, TNM stage I-II, without lymph node metastasis and tumor diameter < 5 cm (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The expression levels of serum tumor markers CEA, CA199 and CA724 in patients with GC are high and rise with the increase of TNM stage. The levels of CEA, CA199 and CA724 are related to age, TNM stage, lymph node metastasis and tumor diameter. The combined detection of CEA, CA199 and CA724 is helpful to improve the diagnostic accuracy of GC with high clinical guidance value.

Cyclin D1 expression, clinicopathological characteristics, and 2-year survival rate of gastric cancer in Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital

Background

Cyclin D1 is a protein that can increase the proliferation of cancer cells. Its expression has been found in various malignancies, including gastric cancer. Cyclin D1 examinations have not been routinely performed for gastric cancer cases in Indonesia. A recent study of cyclin D1 in gastric cancer was associated with lymph node involvement, metastasis, poor prognosis, and a lack of response to platinum chemotherapy.

Aim

This study aimed to determine the relationships among cyclin D1 expression, clinicopathological features, and 2-year survival rates in gastric cancer.

Materials and Methods

This retrospective cohort study used medical records and paraffin blocks of patients suffering from gastric cancer at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Jakarta, between 2015 and 2020. Data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. The data were collected from 39 subjects, most of whom experienced eating disorder (69.23%), weight loss (76.92%), melena (53.85%), and anemia (51.28%). Tumor location was mostly found in the cardia and corpus of the gaster.

Results

This study found that the proportion of overexpression of cyclin D1 was 30.77%. Cyclin D1 expression was greater in subjects with liver metastases (50% vs. 14.8%, P = 0.04). Cyclin D1 expression was not associated with tumor location, tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM) stage, or histopathological findings. Analysis of the 2-year survival rate did not find any differences between patients with cyclin D1 overexpression and those with cyclin D1 negative.

Conclusions

Cyclin D1 expression was associated with liver metastases in patients with gastric cancer.

Clinicopathologic significance of Her-2 and P53 expressions in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

To detect the expression of HER-2 and P53 patients with gastric cancer and to analyze their correlation.

METHODS

A total of 249 gastric cancer patients with complete clinical data who received surgical treatment from China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University were selected. The expression of Her-2 and P53 were detected by immunohistochemistry using the streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase method. The correlations between HER-2 and P53 in gastric cancer were analyzed.

RESULTS

The positive rate of Her-2 and P53 expression was 37.3% (93/249) and 100% in all the specimens, respectively. The intensity of Her-2 expression was significantly different in patients with different degrees of gastric cancer cell differentiation (P = 0.012). Meanwhile, the expression of her-2 was closely related to whether the pathological type of gastric cancer was a signet-ring cell carcinoma (P = 0.022). Different percentage of positive P53 expression was closely related to the grade of tumor differentiation (P = 0.035) and positive Ki67 expression (P = 0.001). There was a significant positive correlation between HER-2 and P53 expression in gastric cancer (P = 0.003). These findings suggest that HER-2 and P53 have synergistic effects in gastric cancer.

CONCLUSION

Her-2 and P53 are important markers for invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer. Combined detection of P53 and Her-2 expression in gastric cancer tissue can be used to assess prognosis and screen cancer patients at high risk of metastasis.

Cardiac fibroma: A clinicopathologic study of a series of 12 cases

BACKGROUND

Cardiac fibroma (CF) is a rare tumor that has not been widely reported. This study investigated the clinical findings, histologic features, and differential diagnosis of CF.

METHODS

A total of 12 CF cases were studied and reviewed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), special staining and immunohistochemical staining. The ALK gene was tested in 4 cases of cardiac fibroma with significant inflammatory cells. Clinicopathological data were retrospectively analyzed and followed up.

RESULTS

The cases occurred in six males and six females ranging in age from 0.5 to 55 years (median, 5 years). The tumors were grossly single and solid (1-17 cm; mean 5.6 cm). The clinical signs and symptoms depended largely on the location of the tumor. Microscopically, the CFs observed were composed of monomorphic spindle cells and abundant collagen. The spindle cells demonstrated little or no atypia. The histology of CFs in infants and young children showed some differences from those in adults. Infants and young children with fibromas exhibited cellular types with more inflammatory infiltration. All tumors expressed vimentin markers. Eleven of 12 cases (91.7%) were positive for SMA by immunohistochemistry. ALK immunostaining and ALK-FISH tests showed negative results. Follow-up information was available for all patients. The mean postoperative follow-up was at 3 years (range 2 months-8.8 years). All patients were alive with no evidence of disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows that CFs exhibit a wide morphological spectrum of soft tissue tumors with fibroblastic or myofibroblastic differentiation and/or components. Infants and younger pediatric patients with fibromas have tumors that are more hypercellular and more likely to be misdiagnosed with aggressive or malignant lesions than adults. Finally, the data indicate that CF exhibits benign behavior and that local resection is safe and effective.

Risk factors of lymphovascular invasion in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and its influence on prognosis

PURPOSE

Lymphatic vascular invasion (LVI) is a poor prognostic factor for hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC), but the risk factors of LVI and its relationship with clinicopathological of HPSCC remain unclear. This study aims to explore these issues.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological data of 170 patients with HPSCC from January 2011 to December 2015. The relationship between LVI and clinicopathologic was analyzed by Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. The risk factors of LVI were examined using a logistic regression model, while risk factors of survival rate were carried out using the Cox regression model.

RESULTS

LVI occurred in 59 cases (34.7%). In multivariate analysis, T3-4 stage (HR = 2.877; 95% CI: 1.379-6.004; p = 0.005), N2-3 stage (HR = 2.325; 95% CI: 1.120-4.824; p = 0.024), and poor differentiation (HR = 2.983; 95% CI: 1.229-7.242; p = 0.016) were independent risk factors for LVI; positive LVI was an independent risk factor for local recurrence (HR = 2.488; 95% CI: 1.150-5.383; p = 0.021), poor 5-year OS (HR = 0.375; 95% CI: 0.232-0.606; p < 0.000), DSS (HR = 0.374; 95% CI: 0.235-0.595; p < 0.000), and DFS (HR = 0.454; 95% CI:0.254-0.813; p = 0.008).

CONCLUSION

T3-4 stage, N2-3 stage and poor differentiation are independent risk factors for LVI of HPSCC; LVI increases the local recurrence and regional recurrence rate, and decreases 5-year OS, DFS and DSS of HPSCC.

Carcinoma Cuniculatum of the Oral Cavity: A Series of 6 Cases and Review of Literature

Carcinoma cuniculatum (CC) is a rare variant of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) that is characterized by minimal cytologic atypia and a unique deeply infiltrative growth pattern resembling rabbit burrows (cuniculi). With less than 75 cases reported in the head and neck, the clinical and pathologic spectrum of this entity remains poorly understood. A retrospective review of the clinical and pathologic features of archival cases of oral CC was performed. A total of six cases of oral CC were identified. Age ranged from 25-77 years; the male-to-female ratio was 5:1. All patients had a long-standing history of tobacco and betel-quid consumption. The tumors were distributed in the gingivobuccal sulcus (n = 2), the tongue (n = 2), buccal mucosa (n = 1), and the palate (n = 1). Histology in all cases typically revealed a tumor composed of well-differentiated squamous epithelium, devoid of atypia, lining deeply infiltrative, large-sized, branching, keratin-filled cavities, resembling rabbit-burrows. Dense lymphocytic infiltrates and discharging micro-abscesses were regular features. Underlying bone invasion and lymph node metastasis were observed in 1 patient. One patient with a tongue tumor developed locoregional recurrence at 10 months while none developed distant metastasis. Oral CC is a rare and under-recognized variant of SCC with locally aggressive behavior. Lack of familiarity with this variant exacerbated by the absence of cytologic anaplasia makes CC susceptible to multiple negative biopsies and erroneous diagnoses. Awareness of this clinicopathologic entity is essential to allow its accurate diagnosis and optimal management.

Preoperative anemia predicts poor prognosis in patients with endometrial cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

To systematically and meta-analytically pool the existing evidence regarding the prognostic impact of preoperative anemia (hemoglobin level <12 mg/dl) in patients with endometrial cancer.

METHODS

Four (PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science) databases were searched from inception to 20-August-2020. We assessed the risk of bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. We estimated the pooled prevalence of preoperative anemia in the included studies. We pooled odds ratios (ORs) and hazard ratios (HRs) with their 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CIs) to evaluate the correlation between preoperative anemia and its impact on clinicopathologic parameters and survival outcomes. Analyses were performed under random- or fixed-effects meta-analysis models depending on data heterogeneity.

RESULTS

Seven studies met the inclusion criteria comprising 1495 patients with endometrial cancer. Nearly all studies had low risk of bias. The pooled prevalence of preoperative anemia was 26.5 % (95 % CI: 18.6%-36.2%). Preoperative anemia significantly correlated with advanced FIGO stage III-IV (OR = 5.14, 95 % CI [3.36, 7.86], p < 0.00001), ≥50 % myometrial invasion (OR = 1.95, 95 % CI [1.36, 2.78], p = 0.0003), lymph node metastasis (OR = 4.46, 95 % CI [2.39, 8.30], p < 0.00001), non-endometrioid histology (OR = 3.25, 95 % CI [1.89, 5.60], p < 0.0001), adnexal involvement (OR = 5.88, 95 % CI [3.05, 10.23], p < 0.001), cervical involvement (OR = 2.91, 95 % CI [1.65, 5.11], p = 0.0002), positive peritoneal cytology (OR = 3.24, 95 % CI [1.41, 7.44], p = 0.006), preoperative thrombocytosis (OR = 6.66, 95 % CI [3.05, 14.52], p < 0.00001) and lymphovascular space invasion (OR = 3.50, 95 % CI [1.82, 6.74], p = 0.0002). High tumor grade II-III was increased in patients with preoperative anemia, yet this effect was not statistically significant (OR = 2.12, 95 % CI [0.97, 4.66], p = 0.06). Consistently, the five-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were significantly lower in patients with preoperative anemia when compared to those without preoperative anemia. Pooled HR showed that preoperative anemia was significantly associated with reduced DFS at univariate (HR = 3.22, 95 % CI [1.28, 8.11], p = 0.01) and multivariate (HR = 1.02, 95 % CI [1.00, 1.05], p = 0.03) analyses.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative anemia predicts poor clinicopathologic and survival outcomes in patients with endometrial cancer.

Red Between the Lines: Evolution of Eosinophilic Esophagitis as a Distinct Clinicopathologic Syndrome

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the esophageal mucosa and symptoms of esophageal dysfunction, including dysphagia. While EoE is still considered a rare disease, in practice it seems that more and more cases are diagnosed every week, research in the field is exploding, and the pipeline for treatments contains multiple agents, some of which are quite far along the development pathway. After only scattered cases and small series were published in the late 1970s and 1980, Stephen Attwood, Thomas Smyrk, Tom DeMeester, and James Jones, published in Digestive Diseases and Sciences in 1993 a seminal report that described a clinicopathologic syndrome of esophageal eosinophilia with dysphagia. This review details the origins of this paper and compares and contrast what was observed then and what is known now about multiple aspects of EoE, including the clinical presentation, diagnosis, epidemiology, natural history, and treatments and outcomes. Moreover, it will highlight how the paper presaged a number of controversies in the field that have yet to be resolved, as well as foreshadowed the collaborative, multidisciplinary approach that has led to rapid advances.

Identification of stage I/IIA melanoma patients at high risk for disease relapse using a clinicopathologic and gene expression model

PURPOSE

Patients with stage I/IIA cutaneous melanoma (CM) are currently not eligible for adjuvant therapies despite uncertainty in relapse risk. Here, we studied the ability of a recently developed model which combines clinicopathologic and gene expression variables (CP-GEP) to identify stage I/IIA melanoma patients who have a high risk for disease relapse.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Archival specimens from a cohort of 837 consecutive primary CMs were used for assessing the prognostic performance of CP-GEP. The CP-GEP model combines Breslow thickness and patient age, with the expression of eight genes in the primary tumour. Our specific patient group, represented by 580 stage I/IIA patients, was stratified based on their risk of relapse: CP-GEP High Risk and CP-GEP Low Risk. The main clinical end-point of this study was five-year relapse-free survival (RFS).

RESULTS

Within the stage I/IIA melanoma group, CP-GEP identified a high-risk patient group (47% of total stage I/IIA patients) which had a considerably worse five-year RFS than the low-risk patient group; 74% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 67%-80%) versus 89% (95% CI: 84%-93%); hazard ratio [HR] = 2.98 (95% CI: 1.78-4.98); P < 0.0001. Of patients in the high-risk group, those who relapsed were most likely to do so within the first 3 years.

CONCLUSION

The CP-GEP model can be used to identify stage I/IIA patients who have a high risk for disease relapse. These patients may benefit from adjuvant therapy.

Primary adrenal schwannoma: a series of 31 cases emphasizing their clinicopathologic features and favorable prognosis

PURPOSE

Primary adrenal schwannoma (PAS) is a very rare benign tumor, and most of them have been described in case reports. This study aimed to analyze their distinct clinicopathologic features and follow-up data through the largest series yet.

METHODS

Clinicopathologic features of 31 primary adrenal schwannomas were retrospectively studied. Imaging and histologic features were re-evaluated and summarized. Immunohistochemical markers were measured, including S100, SOX10, AE1/AE3, EMA, SMA, Desmin, HMB45, GLUT1, and Ki67. Follow-up of all cases was performed.

RESULTS

All the tumors were clinically misdiagnosed as nonfunctioning adrenal adenoma (NAA; 23/31), aldosterone-producing adenoma/aldosteronoma (APA; 3/31), cortisol-producing adenoma (CPA; 3/31), or pheochromocytoma (PCC; 2/31). Some 87% (27/31) presented with adrenal incidentaloma, and 13% (4/31) had a clinical symptom or unregulated hormone levels. They comprised conventional (19/31), cellular (7/31), plexiform (2/31), ancient (1/31), epithelioid (1/31) and microcystic/reticular variants (1/31) and had various histologic features. Immunohistochemically, all tumors (31/31) were positive for S100 and Sox10, with a low Ki-67 proliferative index. In the long-term follow-up (mean, 53 mo.; median, 56 mo.), none had evidence of recurrence and metastasis. Univariate analysis showed that OS and DFS were not associated with age; sex; tumor side, size, or number; adrenal-related symptoms; gross feature (solid vs. cystic); or any histologic feature (P > 0.9999).

CONCLUSION

PAS is an extremely rare tumor and mostly appears as an incidentaloma. Clinically, it tends to be misdiagnosed as other common adrenal tumors. This tumor has a benign biologic behavior and prognosis, without correlations with clinical or histologic parameters.

Clinicopathological and molecular differences in colorectal cancer according to location

PURPOSE

The incidence, pathogenesis, molecular pathways, and outcomes of colorectal cancer vary depending on the location of the tumor. This study aimed to compare the difference in tumor characteristics and the outcome between right-sided colon cancer and left-sided colorectal cancer (LCRC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 1503 patients with colorectal cancer who underwent surgery at the Taipei Veterans General Hospital between 2000 and 2010 were enrolled in this study. Right-sided colon cancer was defined as cancers in the cecum, ascending colon, and transverse colon, while LCRC was defined as cancers in the splenic flexure colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, and rectum. The endpoint was overall survival. The mutations were detected via polymerase chain reaction and MASS array. The prognostic value was determined using the log-rank test and the Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 407 and 1096 cases were classified as right-sided colon cancer and LCRC, respectively. Compared to patients with LCRC, those with right-sided colon cancer had more mucinous type cancer (7.4% vs. 3.5%), poorly differentiated tumor (11.5% vs. 3.6%), and advanced tumor-node-metastasis stage. The risk for peritoneal tumor seeding was higher in the right-sided colon cancer group (12.8% vs. 5.7%). Overall survival was better in LCRC than in right-sided colon cancer ( P=0.036).

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, right-sided colon cancer had a more advanced tumor stage, a higher risk of peritoneal metastasis, and a poorer outcome than LCRC. Moreover, right-sided colon cancer had more gene mutations in BRAF, KRAS, SMAD4, TGF-β, PIK3CA, PTEN, AKT1, and high microsatellite instability.

Clinical characteristics of primary intestinal NK/T cell lymphoma, nasal type: Case series and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Primary intestinal NK/T cell lymphoma is rare but aggressive and exhibits a poor prognosis. Little is known about its clinical characteristics because few studies with small sample sizes have been reported.

AIMS

To provide clinicopathological features and endoscopic findings and to summarize the treatment outcomes of primary intestinal NK/T cell lymphoma to improve our understanding of this disease.

METHODS

Between January 2011 to December 2016, 13 patients with confirmed primary gastrointestinal NK/T cell lymphoma at our center were described, and an updated literature review was provided.

RESULTS

In this series of 13 cases, 69.23% were men, the median age was 39 years, and the median survival was 6 months. The common clinical manifestations included abdominal pain (76.92%) and gastrointestinal bleeding (46.15%). Lymphomas were common in the large intestine (69.23%). In 76.92% of patients, the clinical staging was stage I, and all 13 patients manifested ulcerative lesions and no tumor mass on endoscopy. The clinical characteristics of primary intestinal NK/T cell lymphomas were similar to results in existing literature.

CONCLUSION

Intestinal NK/T cell lymphoma shows nonspecific clinical features and poor prognosis, which is mainly expressed as ulcers on endoscopy. Emergency surgery may be an adverse prognostic factor of lymphoma, since it is prone to progress toward gastrointestinal perforation.

Investigation of CCR7 Marker Expression Using Immunohistochemical Method and Its Association with Clinicopathologic Properties in Patients with Breast Cancer

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women in the world, especially in Iran. There are large numbers of molecular and genomic factors causing breast cancer as well as many markers associated with tumor invasion. Chemokines are small proteins that primarily regulate leukocyte trafficking in the homeostatic conditions and specific immune responses. Chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) belongs a class A subtype 7-span transmembrane G-protein coupled receptor. CCR7 plays a role in the migration of tumor cells such as immune cells into lymphoid organs through binding to its only two ligands CCL19/CCL21. High expression of this marker has been observed in breast cancer. However, there have been limited and contradictory data in studies conducted on the relationship between the increasing expression of this marker with various clinical and pathological factors. Materials and Methods: This case-control practical study was carried out on total mastectomy samples from 70 patients with breast cancer and tumor-adjacent normal tissue using immunohistochemistry technique to assess the expression of CCR7 marker. The relationship among the marker expression with different clinical and pathological tumor factors such as age, tumor size, microscopic grade, neurovascular invasion, lymph node metastasis and tumor stage were evaluated in all patients. Since the both groups were matched for age, so McNemar test, Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used to compare the expression of CCR7 marker in the case and control groups. Conditional logistic regression was employed to compare the effects of other variables regarding the age harmonization. Results: CCR7 expression was observed in 63 (91.4%) out of 70 studied patients and in tumor-adjacent normal tissue of 55 patients (78.6%), while the marker expression intensity in normal tissue was lower than tumoral tissue (P<0.032) There was a significant relationship among the expression of CCR7 marker with disease stage (P<0.001), grade (P<0.035), lymph node metastasis (P<0.003), perineural invasion (P<0.037) and vascular invasion (P<0.01), but no significant relationship was found among CCR7 expression with other tumor clinicopathologic parameters such as age (P>0.19) and tumor size (P>0.105). Conclusion: Increased expression of CCR7 has a significant relationship with disease stage, grade, lymph node metastasis and neurovascular invasion of breast cancer but has no relationship with age of patients and tumor size. Therefore, this biomarker can be utilized as a predictive factor for tumor metastasis and survival of patients.

Familial Colorectal Cancer Type X in Central Iran: A New Clinicopathologic Description

Background: Familial colorectal cancer type X (FCCX) is a subtype of mismatch repair (MMR)-proficient colorectal cancerin which the patients are clinically at risk for Lynch syndrome (LS), a common hereditary cancer predisposing syndrome. In this study, we described a new clinicopathological feature of the condition in central Iran. Materials and Methods: We designed a descriptive, retrospective study to screenat-risk colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, using Amsterdam II criteria and Molecular analysis in Isfahan (central Iran) throughout 2000-2013 period. Results: 219 early-onset (≤ 50 years) CRC patients of 1659 were selected for the evaluation. Amsterdam II criteria were positive in 45 families; of whom 31 were finally analyzed by molecular testing. MMR deficiency was detected in 7/31 probands (22.6%) as affected to LS, so 24 families (77.4%) were identified as FCCX. The mean age of the probands at diagnosis among FCCX families was 45.3 years (range 24-69) versus 38.0 years (range 31-50) in LS families. The frequency of CRC among FCCX and LS families was calculated 27.9% and 67.5%, respectively. Also, the most frequent extracolonic cancer among both FCCX and LS families was stomach by 25.5% and 30.8%, respectively. Tumor site was proximal to the splenic flexure in 20.8% and 57.1% of index CRC patients in FCCX and LS families, respectively. Conclusion: Given the relative high frequency of FCCX and its different phenotype among Iranian populations, we need to set up more advanced molecular studies for exploration of unknown molecular pathways leading to tumorigenesis in this class of CRC patients.

Evaluation of E-cadherin Expression in Gastric Cancer and Its Correlation with Clinicopathologic Parameters

Background: Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. There are many genomic and molecular factors that cause gastric cancer to occur. Also, many markers that associate with tumor invasiveness have been known. E-cadherin is a calcium- mediated cell adhesion molecule. In some studies, abnormal expression of E-cadherin has been seen in gastric carcinoma. However, in the studies done there has been some conflicting information about abnormal expression of this marker in a variety of gastric carcinoma and also about the expression of this marker and its correlation with various clinicopathologic factors of tumor. Subjects andMethods: A case control study was performed on total or partial gastrectomy tissue samples obtained from 70 patients with gastric cancer and adjacent non-neoplastic tissues. The immunohistochemistry was used to assess E-cadherin expression. The correlation between abnormal E-cadherin expression and tumor histopathology was evaluated in all patients. Results: Among 70 patients who were analyzed, 48.6% showed abnormal E-cadherin expression. A significant correlation was seen between abnormal E-cadherin expression and tumor stage, grade, lymph node metastasis, tumor phenotype, tumor type, depth of invasion and age. Conclusion: Abnormal E-cadherin expression is a common phenomenon in gastric cancer. Because there was a strong correlation between abnormal E-cadherin expression and tumor stage, tumor grade, depth of invasion and regional lymph node involvement, this marker may be used as a predictive factor for tumor invasiveness in gastric cancer.

Triple negative breast cancer in North of Morocco: clinicopathologic and prognostic features

Background

Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is defined by a lack of estrogen and progesterone receptor gene expression and by the absence of overexpression on HER2. It is associated to a poor prognosis. We propose to analyze the clinicopathologic and prognostic characteristics of this breast cancer subtype in a Mediterranean population originated or resident in the North of Morocco.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study of 279 patients diagnosed with breast cancer between January 2010 and January 2015. Clinicopathologic and prognostic features have been analyzed. Disease-Free Survival (DFS) and Overall Survival (OS) have been estimated.

Results

Of all cases, forty-nine (17.6 %) were identified as having triple negative breast cancer with a median age of 46 years. The average tumor size was 3.6 cm. The majority of patients have had invasive ductal carcinoma (91.8 %) and 40.4 % of them were grade III SBR. Nodal metastasis was detected in 38.9 % of the patients and vascular invasion was found in 36.6 % of them. About half of the patients had an early disease (53.1 %) and 46.9 % were diagnosed at an advanced stage. Patients with operable tumors (61.2 %) underwent primary surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients with no operable tumors (26.5 %) received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery, and patients with metastatic disease (12.2 %) were treated by palliative chemotherapy. DFS and OS at 5 years were respectively 83.7 and 71.4 %. Among 49, twelve had recurrences, found either when diagnosing them or after a follow-up. Local relapse was 6.1 %. Lung and liver metastases accounted consecutively for 8.2 and 10.2 %. Bone metastases were found in 4.1 % and brain metastases in 2.1 % of the cases.

Conclusion

Our results are in accordance with literature data, particularly what concerning young age and poor prognosis among TNBC phenotype. Therefore, the identification of BRCA mutations in our population seems to be essential in order to better adapt management options for this aggressive form of breast cancer.

A review of the clinicopathologic characteristics of intestinal metaplasia in gastric mucosal biopsies

INTRODUCTION

Although it is a well recognized premalignant lesion of the stomach, there is a dearth of information on the clinicopathologic features of gastric intestinal metaplasia in Nigerians. It is, therefore, necessary to study these features and their possible contribution to the development of gastric carcinoma in Nigerians.

METHODS

All gastric biopsies with the histo-morphologic features of intestinal metaplasia diagnosed at the department of morbid anatomy and forensic medicine, Obafemi Awolowo university teaching hospitals complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria between January 2006 and December 2010 were used for the study.

RESULTS

A total of 165 biopsies (21.3% of all gastric biopsies within the study period) with background chronic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia were reviewed. The mean age of patients with intestinal metaplasia was 50.3 years ± 17 standard deviation (SD) while the ages of the patients ranged from 10-100 years. There were 83 males (50.3%) with a mean age of 48.1 ± 18.2 SD years and 95% confidence interval (CI) of 44.1-52.1 years. There were, however, 82 females (49.6%) with a mean age of 52.5 (± 15.8 SD) years and a 95% CI of 49.0-56.0 years. There was no significant association between the histologic type of intestinal metaplasia and the patients' sex, age groups, severity of chronic gastritis, disease activity or degree of gastric glandular atrophy.

CONCLUSION

There are no statistically significant differences in the clinicopathologic characteristics of the subtypes of intestinal metaplasia. In majority of patients, progression from intestinal metaplasia to gastric adenocarcinoma probably takes an average of about 7 years.

Expression profile of polyunsaturated fatty acids in colorectal cancer

AIM: To investigate the relationship between the metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and tumor-associated factors for predicting the outcome of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) in Chinese patients.

METHODS: Fresh-frozen malignant and normal tissues from 82 Chinese patients with CRC were analyzed for PUFA composition using gas-liquid chromatography. The levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E2 and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the levels of VEGF, p53 and Ki-67 were measured by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS: In malignant tissue, compared with normal tissue, the levels of total ω-6 PUFAs (24.64% ± 3.41% vs 26.77% ± 3.37%, P = 0.00) and linoleic acid (LA) (15.46% ± 3.51% vs 18.30% ± 2.83%, P < 0.01) were lower, whereas the levels of total ω-3 PUFAs (1.58% ± 0.74% vs 1.35% ± 0.60%, P < 0.01) and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) (1.32% ± 0.69% vs 0.85% ± 0.29%, P < 0.01) were significantly higher. The ratios of arachidonic acid (AA)/LA (0.53 ± 0.22 vs 0.42 ± 0.19, P < 0.01) and AA/total ω-6 PUFAs (0.31 ± 0.09 vs 0.27 ± 0.10, P < 0.01) were also significantly higher in malignant tissue. The levels of PDGF (353.10 ± 148.85 pg/mL vs 286.09 ± 104.91 pg/mL, P < 0.01), COX-2 (125.21 ± 70.29 ng/mL vs 67.06 ± 42.22 ng/mL, P < 0.01) and VEGF (357.11 ± 128.76 pg/mL vs 211.38 ± 99.47 pg/mL, P < 0.01) were also higher in malignant tissue compared to normal tissue. COX-2 was inversely correlated with LA (R = -0.3244, P < 0.05) and positively correlated with AA/total ω-6 PUFAs (R = 0.3083, P < 0.05) and AA/LA (R = 0.3001, P < 0.05). The tissue level of LA was highest in poorly differentiated tumors (19.9% ± 6.3%, P < 0.05), while the ratio of AA/ω-3 PUFAs was lowest in these tumors (10.8 ± 2.6, P < 0.05). In VEGF-positive tumors, the level of LA was higher (16.2% ± 3.7% vs 13.9% ± 2.7%, P < 0.01), while the AA/ω-3PUFA, AA/ω-6 PUFA, and AA/LA ratios were lower than in VEGF-negative tumors (5.0 ± 1.8 vs 6.7 ± 3.3, 0.30 ± 0.09 vs 0.34 ± 0.09, 0.50 ± 0.21 vs 0.61 ± 0.21, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: The metabolism of PUFAs may play an important role in the evolution of inflammation-driven tumorigenesis in CRC and may be considered a potential marker for prognosis.

Tumor microsatellite instability and clinicopathologic features in Iranian colorectal cancer patients at risk for Lynch syndrome

BACKGROUND

Microsatellite instability (MSI) is a mutational signature that is the hallmark of Lynch syndrome, and MSI testing is a cost-effective method to screen the disease. Since there is no enough data about MSI status and associated clinicopathologic features of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) in Iran, our study is a new trial to describe them in center of Iran (Isfahan).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

It is a descriptive retrospective study to screen HNPCC families using Amsterdam II criteria in Central Iran within 2000-2013. For MSI testing, we used a commercially available kit evaluating mononucleotide markers (BAT-25, BAT-26, MON0-27, NR-21 and NR-24). After a fluorescent multiplex polymerase chain reaction amplification of the markers, samples were sequenced to fragment analysis. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 16 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

RESULTS

Overall, 31 of 45 screened HNPCC families were eventually included to MSI testing. Totally, 9/31 patients (29.0%) showed MSI in their tumor tissues. BAT-26 was the most instable marker with instability in 7/24 MSI tumors (29.2%). The mean age at diagnosis in microsatellite stable (MSS), MSI-Low (MSI-L), and MSI-High (MSI-H) probands was respectively 44.7 (standard deviation [SD] = 11.83), 51.7 (SD = 16.17), and 36.0 (SD = 3.41) years. The most common tumor sites in MSS, MSI-L, and MSI-H probands were rectosigmoid (∼72.8%), rectum (66.7%) and right colon (50.0%), respectively. Of 186 cancer patients among 31 HNPCC families, 86 patients (46.2%) had colorectal cancer (CRC) and 100 patients (53.8%) had extracolonic cancers. The average of CRC affected members among MSS, MSI-L, and MSI-H groups of our HNPCC families was 2.2 (SD = 1.30), 3.3 (SD = 3.21), and 4.7 (SD = 2.42) patients per family, respectively. Stomach with 18.3% and 26.7% of all extracolonic cancers were most common involved organ in MSS and MSI-H families, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our different molecular results could be suggested to describe HNPCC families based on some new molecular mechanisms leading to MSS HNPCC phenotypes. Meanwhile, more evaluations within our population are recommended.

Clinicopathologic characteristics of gastric metastasis from primary lung cancer: A case report and review of the literature

Gastric metastasis from primary lung cancer is rare, and its diagnosis must be based on the combination of clinical, pathologic and immunohistochemical features and the differentiation from other diseases. Here we report one case of gastric metastasis from primary lung cancer and investigate its clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features by reviewing the related literature.

Immunohistochemistry-based subtyping of breast carcinoma in Egyptian women: a clinicopathologic study on 125 patients

Breast carcinoma is a heterogeneous disease affected by patients' ethnicity. Gene expression analysis identified several molecular subtypes, and similar subtyping has now been found to be feasible using immunohistochemistry. This study estimated the distribution of intrinsic breast cancer subtypes using estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her2/neu), and cytokeratin 5/6 immunostaining in a cohort of 125 Egyptian women diagnosed as having invasive breast carcinoma. Associations with clinicopathologic variables and the prognostic markers Bcl-2 and Cyclin D1 were investigated and statistically analyzed. Population difference in breast cancer subtypes was detected, suggesting etiologic and genetic heterogeneity among demographic groups. As reported worldwide, most tumors were luminal A (39.2%), but basal-like and unclassified subtypes had higher proportions among our cohort (16.8% and 16%, respectively), particularly in premenopausal patients (P = .0001), in contrast to postmenopausal African Americans, premenopausal European Americans, and other populations. Her2-overexpressing subtype was the least common subtype (13.65%) among our patients, although it is more common in Asians. Basal-like and unclassified carcinomas were more frequently grade 3 neoplasms (P = .035). Lobular histology was distributed among luminal A, B and unclassified subtypes (P = .006). The highest frequency of nodal positivity was associated with Her2 overexpressing carcinomas (94.1%, P = .0001). Luminal and unclassified carcinomas more likely expressed Bcl-2 (P = .011) and Cyclin D1 (P = .0001), whereas basal and Her2 subtypes had the lowest expression levels. Immunohistochemistry-based subtyping can be helpful in separating breast carcinoma into subtypes that vary in distribution among different populations. These subtypes have distinct clinicopathologic features and diverse prognostication, which may imply different therapeutic options for each subtype.

Clinicopathologic characteristics of colonic carcinoid tumors

BACKGROUND

Extra-appendiceal colonic carcinoids are uncommon neuroendocrine tumors with a poor prognosis compared with carcinoids of other gastrointestinal origins. Few studies have examined the clinicopathologic profile and behavior of this rare tumor.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed on patients with colonic carcinoid tumors evaluated at a single tertiary care center between 1996 and 2012. Collected data included patient and tumor characteristics, presentation, treatment, recurrence, and survival. Results were integrated into a comprehensive review of the colonic carcinoid literature.

RESULTS

In total, 114 patients with colorectal carcinoid tumors were identified, and 15 patients with extra-appendiceal tumors were analyzed. The mean age was 58.6 ± 3.0 y, and subjects were predominantly male (73.3%). The most common presenting problem was abdominal pain (33.3%), although 26.7% of patients were asymptomatic. Cecal tumors were the most prevalent (73.3%), and most patients underwent right hemicolectomy. Three patients with lesions < 1 cm were treated endoscopically. The mean tumor diameter was 2.9 ± 0.5 cm, with lymph node or distant metastasis present in 53.3% and 26.7%, respectively. All but two patients underwent a presumed curative resection. During a mean follow-up of 4.2 ± 1.0 y, there was only one death (non-carcinoid specific). Eleven patients were alive without evidence of disease at last follow-up and three patients were alive with disease, one of whom initially had a presumed curative resection that recurred.

CONCLUSIONS

This case series further elucidates the clinicopathologic characteristics of colonic carcinoid tumors, which aids physicians in guiding the diagnosis and management of these rare tumors.