[Combined histiocytosis of the Langerhans group (Langerhans cell histiocytosis and Erdheim-Chester disease) in a 64-year-old man with BRAF and NRAS mutations: a case report]. / Histiocitosis combinada de tipo Langerhans (Histiocitosis de células de Langerhans y enfermedad de Erdheim-Chester) en varón de 64 años con mutaciones en BRAF y NRAS: a propósito de un caso.

We present a case of a 64-year-old male with a history of Crohn's disease who presented with an episode of acute abdominal pain. He was being investigated for a dermatological lesion. A skin and lung biopsy both revealed histiocytosis of the "L" (Langerhans) group. The skin biopsy showed a proliferation of histiocytic cells expressing Langerin, CD1a and S100 and the molecular study was positive for the BRAF p.V600E mutation. In the lung biopsy, a proliferation of histiocytic cells was found, which were positive for CD68 and S100 and negative for Langerin and CD1a; mutations in NRAS c.38G>A in exon 2 (p.G13D) were also detected.

High Rate of Mutations of Adhesion Molecules and Extracellular Matrix Glycoproteins in Patients with Adult-Onset Focal and Segmental Glomerulosclerosis.

(1) Background: Focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a pattern of injury that results from podocyte loss in the setting of a wide variety of injurious mechanisms. These include both acquired and genetic as well as primary and secondary causes, or a combination thereof, without optimal therapy, and a high rate of patients develop end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Genetic studies have helped improve the global understanding of FSGS syndrome; thus, we hypothesize that patients with primary FSGS may have underlying alterations in adhesion molecules or extracellular matrix glycoproteins related to previously unreported mutations that may be studied through next-generation sequencing (NGS). (2) Methods: We developed an NGS panel with 29 genes related to adhesion and extracellular matrix glycoproteins. DNA was extracted from twenty-three FSGS patients diagnosed by renal biopsy; (3) Results: The average number of accumulated variants in FSGS patients was high. We describe the missense variant ITGB3c.1199G>A, which is considered pathogenic; in addition, we discovered the nonsense variant CDH1c.499G>T, which lacks a Reference SNP (rs) Report and is considered likely pathogenic. (4) Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first account of a high rate of change in extracellular matrix glycoproteins and adhesion molecules in individuals with adult-onset FSGS. The combined effect of all these variations may result in a genotype that is vulnerable to the pathogenesis of glomerulopathy.

Lung transplantation for emphysema: only emphysema or something else?

Background: Some studies have reviewed lung explants histology to determine the frequency of pretransplant non-identified neoplasms or explore its diagnostic correlation with a previous diagnosis of interstitial lung disease (ILD). This study aims to review the histopathology of explants from patients who underwent lung transplantation (LT). Methods: A retrospective, single-center study that included patients who underwent LT for emphysema between 01 January 2011 and 31 October 2021. The control group was composed of patients with lung cancer who underwent a lung resection between 01 November 2011 and 31 December 2019 and had a previous diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) prior to lung resection surgery. A systematic review was performed of histological findings to compare the frequency of additional histological diagnoses. Results: The study sample included 160 patients (43.8%) who received a lung transplant for emphysema and 205 patients with COPD and lung cancer treated surgically. Although the patients in the cancer group were significantly older and had more comorbidities and higher cumulative tobacco consumption, transplant recipients received an additional significative histologic diagnosis more frequently (58.1% vs. 12.7%; P<0.001) including ILD, pneumoconiosis and others. Conclusions: Significant additional histological findings were more frequent in the group of lung transplant recipients with emphysema. Notably, these findings were not explained by tobacco use, and they were significantly more frequent in transplant recipients than in patients with a previous diagnosis of COPD and higher cumulative tobacco consumption but with a better respiratory functional status.

[Peritoneal recurrence prediction for colon cancer based on immunoexpression]. / Predicción de recurrencia peritoneal mediante inmunoexpresión en cáncer de colon.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Peritoneal relapse as an isolated form of recurrence in colon cancer occurs in 25% of cases during the first two years subsequent to a curative colectomy. Currently, the diagnostic limitations of imaging studies and the absence of predictive scales for peritoneal recurrence warrant "second look" surgery in high-risk patients. The aim of this study is to assess features of some epithelial-mesenchymal transition biomarkers (c-Met, IGF-1R and plexin ß1) in order to predict post-surgical peritoneal colonization and develop a mathematical model to predict carcinomatous relapse. METHODS: A retrospective study of the histopathological samples of 87 patients diagnosed with colon cancer who underwent radical resection was carried out, using immunohistochemical techniques for c-Met, IGF-1R and plexin ß1. The patients were divided into two groups; those who had presented peritoneal recurrence and those who only had risk factors for this kind of relapse. Every stained sample was assessed by the rate of stained cells and immunostaining intensity. A possible association between immunohistochemical findings and peritoneal relapse was evaluated. Statistical analysis of the biomarkers with higher prognostic value allowed a risk mathematical formula to be developed based on coefficients, providing a specific value to each biomarker and patient. RESULTS: c-Met expression in the primary tumour showed a high statistical trend (p: .074) while IGF-1 (p: .022) and plexin ß1 (p: .021) revealed a significative association with peritoneal relapse. However, the multivariate analysis selected c-Met y plexin ß1 as useful factors for a predictive mathematical model on peritoneal recurrence with a 75.8% sensitivity and 80.5% specificity in patients with a staining more than 50% for both biomarkers. CONCLUSION: c-Met and plexin B1 overexpression is related to an increased risk of peritoneal relapse in cases of colon cancer where a radical resection is feasible. The encouraging outcomes of the proposed mathematical model may prove useful clinically in the identification of candidates for carcinoprophylaxis.

Urinary C-X-C Motif Chemokine 10 Is Related to Acute Graft Lesions Secondary to T Cell- and Antibody-Mediated Damage.

BACKGROUND Non-invasive biomarkers of graft rejection are needed to optimize the management and outcomes of kidney transplant recipients. Urinary excretion of IFN-g-related chemokine CXCL10 is clearly associated with clinical and subclinical T cell-mediated graft inflammation, but its relationship with antibody-mediated damage has not been fully addressed. Further, the variables influencing levels of urinary CXCL10 excretion are unknown. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 151 kidney graft biopsies (92 surveillance and 59 indication biopsies) and 151 matched urine samples obtained before biopsy were prospectively analyzed. T cell-mediated rejection (TCMR) and antibody-mediated rejection (AbMR) were defined according to the 2017 Banff classification criteria. Urinary CXCL10 levels were measured by ELISA and corrected by urinary creatinine. RESULTS Banff scores 't', 'i', 'g', and 'ptc' were significantly related to urinary CXCL10 levels. Multivariate analysis showed that 't' (ß=0.107, P=0.001) and 'ptc' (ß=0.093, P=0.002) were significantly associated with urinary CXCL10. Donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) were related to the high excretion of urinary CXCL10 at 1 year after transplantation (odds ratio [OR] 17.817, P=0.003). Urinary CXCL10 showed good discrimination ability for AbMR (AUC-ROC 0.760, P=0.001). The third tertile of urinary CXCL10 remained significantly associated with AbMR (OR 4.577, 95% confidence interval 1.799-11.646, P=0.001) after multivariate regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS DSA was the only variable clearly related to high urinary CXCL10 levels. Urinary CXCL10 is a good non-invasive candidate biomarker of AbMR and TCMR, supplying information independent of renal function and other variables normally used to monitor kidney transplants.

Renal oncocytoma with prominent xanthomatous reaction. A rare histopathological variant of oncocytoma.

Renal oncocytoma (RO) is a distinctive neoplasm with a well-recognized gross and cytoarchitectural appearance. However, on some occasions, it may show uncommon, atypical, or worrisome gross and microscopic features potentially generating diagnostic difficulties. We herein review the oncocytoma variant characterized by a significant intraneoplastic xanthomatous reaction that produces a variegated macroscopic appearance. This feature may pose a genuine diagnostic problem with conventional (clear cell) renal cell carcinoma (RCC) because this reaction creates a departure from the typical uniform, tan-brown appearance of oncocytoma. The microscopic presence of foamy macrophages in RO may potentially lead to diagnostic difficulties with tumors exhibiting eosinophilic cells and significant infiltration for lipid-laden foamy macrophages such as cystic RCC, unclassified RCC rich in foamy macrophages, the solid variant of papillary RCC with oncocytic features, post-neuroblastoma RCC, succinate dehydrogenase-deficient RCC, mucinous-poor tubular and spindle cell carcinoma, and the oncocytic variant of the epithelioid angiomyolipoma. In conflictive cases, an immunohistochemical panel should help to solve the diagnostic problem. Therefore, the presence of abundant foamy macrophages should not dissuade the pathologist from establishing a diagnosis of RO. Prominent xanthomatous reaction despite its low frequency (4.3%) can be considered an additional feature of RO. Thus, RO should be added to the list of renal tumors that can show a significant reaction of lipid-laden foamy macrophages. Besides, Gamna-Gandy bodies can be present in this tumor.

Rituximab in the Treatment of Interstitial Lung Disease Associated with Autoimmune Diseases: Experience from a Single Referral Center and Literature Review.

In the present study, we aimed to report our experience with rituximab (RTX) in the treatment of patients with ILD associated with AD (AD-ILD) at a single center. For this purpose, clinical characteristics, radiological findings, and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) of RTX-treated AD-ILD-patients seen from May 2016 until March 2020 at a referral center for individuals with ILD were retrospectively reviewed. Additionally, an updated literature review was conducted. A total of 26 patients (mean age 58.3 ± 11.1 years at ILD diagnosis) was included. The most common ADs related to ILD were systemic sclerosis, idiopathic inflammatory myositis (including anti-synthetase syndrome) and rheumatoid arthritis. Non-specific interstitial pneumonia (n = 12) and usual interstitial pneumonia (n = 11) were the predominant radiological patterns. The sustained improvement in PFTs was observed from the start of RTX, with a statistically significant increase in DLCO from basal to one year after RTX (mean + 4.2%, p = 0.024). Overall, there were no differences when comparing PFT outcome according to the radiological pattern or the specific type of AD. In conclusion, RTX constitutes a good therapeutic option to preserve lung function in patients with AD-ILD, regardless of the radiological pattern or the underlying AD.

[Updated guidelines for predictive biomarker testing in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: A National Consensus of the Spanish Society of Pathology and the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology]. / Actualización de las recomendaciones para la determinación de biomarcadores predictivos en el carcinoma de pulmón de célula no pequeña avanzado. Consenso Nacional de la Sociedad Española de Anatomía Patológica y de la Sociedad Española de Oncología Médica.

In 2011, the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) and the Spanish Society of Pathology (SEAP) initiated a joint project to establish guidelines for biomarker testing in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer based on the information available at the time. As this field is constantly evolving, these guidelines were updated in 2012 and 2015 and now in 2019. Current evidence suggests it should be mandatory to test all patients with this kind of advanced lung cancer for EGFR and BRAF mutations, ALK and ROS1 rearrangements and PD-L1 expression. The growing need to study other emerging biomarkers has promoted the routine use of massive sequencing (next-generation sequencing, NGS). However, the coordination of every professional involved and the prioritisation of the most suitable tests and technologies for each case remain a challenge.

The Spectrum of Interstitial Lung Disease Associated with Autoimmune Diseases: Data of a 3.6-Year Prospective Study from a Referral Center of Interstitial Lung Disease and Lung Transplantation.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) may occur in patients with a rheumatic autoimmune disease (AD), increasing their risk of morbidity and mortality. However, little is known about the prevalence of AD in patients diagnosed with an ILD. In this prospective study, we determined the spectrum of ILD associated with AD (AD-ILD) among patients sent for assessment to a single clinic of ILD and lung transplantation from a referral center between May 2016 and December 2019. ILD diagnosis was made by pneumologists based on clinical and radiological findings and pulmonary function test abnormalities. All patients with ILD were also assessed by experienced rheumatologists. During the period of assessment, 338 patients were diagnosed with ILD. Among them, 32.8% fulfilled definitions for an AD. Most cases with AD-ILD had a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (27.0%), systemic sclerosis (26.1%) or anti-synthetase syndrome (17.1%). Interestingly, 18% of the patients with AD-ILD were diagnosed as having an interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features. Antinuclear antibodies and non-specific interstitial pneumonia were the most frequent positive autoantibodies and radiological pattern found in AD-ILD patients, respectively. In conclusion, our study indicates that a high number of ILD patients have a related AD. Consequently, close collaboration among rheumatologists and pneumologists is needed.

Incidental, low-fat variant of spindle cell lipoma: a novel tumour of the small intestine.

A woman underwent surgical intervention for a carcinoma of the ovary. In the intervention, a submucosal nodule of the ileum was found. Pathological study revealed a spindle cell lipoma (SCL). This case revealed the presence of CD34-positive spindle and stellate cells with dendritic cytoplasmic prolongations, a feature shared with dendritic fibromyxolipoma. Fluorescence in in situ hybridisation analysis showed 13q14 heterozygous deletion. Spindle cell lipoma of the small intestine has not been previously reported. Spindle cell lipoma, although rare, should be included among the benign mesenchymal lesions of the small intestine. This report extends the range of locations in which this tumour is found to arise.

A novel therapy for melanoma developed in mice: transformation of melanoma into dendritic cells with Listeria monocytogenes.

Listeria monocytogenes is a gram-positive bacteria and human pathogen widely used in cancer immunotherapy because of its capacity to induce a specific cytotoxic T cell response in tumours. This bacterial pathogen strongly induces innate and specific immunity with the potential to overcome tumour induced tolerance and weak immunogenicity. Here, we propose a Listeria based vaccination for melanoma based in its tropism for these tumour cells and its ability to transform in vitro and in vivo melanoma cells into matured and activated dendritic cells with competent microbicidal and antigen processing abilities. This Listeria based vaccination using low doses of the pathogen caused melanoma regression by apoptosis as well as bacterial clearance. Vaccination efficacy is LLO dependent and implies the reduction of LLO-specific CD4+ T cell responses, strong stimulation of innate pro-inflammatory immune cells and a prevalence of LLO-specific CD8+ T cells involved in tumour regression and Listeria elimination. These results support the use of low doses of pathogenic Listeria as safe melanoma therapeutic vaccines that do not require antibiotics for bacterial removal.

Nodular spindle cell proliferation in the wall of a varicose vein mimicking Kaposi's sarcoma.

Exuberant reparative reactions resembling sarcoma have been reported in the genitourinary tract, thyroid, breast, lymph node, oral cavity and skin, but not in a varicose vein. Presented herein is the case of a 55-year-old man who showed an incidental nodular lesion in the wall of a varicose vein on the left leg. The nodule consisted of fascicles of spindled cells with ovoid or elongated nuclei and delicate chromatin that showed diffuse reactivity for CD31, alpha-smooth muscle actin and D2-40. This histopathological appearance, when coupled with extravasated erythrocytes and interstitial hemosiderin deposits, resembled Kaposi's sarcoma or spindle cell angiosarcoma. Key features helpful for recognizing that the proliferation we describe is a form of tissue repair include an association with obvious hemorrhage; lack of well-formed curved fascicles of spindled cells; lack of intracytoplasmic hyaline globules; lack of intracellular vacuolization; cytological blandness; low mitotic count; absence of inmmunoreactivity for human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) latent nuclear antigen-1; and absence of HHV-8 in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis.

[Rapid resolution of nitrofurantoin-induced interstitial lung disease]. / Nitrofurantoína y enfermedad pulmonar intersticial de rápida resolución.

We report the case of a 40-year-old woman diagnosed with interstitial lung disease due to long-term nitrofurantoin therapy. Despite severely distorted bronchiolar architecture and honeycombing confirmed by computed tomography of the thorax, transbronchial biopsy showed a pattern of acute/subacute interstitial pneumonitis and the symptoms and radiographic findings disappeared within 1 month after administration of prednisone. This case shows that nitrofurantoin-induced lung disease may run a benign course and respond favorably to corticosteroids, even when there is radiographic evidence of established lung fibrosis. Transbronchial biopsy might be useful for assessing the reversibility of pulmonary lesions associated with nitrofurantoin.

Epstein-Barr virus-associated adenocarcinomas and squamous-cell lung carcinomas.

The association of Epstein-Barr virus with pulmonary neoplasms has been restricted to lymphoepithelioma-like carcinomas in Asian patients. We have selected 19 pulmonary adenocarcinomas and squamous-cell carcinomas from 1545 pulmonary neoplasms diagnosed from 1996 to 2007 in an occidental population. All of them showed a low-power appearance confusing between an epithelial and a lymphoid neoplasm, with a dense lymphocytic infiltrate intermingled with neoplastic cells giving an image akin to lymphoepithelial complexes. Five carcinomas presented typical features of Lymphoepithelioma-like lung carcinomas; but six cases could be classified as squamous-cell carcinomas and eight as adenocarcinomas. A semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction method, Early RNA genes 1 and 2 in situ hybridization as well as Latent membrane protein immunostaining for Epstein-Barr virus DNA, RNA and protein detection methods were used in every case. None of Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinomas showed positivity for Epstein-Barr virus in any used method. Otherwise four squamous-cell carcinomas and eight adenocarcinomas (12 cases) demonstrated viral sequences in polymerase chain reaction and/or in situ hybridization analysis in neoplastic cells. Moreover two adenocarcinomas also displayed human herpesvirus 6 DNA sequences coamplification in molecular analysis. Protein immunostaining was focally positive in only three cases. We performed the same analysis in 70 more cases of conventional pulmonary squamous-cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas that gave negative results. In conclusion, a subset of pulmonary squamous-cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas show Epstein-Barr DNA and/or RNA sequences in neoplastic cells. This finding expands the spectra of epithelial cell common tumours Epstein-Barr virus associated.

A type-specific study of human papillomavirus prevalence in cervicovaginal samples in three different Spanish regions.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most frequent sexually transmitted viral infection. It is necessary to know HPV genotype distribution to identify how many women will be protected by HPV vaccines. During a period of 18 months, we have analyzed 2362 HPV positive reporting data from a secondary demand screening program in three regions in Spain (Cantabria, Leon and Burgos). The study has been conducted using polymerase chain reaction and tube array hybridization covering the 35 HPV genotypes described as affecting anogenital mucosa. There were no significant differences between the three regions according to genotype distribution. The most frequent were HPV16 (19.18%), HPV53 (11.26%) and HPV58 (7.66%). HPV18 was the source of 4.02% of infections. High-risk HPVs were found in 1863/2362 cases. HPV16 was present in 24.3% of high-risk infections and HPV18 was found in 5.1%. Uncommon genotypes (<5% of the total prevalence each) were found in 17,9% of the total high-risk infections (334/1863). Multiple infections were diagnosed in 22% of the cases. The HPV genotype distribution is different from previously published data when multiple types are included in the screening. Both HPV16/18 account for 30% of high-risk infections in a clinical setting in Spain. The presence of multiple genotypes is very common among the population.

[Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage]. / Hemorragias alveolares difusas pulmonares.

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage is a clinical syndrome that can be life threatening if not diagnosed and treated in time. In most cases it occurs largely as a result of small-vessel vasculitis of the lungs. The many different forms can be classified into 3 large groups: a) pauciimmune disease, which generally involves pulmonary capillaritis and is associated with the presence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies; b) syndromes caused by immune deposits, which can be detected by immunofluorescence; and c) a large miscellaneous group that includes drug reactions, infections, and idiopathic disease. Diagnosis is based on a combination of signs, symptoms, serology, and histology. Biopsy with video-assisted thoracoscopy should be recommended in patients with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage without known cause and with no prior diagnosis of systemic disease, in whom serology studies do not reveal conclusive data, and in general in those patients for whom there is a high level of suspicion of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. In all such cases, the fresh biopsy material should be sent to the pathology laboratory for preparation of frozen sections to be used for immunofluorescence.

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma presenting as a bladder neoplasm.

Malignant lymphoma presenting in the bladder has been classified in primary cases, as the first sign of disseminated disease and as a secondary infiltration. Most of the examples in the literature have been reported as single cases. Reported herein is the case of a 45-year-old man with an anaplastic large cell lymphoma (anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and granzyme B positive) that presented as a bladder neoplasm. The morphological differential diagnosis was complex because the EMA-positive immunophenotype, CD45 and CD3 negativity and the clinical manifestation simulated a transitional cell carcinoma. It is important to be aware of its existence because a poorly differentiated bladder carcinoma cannot be ruled out if CD30 and ALK immunostaining are not performed. T-cell receptor-gamma clonal rearrangement could be also helpful in these cases. Although bladder involvement by recurrent lymphoma is a sign of widely disseminated disease and it is associated with a very poor prognosis, it seems that chemotherapeutic regimens in this kind of ALK-positive lymphoma could be effective, given that the present patient had an impressive response to chemotherapy treatment.

Cardiac intracavitary metastasis of a malignant solitary fibrous tumor: case report and review of the literature on sarcomas with left intracavitary extension.

BACKGROUND: Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) of the pleura with malignant progression occurs uncommonly. Cardiac intracavitary extension of tumors is rarely seen, with left side location being exceptional. METHODS AND RESULTS: The authors report the first case of a malignant SFT metastatic to the heart occurring in a 74-year-old woman. The tumor first presented as a slow-growing pleural SFT that in 6 years reached a size of 16 cm. Two months after a complete surgical resection, the tumor was found to spread to the left atrium by intracavitary extension from the left upper pulmonary vein, simulating a cardiac myxoma. The primary tumor showed established features of malignancy including size greater than 10 cm; gross findings of necrosis; high cellularity, cytological atypia, and eight mitoses per 10 high-power fields. Immunohistochemical study revealed positivity of the tumor cells for CD34, bcl-2, and CD99. Aside from the present report, 52 previous cases of sarcoma with intracavitary extension to the left side of the heart have been described. Bone sarcoma is the type most frequently found. Peripheral arterial embolism can be a complication of advanced mesenchymal malignancy in 21% (11/53) of reported cases. CONCLUSION: Accurate histopathologic recognition of this rare type of metastatic disease is important because of the adverse prognosis as compared to cardiac myxoma.

Akt plays a central role in sarcomagenesis induced by Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus-encoded G protein-coupled receptor.

We have recently engineered an in vivo endothelial cell-specific retroviral gene transfer system and found that a single Kaposi's sarcoma (KS)-associated herpesvirus/human herpesvirus 8 gene encoding a G protein-coupled receptor (vGPCR), is sufficient to induce KS-like tumors in mice. By using this system, we show here that the Akt signaling pathway plays a central role in vGPCR oncogenesis. Indeed, a constitutively active Akt was sufficient to induce benign hemangiomas in mice, whereas heterozyogosity for PTEN (the phosphatase and tension homologue deleted on chromosome 10), modestly enhancing basal Akt activity, dramatically enhanced vGPCR sarcomagenesis. Examination of KS biopsies from AIDS patients revealed active Akt as a prominent feature, supportive of a role for Akt in human Kaposi's sarcomagenesis. By using a vGPCR agonist-dependent mutant, we further establish constitutive activity as a requirement for vGPCR sarcomagenesis, validating targeted inhibition of key vGPCR signaling pathways as an approach for preventing its oncogenic potential. These observations prompted us to explore the efficacy of inhibiting Akt activation as a molecular approach to KS treatment. Pharmacological inhibition of the Akt pathway with the chemotherapeutic agent 7-hydroxystaurosporine prevented proliferation of vGPCR-expressing endothelial cells in vitro and inhibited their tumorigenic potential in vivo. Both were associated with a decrease in Akt activity. These results identify Akt as an essential player in vGPCR sarcomagenesis and demonstrate the therapeutic potential of drugs targeting this pathway in the treatment of KS.