Methylation markers differentiate thyroid cancer from benign nodules.

PURPOSE: The incidence of thyroid cancer (TC) is increasing. Cytology by itself cannot distinguish TC from some benign nodules especially in certain subtypes of TC. Our immediate goal is to identify DNA methylation markers for early detection of TC and to molecularly differentiate TC subtypes from benign nodules. METHODS: Promoter methylation status of 21 candidate genes was examined on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue (FFPE) utilizing quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (QMSP) in a retrospective cohort of 329 patients (56% white, 29% African American, 61% female) comprising 71 normal thyroid, 83 benign nodules [follicular adenomas (FA)], 90 follicular TC (FTC) and 85 papillary TC (PTC). All genes were analyzed individually (Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon rank sum tests) and in combination (logistic regression models) to identify genes whose methylation levels might best separate groups. RESULTS: Combination gene panels TPO and UCHL1 (ROC = 0.607, sensitivity 78%) discriminated FTC from FA, and RASSF1 and TPO (ROC = 0.881, sensitivity 78%) discriminated FTC from normal. Methylation of TSHR distinguished PTC from FTC (ROC = 0.701, sensitivity 84%) and PTC from FA (ROC = 0.685, sensitivity 70%). The six gene panel of TIMP3, RARB2, SERPINB5, RASSF1, TPO and TSHR, which differentiates PTC from normal thyroid, had the best combination sensitivity (91%) and specificity (81%) of the panels addressing discrimination of cancer tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Aberrant gene methylation used in combination panels may be useful clinically in differentiating FTC and PTC from benign nodules. If confirmed in additional studies, these findings could help reduce the over diagnosis of thyroid cancer and surgeries related to over diagnosis.

The predictive value of increased sentinel lymph node volume in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) with metastases (mets) are often palpably enlarged. We hypothesized that the volume of the SLN and the size of mets are directly related. SLNs harboring mets are often firm, with increased intra-nodal pressure (INP), and we hypothesized that SLN volume, as well as INP, would correlate directly with SLN metastasis size. METHODS: The SLN volume, INP and met size were measured in 296 SLNs and compared using linear regression analysis. The SLNs were subsequently grouped based upon pN stage. SLN INP and volume were compared between these resultant groups. RESULTS: Increased SLN volume significantly predicted increased SLN met size on univariate and multivariate analysis (p = 0.001 and p = 0.011, respectively). SLN met size predicted increased SLN INP on both univariate and multivariate analysis (both p = 0.001). SLN volume only significantly correlated with increased SLN INP on univariate analysis (p = 0.001). On subgroup analysis of nodal disease, pN1/2/3 nodes (SLN met sizes >2 mm) were significantly larger (p = 0.039 and p = 0.003, respectively) than pN0 and pN1(mi) nodes, and had significantly increased INP (all p = 0.001) as compared to pN0, pN0(i+), and pN1(mi) nodes. CONCLUSIONS: SLN volume and INP increased with increasing SLN met size. The threshold met size for this increase was >2 mm (pN1 disease).

Racial differences in the relationship between clinical prostatitis, presence of inflammation in benign prostate and subsequent risk of prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic studies, primarily done in white men, suggest that a history of clinically-diagnosed prostatitis increases prostate cancer risk, but that histological prostate inflammation decreases risk. The relationship between a clinical history of prostatitis and histologic inflammation in terms of how these two manifestations of prostatic inflammation jointly contribute to prostate cancer risk and whether racial differences exist in this relationship is uncertain. METHODS: Using a nested design within a cohort of men with benign prostate tissue specimens, we analyzed the data on both clinically-diagnosed prostatitis (NIH categories I-III) and histological inflammation in 574 prostate cancer case-control pairs (345 white, 229 African American). RESULTS: Clinical prostatitis was not associated with increased prostate cancer risk in the full sample, but showed a suggestive inverse association with prostate cancer in African Americans (odds ratio (OR)=0.47; 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.27-0.81). In whites, clinical prostatitis increased risk by 40%, but was only associated with a significant increased prostate cancer risk in the absence of evidence of histological inflammation (OR=3.56; 95% CI=1.15-10.99). Moreover, PSA velocity (P=0.008) and frequency of PSA testing (P=0.003) were significant modifiers of risk. Clinical prostatitis increased risk of prostate cancer almost three-fold (OR=2.97; 95% CI=1.40-6.30) in white men with low PSA velocity and about twofold in white men with more frequent PSA testing (OR=1.91; 95% CI=1.09-3.35). CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort of men with benign prostate specimens, race, and histological inflammation were important cofactors in the relationship between clinical prostatitis and prostate cancer. Clinical prostatitis was associated with a slightly decreased risk for prostate cancer in African American men. In white men, the relationship between clinical prostatitis and prostate cancer risk was modified by histological prostatic inflammation, PSA velocity, and frequency of PSA testing-suggesting a complex interplay between these indications of prostatic inflammation and prostate cancer detection.

Erratum: Epigenetic silencing of miR-34a in human prostate cancer cells and tumor tissue specimens can be reversed by BR-DIM treatment.

Androgen Receptor (AR) signaling is critically important during the development and progression of prostate cancer (PCa). The AR signaling is also important in the development of castrate resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) where AR is functional even after androgen deprivation therapy (ADT); however, little is known regarding the transcriptional and functional regulation of AR in PCa. Moreover, treatment options for primary PCa for preventing the occurrence of CRPC is limited; therefore, novel strategy for direct inactivation of AR is urgently needed. In this study, we found loss of miR-34a, which targets AR, in PCa tissue specimens, especially in patients with higher Gleason grade tumors, consistent with increased expression of AR. Forced over-expression of miR-34a in PCa cell lines led to decreased expression of AR and prostate specific antigen (PSA) as well as the expression of Notch-1, another important target of miR-34a. Most importantly, BR-DIM intervention in PCa patients prior to radical prostatectomy showed reexpression of miR-34a, which was consistent with decreased expression of AR, PSA and Notch-1 in PCa tissue specimens. Moreover, BR-DIM intervention led to nuclear exclusion both in PCa cell lines and in tumor tissues. PCa cells treated with BR-DIM and 5-aza-dC resulted in the demethylation of miR-34a promoter concomitant with inhibition of AR and PSA expression in LNCaP and C4-2B cells. These results suggest, for the first time, epigenetic silencing of miR-34a in PCa, which could be reversed by BR-DIM treatment and, thus BR-DIM could be useful for the inactivation of AR in the treatment of PCa.[This corrects the article on p. 14 in vol. 4.].

An integrated genomic analysis of lung cancer reveals loss of DUSP4 in EGFR-mutant tumors.

To address the biological heterogeneity of lung cancer, we studied 199 lung adenocarcinomas by integrating genome-wide data on copy number alterations and gene expression with full annotation for major known somatic mutations in this cancer. This showed non-random patterns of copy number alterations significantly linked to EGFR and KRAS mutation status and to distinct clinical outcomes, and led to the discovery of a striking association of EGFR mutations with underexpression of DUSP4, a gene within a broad region of frequent single-copy loss on 8p. DUSP4 is involved in negative feedback control of EGFR signaling, and we provide functional validation for its role as a growth suppressor in EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma. DUSP4 loss also associates with p16/CDKN2A deletion and defines a distinct clinical subset of lung cancer patients. Another novel observation is that of a reciprocal relationship between EGFR and LKB1 mutations. These results highlight the power of integrated genomics to identify candidate driver genes within recurrent broad regions of copy number alteration and to delineate distinct oncogenetic pathways in genetically complex common epithelial cancers.

Benign metastasizing chondroblastoma: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Metastasis of histologically benign chondroblastoma is a rare event. The authors report a new case, 12th in the literature, wherein multiple lung metastases appeared almost simultaneously with the primary lesion in the right talus bone. METHODS: A histologic evaluation of the primary lesion in the talus and the pulmonary metastasis was performed, and an ultrastructural study of the latter was done. Published literature on metastasizing chondroblastoma was reviewed to identify any consistency in the pattern and the outcome. RESULTS: Metastasis of chondroblastoma is uncommon but well known. Although radiologic and histologic aggressive features have been sought, they do not necessarily correlate with the outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Metastasis in chondroblastoma has been insufficiently stressed in the literature, unlike metastasis in giant cell tumors. The purpose of this case report is not only to document this uncommon event (the 12th case of lung metastasis) but also to emphasize that patients with chondroblastoma may have metastasis at presentation. Hence, all patients need to be evaluated regularly from the onset for possible lung metastasis so that deposits can be detected early for total resection.

Systemic AL amyloidosis due to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: an unusual clinicopathologic association.

Systemic AL amyloidosis (AL) is a disorder in which light chains form fibrillar deposits, leading to organ dysfunction and death. Rarely, AL has been associated with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), although this association has not been well characterized. We report a series of six patients with AL associated with NHL, primarily lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. Organ involvement was variable, with frequent bulky lymphadenopathy and visceral cavity deposits, but no cardiac involvement. Positron emission tomography scans were negative. Bone marrow and lymph node biopsies showed a mixed population of CD20+ lymphoid and CD138+ plasma cells. Serum free light chains were elevated, and correlated with response to therapy. Immunoglobulin light chain variable region (Ig VL) germline gene use was typical for AL, reflecting previously observed correlations between germline gene use and organ tropism. Five patients received rituximab-based therapies with two responses. Two patients underwent autologous stem cell transplantation with one complete haematological response. Four patients survive at 10-132 months from diagnosis. AL with NHL has distinctive clinical features but employs the same Ig VL gene repertoire as AL with clonal plasma cell dyscrasias. Serial serum free light chain levels are useful for tracking response to therapy. Treatments aimed at both lymphoid and plasma cell components appear warranted.