Validated biomarker assays confirm that ARID1A loss is confounded with MMR deficiency, CD8+ TIL infiltration, and provides no independent prognostic value in endometriosis-associated ovarian carcinomas.

ARID1A (BAF250a) is a component of the SWI/SNF chromatin modifying complex, plays an important tumour suppressor role, and is considered prognostic in several malignancies. However, in ovarian carcinomas there are contradictory reports on its relationship to outcome, immune response, and correlation with clinicopathological features. We assembled a series of 1623 endometriosis-associated ovarian carcinomas, including 1078 endometrioid (ENOC) and 545 clear cell (CCOC) ovarian carcinomas, through combining resources of the Ovarian Tumor Tissue Analysis (OTTA) Consortium, the Canadian Ovarian Unified Experimental Resource (COEUR), local, and collaborative networks. Validated immunohistochemical surrogate assays for ARID1A mutations were applied to all samples. We investigated associations between ARID1A loss/mutation, clinical features, outcome, CD8+ tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (CD8+ TILs), and DNA mismatch repair deficiency (MMRd). ARID1A loss was observed in 42% of CCOCs and 25% of ENOCs. We found no associations between ARID1A loss and outcomes, stage, age, or CD8+ TIL status in CCOC. Similarly, we found no association with outcome or stage in endometrioid cases. In ENOC, ARID1A loss was more prevalent in younger patients (p = 0.012) and was associated with MMRd (p < 0.001) and the presence of CD8+ TILs (p = 0.008). Consistent with MMRd being causative of ARID1A mutations, in a subset of ENOCs we also observed an association with ARID1A loss-of-function mutation as a result of small indels (p = 0.035, versus single nucleotide variants). In ENOC, the association with ARID1A loss, CD8+ TILs, and age appears confounded by MMRd status. Although this observation does not explicitly rule out a role for ARID1A influence on CD8+ TIL infiltration in ENOC, given current knowledge regarding MMRd, it seems more likely that effects are dominated by the hypermutation phenotype. This large dataset with consistently applied biomarker assessment now provides a benchmark for the prevalence of ARID1A loss-of-function mutations in endometriosis-associated ovarian cancers and brings clarity to the prognostic significance. © 2021 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

FKBPL-based peptide, ALM201, targets angiogenesis and cancer stem cells in ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: ALM201 is a therapeutic peptide derived from FKBPL that has previously undergone preclinical and clinical development for oncology indications and has completed a Phase 1a clinical trial in ovarian cancer patients and other advanced solid tumours. METHODS: In vitro, cancer stem cell (CSC) assays in a range of HGSOC cell lines and patient samples, and in vivo tumour initiation, growth delay and limiting dilution assays, were utilised. Mechanisms were determined by using immunohistochemistry, ELISA, qRT-PCR, RNAseq and western blotting. Endogenous FKBPL protein levels were evaluated using tissue microarrays (TMA). RESULTS: ALM201 reduced CSCs in cell lines and primary samples by inducing differentiation. ALM201 treatment of highly vascularised Kuramochi xenografts resulted in tumour growth delay by disruption of angiogenesis and a ten-fold decrease in the CSC population. In contrast, ALM201 failed to elicit a strong antitumour response in non-vascularised OVCAR3 xenografts, due to high levels of IL-6 and vasculogenic mimicry. High endogenous tumour expression of FKBPL was associated with an increased progression-free interval, supporting the protective role of FKBPL in HGSOC. CONCLUSION: FKBPL-based therapy can (i) dually target angiogenesis and CSCs, (ii) target the CD44/STAT3 pathway in tumours and (iii) is effective in highly vascularised HGSOC tumours with low levels of IL-6.

A combination of the immunohistochemical markers CK7 and SATB2 is highly sensitive and specific for distinguishing primary ovarian mucinous tumors from colorectal and appendiceal metastases.

Primary ovarian mucinous tumors can be difficult to distinguish from metastatic gastrointestinal neoplasms by histology alone. The expected immunoprofile of a suspected metastatic lower gastrointestinal tumor is CK7-/CK20+/CDX2+/PAX8-. This study assesses the addition of a novel marker SATB2, to improve the diagnostic algorithm. A test cohort included 155 ovarian mucinous tumors (105 carcinomas and 50 borderline tumors) and 230 primary lower gastrointestinal neoplasms (123 colorectal adenocarcinomas and 107 appendiceal neoplasms). All cases were assessed for SATB2, PAX8 CK7, CK20, and CDX2 expression on tissue microarrays. Expression was scored in a 3-tier system as absent, focal (1-50% of tumor cells) and diffuse ( >50% of tumor cells) and then categorized into either absent/present or nondiffuse/diffuse. SATB2 and PAX8 expression was further evaluated in ovarian tumors from an international cohort of 2876 patients (expansion cohort, including 159 mucinous carcinomas and 46 borderline mucinous tumors). The highest accuracy of an individual marker in distinguishing lower gastrointestinal from ovarian mucinous tumors was CK7 (91.7%, nondiffuse/diffuse cut-off) followed by SATB2 (88.8%, present/absent cut-off). The most effective combination was CK7 and SATB2 with accuracy of 95.3% using the 3-tier interpretation, absent/focal/diffuse. This combination outperformed the standard clinical set of CK7, CK20 and CDX2 (87.5%). Re-evaluation of outlier cases confirmed ovarian origin for all but one case. The accuracy of SATB2 was confirmed in the expansion cohort (91.5%). SATB2 expression was also detected in 15% of ovarian endometrioid carcinoma but less than 5% of other ovarian histotypes. A simple two marker combination of CK7 and SATB2 can distinguish lower gastrointestinal from ovarian primary mucinous tumors with greater than 95% accuracy. PAX8 and CDX2 have value as second-line markers. The utility of CK20 in this setting is low and this warrants replacement of this marker with SATB2 in clinical practice.

Looking beyond human papillomavirus (HPV) genotype 16 and 18: Defining HPV genotype distribution in cervical cancers in Australia prior to vaccination.

Australia has implemented a high-coverage HPV vaccination program but has not, to date, established the distribution of HPV types that occur in cervical cancers in Australia. This information is important for determining the potential for cervical cancer prevention with both current and broader spectrum HPV vaccines. We analysed 847 cervical cancers diagnosed 2005 to 2015 in tertiary centres in the three most populous Australian states with resolution of specimens containing multiple HPV types using laser-capture microdissection. Archived FFPE tissue was reviewed by specialist pathologists, sandwich sectioned, and initially whole-tissue sections genotyped for HPV. Samples were first genotyped using SPF10-LiPA25 (version 1). Negative samples were screened with DNA ELISA kit HPV SPF10, followed by genotyping with SPF+ LiPA if ELISA positive. If still negative, samples were tested on a qPCR assay targeting the E6 region of HPV16, 18, 45 and 33. Of the 847 cancers (65.1% squamous, 28.7% adenocarcinoma, 4.3% adenosquamous, 2.0% other), 92.9% had HPV detected. Of the HPV-positive cancers, 607 of 787 (77.1%) contained HPV16 or 18, 125 of 787 (15.9%) contained HPV31/33/45/52 or 58, and 55 (7.0%) another HPV type. There was a strong correlation between HPV type and age, with younger women most likely to have HPV16/18 detected and least likely HPV negative. Our findings indicate that cervical cancers diagnosed in Australia more frequently contain HPV16/18 than in international series. This could be due to cervical screening in Australia increasing the proportion of adenocarcinomas, in which types 18 and 16 more strongly predominate, due to prevention of squamous cancers.

Factors influencing the development of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in patients on BRAF inhibitor therapy.

BACKGROUND: BRAF inhibitors (BRAFi) cause paradoxical activation of the MAPK pathway in keratinocytes resulting in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cuSCC). OBJECTIVE: We sought to examine the clinical factors involved in BRAFi-induced cuSCC development. METHODS: We studied 134 patients with BRAF-mutant metastatic melanoma treated with a BRAFi at Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia. Details of cuSCC development and associations with melanoma clinicopathologic features and treatment outcome were examined. RESULTS: In all, 32 (24%) patients developed 110 cuSCC after commencing treatment. In all, 61 (55%) cuSCC developed within the first 3 months. Age was the only independent risk factor for cuSCC development. After 3 months of therapy 4% of patients younger than 40 years developed cuSCC compared with 33% who were older than 60 years, and the hazard ratio of developing a cuSCC increased by 1.7 (95% confidence interval 1.3-2.3) per decade (P < .001). BRAFi cuSCC occurred more often in sun-protected areas (42%) compared with sporadic cuSCC (21%) (P < .001). cuSCC was not associated with progression-free survival. LIMITATIONS: The study was from a single center and patients were also at risk of sporadic cuSCC. CONCLUSION: Most BRAFi-induced cuSCC develop within 3 months of BRAFi therapy. The only independent risk factor is increasing age. cuSCC may present in anatomical locations with low ultraviolet exposure such that thorough dermatologic assessment is required.

Ovarian teratoma associated with anti-N-methyl D-aspartate receptor encephalitis: a report of 5 cases documenting prominent intratumoral lymphoid infiltrates.

Anti-N-methyl D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is a recently described severe neurological disorder predominantly affecting young women, which presents with psychosis, memory deficits, seizures, and encephalopathy, often requiring prolonged hospitalization. The condition is frequently associated with an underlying neoplasm, most often an ovarian teratoma, and in such cases appears to be a para-neoplastic, immune-mediated encephalopathy. The histologic features of the teratomas associated with anti-NMDAR encephalitis have seldom been described in detail. Therefore, in this report, we have compared ovarian teratomas (4 mature and 1 immature) from 5 patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis with 22 sporadic control teratomas (14 mature and 8 immature) that included neuroglial elements. The encephalitis-associated tumors ranged from 0.7 to 9.5 cm diameter, and 1 case was bilateral; the second teratoma was discovered 13 mo after the first when symptoms recurred. In comparison with control teratomas, the anti-NMDAR-associated tumors showed a more marked intratumoral lymphoid infiltrate that colocalized to the mature neuroglial elements. Reactive germinal centers (3 cases) and diffuse lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates within the neuroglial matrix (4 cases), and degenerative neuronal changes (2 cases), were seen only in the anti-NMDAR-positive cases. Pathologists encountering ovarian teratomas with these distinctive reactive lymphoid elements should consider the possibility of anti-NMDAR encephalitis, particularly because the neurological symptoms may develop after tumor resection. Careful histopathologic examination may be required to identify small, radiologically occult teratomas, and to demonstrate the presence of subtle neoplastic neuroglial components in teratomas associated with anti-NMDAR encephalitis.

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease with cutaneous presentation in a patient with subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

We report the case of a 45-year-old female patient previously diagnosed with subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus who presented with a one-week history of fever, tender erythematous nodules on her limbs, and palpable lymphadenopathy. Two incisional biopsies showed histiocytic infiltrates with abundant nuclear debris in the dermis and at the dermosubcutaneous junction with absence of neutrophils, characteristic of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD). The dermatologic and dermopathologic details of KFD are very heterogeneous and yet poorly described. We have reviewed the literature regarding KFD cases reported with cutaneous involvement trying to assess the skin features of the KFD or histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis.

Growing Teratoma Syndrome in the Setting of Sarcoidosis: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Growing teratoma syndrome (GTS) is rare and can mimic disease recurrence in patients with a history of immature teratoma. Benign hypermetabolic lymphadenopathy found on staging and surveillance computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) may lead to the presumption of metastatic malignancy. We report a case of a 38 year old with mixed mature and immature teratomas who developed new peritoneal masses after adjuvant chemotherapy despite a normalization of tumor markers. In addition to low FDG uptake observed in these peritoneal masses, a PET scan showed hypermetabolic lymphadenopathy and pulmonary and spleen lesions suggesting widespread metastases. Subsequent surgical resection confirmed a mixed pathology with GTS and sarcoidosis. We reviewed the current literature evidence of GTS and sarcoidosis as a benign cause of lymphadenopathy in cancer patients. We emphasize the importance of a tissue diagnosis before instituting therapy for presumed cancer recurrence to avoid potentially fatal diagnostic traps and management errors. A multiple disciplinary team approach is imperative in managing patients with suspected recurrent immature teratomas.

Driver mutations in TP53 are ubiquitous in high grade serous carcinoma of the ovary.

Numerous studies have tested the association between TP53 mutations in ovarian cancer and prognosis but these have been consistently confounded by limitations in study design, methodology, and/or heterogeneity in the sample cohort. High-grade serous (HGS) carcinoma is the most clinically important histological subtype of ovarian cancer. As these tumours may arise from the ovary, Fallopian tube or peritoneum, they are collectively referred to as high-grade pelvic serous carcinoma (HGPSC). To identify the true prevalence of TP53 mutations in HGPSC, we sequenced exons 2-11 and intron-exon boundaries in tumour DNA from 145 patients. HGPSC cases were defined as having histological grade 2 or 3 and FIGO stage III or IV. Surprisingly, pathogenic TP53 mutations were identified in 96.7% (n = 119/123) of HGPSC cases. Molecular and pathological review of mutation-negative cases showed evidence of p53 dysfunction associated with copy number gain of MDM2 or MDM4, or indicated the exclusion of samples as being low-grade serous tumours or carcinoma of uncertain primary site. Overall, p53 dysfunction rate approached 100% of confirmed HGPSCs. No association between TP53 mutation and progression-free or overall survival was found. From this first comprehensive mapping of TP53 mutation rate in a homogeneous group of HGPSC patients, we conclude that mutant TP53 is a driver mutation in the pathogenesis of HGPSC cancers. Because TP53 mutation is almost invariably present in HGPSC, it is not of substantial prognostic or predictive significance.

The Pathophysiology and Impact of Inflammation in Nonscarred Renal Interstitium: The Banff i Lesion.

BACKGROUND: Interstitial inflammation (i-INT) is the driver of T-cell-mediated rejection. Its causes, pathophysiology, kinetics, and outcomes are poorly documented. METHODS: The role of i-INT was evaluated in 2055 biopsies from 775 renal transplant recipients. RESULTS: i-INT was present in 374 (18.2% prevalence) from acute and subclinical rejection (67.4%); interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (14.4%); BK virus nephropathy (BKVAN) 9.9%; and acute tubular necrosis (ATN with i-INT) in 5.9% of cases. i-INT was predicted by prior T-cell-mediated rejection and BKVAN, human leukocyte antigen mismatch, cyclosporine therapy, and indication biopsy for dysfunction. It correlated with tubulitis, arteritis, and antibody markers within concurrent histology (P < 0.001). After treatment, renal functional recovery was best with histological ATN, milder i-INT, and early posttransplant biopsy times. The initial histological improvement of inflammation depended on baseline i-INT severity. Complete resolution to Banff i0 was predicted by early biopsy time, antilymphocyte therapy, recipient age, and medication compliance (all P < 0.001). Clearance i-INT was followed by delayed resolution of tubulitis (P < 0.001). i-INT was associated with histological ATN, renal dysfunction, and increased incident fibrosis on sequential pathology. Progressive fibrosis following related-rejection i-INT was dependent on tubulitis using multivariable analysis. In contrast, fibrogenesis after BKVAN or ATN was unrelated to inflammation. i-INT cases were followed by recurrent rejection in 35.3%, increased graft loss, and greater patient mortality. Multiple complementary outcome analyses determined the optimal lower diagnostic threshold for inflammation was Banff i1 score. CONCLUSIONS: i-INT is a heterogeneous pathological phenotype that results in adverse functional and structural outcomes, for which active and robust therapy should be considered.

Mutation of ERBB2 provides a novel alternative mechanism for the ubiquitous activation of RAS-MAPK in ovarian serous low malignant potential tumors.

Approximately, 10% to 15% of serous ovarian tumors fall into the category designated as tumors of low malignant potential (LMP). Like their invasive counterparts, LMP tumors may be associated with extraovarian disease, for example, in the peritoneal cavity and regional lymph nodes. However, unlike typical invasive carcinomas, patients generally have a favorable prognosis. The mutational profile also differs markedly from that seen in most serous carcinomas. Typically, LMP tumors are associated with KRAS and BRAF mutations. Interrogation of expression profiles in serous LMP tumors suggested overall redundancy of RAS-MAPK pathway mutations and a distinct mechanism of oncogenesis compared with high-grade ovarian carcinomas. Our findings indicate that activating mutation of the RAS-MAPK pathway in serous LMP may be present in >70% of cases compared with approximately 12.5% in serous ovarian carcinomas. In addition to mutations of KRAS (18%) and BRAF (48%) mutations, ERBB2 mutations (6%), but not EGFR, are prevalent among serous LMP tumors. Based on the expression profile signature observed throughout our serous LMP cohort, we propose that RAS-MAPK pathway activation is a requirement of serous LMP tumor development and that other activators of this pathway are yet to be defined. Importantly, as few nonsurgical options exist for treatment of recurrent LMP tumors, therapeutic targeting of this pathway may prove beneficial, especially in younger patients where maintaining fertility is important.

Ankyrin repeat domain 1, ANKRD1, a novel determinant of cisplatin sensitivity expressed in ovarian cancer.

PURPOSE: The standard of care for ovarian cancer includes platinum-based chemotherapy. It is not possible, however, to predict clinical platinum sensitivity or to design rational strategies to overcome resistance. We used a novel approach to identify altered gene expression associated with high sensitivity to cisplatin, to define novel targets to sensitize tumor cells to platins and ultimately improve the effectiveness of this widely used class of chemotherapeutics. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Using differential display PCR, we identified genes differentially expressed in a mutagenized cell line with unusual sensitivity to cisplatin. The most highly differentially expressed gene was selected, and its role in determining cisplatin sensitivity was validated by gene transfection and small interfering RNA (siRNA) approaches, by association of expression levels with cisplatin sensitivity in cell lines, and by association of tumor expression levels with survival in a retrospective cohort of 71 patients with serous ovarian adenocarcinoma. RESULTS: The most highly differently expressed gene identified was ANKRD1, ankyrin repeat domain 1 (cardiac muscle). ANKRD1 mRNA levels were correlated with platinum sensitivity in cell lines, and most significantly, decreasing ANKRD1 using siRNA increased cisplatin sensitivity >2-fold. ANKRD1 was expressed in the majority of ovarian adenocarcinomas tested (62/71, 87%), and higher tumor levels of ANKRD1 were found in patients with worse outcome (overall survival, P=0.013). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that ANKRD1, a gene not previously associated with ovarian cancer or with response to chemotherapy, is associated with treatment outcome, and decreasing ANKRD1 expression, or function, is a potential strategy to sensitize tumors to platinum-based drugs.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in histologically ambiguous melanocytic tumors with spitzoid features (so-called atypical spitzoid tumors).

BACKGROUND: The distinction of Spitz nevi from melanomas with spitzoid morphology can be difficult. For lesions with overlapping histopathologic features, it may be impossible to predict their malignant potential with certainty. The current study evaluated the role of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in patients with such atypical spitzoid tumors. METHODS: The clinical and histopathologic features of 21 patients with atypical spitzoid tumors who underwent SLN biopsy were reviewed and correlated with the presence or absence of metastatic tumor in their corresponding SLNs. RESULTS: The atypical histopathologic features that were most frequently present included incomplete maturation (11 patients, 52%), two or more dermal mitoses per square millimeter (13 patients, 62%), and deep dermal mitoses (11 patients, 52%). Six patients (29%) showed SLN metastasis. There were histopathologic differences between tumors with positive SLN when compared with tumors with negative SLN: mean tumor thickness (3.38 mm vs. 2.04 mm), incomplete maturation (83% vs. 40%), median dermal mitotic rate (3.5/mm(2) vs. 2/mm(2)), deep dermal mitoses (83% vs. 47%), and expansile dermal nodules (50% vs. 13%). However, of these, only the difference in mean tumor thickness reached statistical significance (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: SLN biopsy offers a means of assessing the metastatic potential of atypical spitzoid tumors and aids in the management of these patients by selecting patients who may benefit from a regional node field dissection and those in whom the use of adjuvant therapies could be considered.

Long-term protective effect of mature DC-LAMP+ dendritic cell accumulation in sentinel lymph nodes containing micrometastatic melanoma.

PURPOSE: In a previous immunohistochemical study of dendritic cells (DC) in sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) draining regressing melanomas, we found that the accumulation of mature DC-LAMP(+) DCs in SLNs was associated with local expansion of antigen-specific memory effector CTLs and the absence of metastasis in downstream lymph nodes. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic importance of the maximal density of mature DCs in SLNs. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: A total of 458 consecutive patients with micrometastatic melanoma within SLNs were eligible for analysis. The maximal density of mature DC-LAMP(+) DCs was evaluated by three independent observers and categorized into three classes (<100, 100 to <200, and >or=200/mm(2)). RESULTS: There was excellent interobserver reproducibility for maximum density of mature DC-LAMP(+) DC scores (kappa score = 0.82). There were differences in the maximal density scores and staining intensity according to the treating melanoma center (P < 0.001). The higher the mature DC density in the SLN is, the longer is the duration of survival [P = 0.047; hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.50-1.00]. Adjusted by thickness and ulceration, the prognostic importance of DC density was lower (P = 0.36). CONCLUSION: This study is the first to report the prognostic value of DC-LAMP(+) DC counts in SLNs containing metastatic melanoma. Patients with a high density of mature DCs (>or=200/mm(2)) have the lowest risk of death. It also provides evidence that a lack of maturation in the SLNs is important in biological facilitation of melanoma progression.

A Vaginal Angiomyofibroblastoma as a Rare Cause of a Prolapsing Vaginal Mass: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

INTRODUCTION: Angiomyofibroblastoma (AMFB) is a rare, benign, mesenchymal cell tumour which presents as a slow-growing mass. It is most commonly seen in the vulva and is often mistaken for Bartholin's abscess. It is histologically diagnosed by the presence of stromal cells intermingled with small blood vessels. It is morphologically similar to cellular angiofibroma and aggressive angiomyxoma, the latter of which is locally invasive and has a possibility of metastasis and a high risk of local recurrence. There is one reported case of an AMFB undergoing sarcomatous transformation. CASE REPORT: We report a case of a multiparous, 36-year-old woman with an anterior vaginal mass which was inappropriately treated as a vaginal prolapse prior to definitive surgical management. This is only the second reported case of an AMFB presenting as a prolapsing mass.

Transducin-Like Enhancer of Split 3 (TLE3) Expression Is Associated with Taxane Sensitivity in Nonserous Ovarian Carcinoma in a Three-Cohort Study.

Background: Chemoresistance is a major challenge in ovarian cancer treatment, resulting in poor survival rates. Identifying markers of treatment response is imperative for improving outcome while minimizing unnecessary side effects. We have previously demonstrated that expression of transducin-like enhancer of split 3 (TLE3) is associated with favorable progression-free survival in taxane-treated ovarian cancer patients with nonserous histology. The purpose of this study was to perform an independent evaluation of the association of TLE3 expression with response to taxane-based chemotherapy in nonserous ovarian cancer, to validate its role as a potential therapeutic response marker for taxane-based chemotherapy.Methods: We performed immunohistochemical staining of TLE3 on ovarian cancer specimens from the Australian Ovarian Cancer Study, the Westmead Gynaecological Oncology Biobank, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Progression-free survival and overall survival were assessed to validate an association between TLE3 expression and response to taxane therapy that we previously observed in a smaller study.Results: Expression of TLE3 was associated with favorable outcome only in patients who had received paclitaxel as part of their treatment regimen for both 3-year progression-free survival (n = 160; HR, 0.56; P = 0.03) and 5-year overall survival (HR, 0.53; P = 0.04). Further analysis revealed that the predictive association between TLE3 expression and outcome was strongest in tumors with clear cell histology.Conclusions: The association between high TLE3 expression and a favorable response to taxane-containing chemotherapy regimens was validated in patients with nonserous ovarian cancer.Impact: TLE3 expression may serve as a marker of chemosensitivity in taxane-treated patients with nonserous histologies. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 27(6); 680-8. ©2018 AACR.

Homologous Recombination DNA Repair Pathway Disruption and Retinoblastoma Protein Loss Are Associated with Exceptional Survival in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer.

Purpose: Women with epithelial ovarian cancer generally have a poor prognosis; however, a subset of patients has an unexpected dramatic and durable response to treatment. We sought to identify clinical, pathological, and molecular determinants of exceptional survival in women with high-grade serous cancer (HGSC), a disease associated with the majority of ovarian cancer deaths.Experimental Design: We evaluated the histories of 2,283 ovarian cancer patients and, after applying stringent clinical and pathological selection criteria, identified 96 with HGSC that represented significant outliers in terms of treatment response and overall survival. Patient samples were characterized immunohistochemically and by genome sequencing.Results: Different patterns of clinical response were seen: long progression-free survival (Long-PFS), multiple objective responses to chemotherapy (Multiple Responder), and/or greater than 10-year overall survival (Long-Term Survivors). Pathogenic germline and somatic mutations in genes involved in homologous recombination (HR) repair were enriched in all three groups relative to a population-based series. However, 29% of 10-year survivors lacked an identifiable HR pathway alteration, and tumors from these patients had increased Ki-67 staining. CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes were more commonly present in Long-Term Survivors. RB1 loss was associated with long progression-free and overall survival. HR deficiency and RB1 loss were correlated, and co-occurrence was significantly associated with prolonged survival.Conclusions: There was diversity in the clinical trajectory of exceptional survivors associated with multiple molecular determinants of exceptional outcome in HGSC patients. Concurrent HR deficiency and RB1 loss were associated with favorable outcomes, suggesting that co-occurrence of specific mutations might mediate durable responses in such patients. Clin Cancer Res; 24(3); 569-80. ©2017 AACRSee related commentary by Peng and Mills, p. 508.

MyD88 and TLR4 Expression in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88) and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression in relation to clinical features of epithelial ovarian cancer, histologic subtypes, and overall survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted centralized immunohistochemical staining, semi-quantitative scoring, and survival analysis in 5263 patients participating in the Ovarian Tumor Tissue Analysis consortium. Patients were diagnosed between January 1, 1978, and December 31, 2014, including 2865 high-grade serous ovarian carcinomas (HGSOCs), with more than 12,000 person-years of follow-up time. Tissue microarrays were stained for MyD88 and TLR4, and staining intensity was classified using a 2-tiered system for each marker (weak vs strong). RESULTS: Expression of MyD88 and TLR4 was similar in all histotypes except clear cell ovarian cancer, which showed reduced expression compared with other histotypes (P<.001 for both). In HGSOC, strong MyD88 expression was modestly associated with shortened overall survival (hazard ratio [HR], 1.13; 95% CI, 1.01-1.26; P=.04) but was also associated with advanced stage (P<.001). The expression of TLR4 was not associated with survival. In low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC), strong expression of both MyD88 and TLR4 was associated with favorable survival (HR [95% CI], 0.49 [0.29-0.84] and 0.44 [0.21-0.89], respectively; P=.009 and P=.02, respectively). CONCLUSION: Results are consistent with an association between strong MyD88 staining and advanced stage and poorer survival in HGSOC and demonstrate correlation between strong MyD88 and TLR4 staining and improved survival in LGSOC, highlighting the biological differences between the 2 serous histotypes.

Association of p16 expression with prognosis varies across ovarian carcinoma histotypes: an Ovarian Tumor Tissue Analysis consortium study.

We aimed to validate the prognostic association of p16 expression in ovarian high-grade serous carcinomas (HGSC) and to explore it in other ovarian carcinoma histotypes. p16 protein expression was assessed by clinical-grade immunohistochemistry in 6525 ovarian carcinomas including 4334 HGSC using tissue microarrays from 24 studies participating in the Ovarian Tumor Tissue Analysis consortium. p16 expression patterns were interpreted as abnormal (either overexpression referred to as block expression or absence) or normal (heterogeneous). CDKN2A (which encodes p16) mRNA expression was also analyzed in a subset (n = 2280) mostly representing HGSC (n = 2010). Association of p16 expression with overall survival (OS) was determined within histotypes as was CDKN2A expression for HGSC only. p16 block expression was most frequent in HGSC (56%) but neither protein nor mRNA expression was associated with OS. However, relative to heterogeneous expression, block expression was associated with shorter OS in endometriosis-associated carcinomas, clear cell [hazard ratio (HR): 2.02, 95% confidence (CI) 1.47-2.77, p < 0.001] and endometrioid (HR: 1.88, 95% CI 1.30-2.75, p = 0.004), while absence was associated with shorter OS in low-grade serous carcinomas (HR: 2.95, 95% CI 1.61-5.38, p = 0.001). Absence was most frequent in mucinous carcinoma (50%), and was not associated with OS in this histotype. The prognostic value of p16 expression is histotype-specific and pattern dependent. We provide definitive evidence against an association of p16 expression with survival in ovarian HGSC as previously suggested. Block expression of p16 in clear cell and endometrioid carcinoma should be further validated as a prognostic marker, and absence in low-grade serous carcinoma justifies CDK4 inhibition.