Pathologic and imunohistochemical characterization of tumoral inflammatory cell infiltrate in invasive penile squamous cell carcinomas: Fox-P3 expression is an independent predictor of recurrence.

Penile carcinomas (PeCa) are relatively rare, but devastating neoplasms, more frequent among people of underprivileged socioeconomic status. There is mounting evidence that immune cells may trigger various mechanisms that enhance tumor growth and metastasis, but no data on the peritumoral inflammation is available for PeCa. The objectives of the present study are to evaluate the immunohistomorphology of tumoral inflammation in PeCa, and to correlate it with clinicopathological parameters, which could contribute to the prognostic evaluation. One hundred and twenty-two patients with the diagnosis of usual-type squamous cell penile carcinoma were included. Paraffin-embedded tissue was submitted to immunohistochemical evaluation of p16 protein, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, CD68, CD138, granzyme B, and Fox-P3. The Fisher's exact test was employed for comparison between histological variables and parameters, and the Kaplan-Meier method for the analysis of survival. Improved 5-year overall survival was significantly associated to age ≤60 years, stage I + II, tumor size T1 + T2, lymph node status N0, and absent perineural invasion. In a multivariate analysis age ≥60 years, presence of lymph node metastasis, urethral invasion, and high histologic grade retained a significantly more unfavorable outcome. Improved 5-year failure free survival was associated to stage of the disease I + II, lymph node status N0, absence of perineural, vascular, and urethral invasion, and Fox-P3 expression. In a multivariate analysis, presence of lymph node metastasis, perineural and vascular invasion, and of Fox-P3-positive lymphocytes together with low inflammatory infiltrate retained a significantly more unfavorable outcome. These results support the prognostic value of determining the levels of Fox-P3-positive lymphocytes by immunohistochemistry in PeCa, as this parameter adds value to the traditional clinicopathological features.

Penile cancer: epidemiology and treatment.

Penile cancer is an aggressive disease, with major psychological and social impact. The etiological factors are poor genital hygiene, the presence of phimosis, viral infection, ultraviolet radiation, smoking, balanitis xerotic obliterans, and chronic lichen. Identifying prognostic factors is important to select patients at risk for lymph node metastasis and avoid unneeded lymphadenectomy. The presence of lymph node metastasis is currently the strongest prognostic factor but its evaluation is imperfect using clinical and laboratorial methods. The treatment for invasive penile cancer is based on the treatment of primary tumor, usually with amputation and regional lymphadenectomy, treatments that have a high morbidity rate.

Expanding morphological and clinical aspects of hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma (HLRCC): a case report in a patient with unusual morphology and clinical presentation.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for 2-3% of all malignant disease in adults. Hereditary RCC represents 5 to 8% of kidney tumors. Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma (HLRCC) represents an autosomal dominant syndrome that results from a germline mutation in fumarate hydratase gene (FH). HLRCC patients typically present with skin or uterine leiomyomas and renal neoplasms. HLRCC was recently recognized as a distinct renal tumor subtype by the WHO 2016 classification. Many morphological patterns such as papillary, solid, tubular, and cystic had been described as part of morphological aspects of HLRCC. In this study, we describe a case of a patient that had a history of persistence of ductus arteriosus (PDA) and cryptorchidism. In addition, the renal tumor showed a very unusual hystiocytoid morphological aspect. We confirmed the presence of a FH germline mutation both in the patient and his mother.

Epidermal growth factor receptor as an adverse survival predictor in squamous cell carcinoma of the penis.

Penile carcinoma (PC) is more frequent in underdeveloped countries, generally is diagnosed at an advanced stage when therapeutic options are restricted, and thus is associated with high morbidity/mortality rates. Recent studies have demonstrated clinical benefits with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted therapy in patients with PC, although there is no test that provides accurate patient selection. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic value of EGFR gene and protein status in tumor samples from patients with primary penile squamous cell carcinoma. We assessed the expression of wild-type and 2 mutant EGFR isoforms (delA746-E750 and mL858R) by immunohistochemistry in 139 samples, of which 49 were also evaluated for EGFR copy number by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Positive immunohistochemical staining of wild-type and mutant EGFR was evidenced by complete and strong membranous staining. For FISH analysis, cases were considered unaltered, polysomic, or amplified, as determined by signals of the EGFR gene and chromosome 7. An independent cohort of 107 PC samples was evaluated for mutations in EGFR, KRAS, and BRAF. Protein overexpression was noted in nearly half of the cases and was associated with cancer recurrence (P=.004) and perineural invasion (P=.005). Expression of the 2 mutated EGFR isoforms was not observed. The FISH status was not associated with protein expression. Altered FISH (polysomy and gene amplification) was an independent risk factor for dying of cancer. Only 1 patient of 107 presented KRAS mutations, and no mutations of EGFR or BRAF were observed.

Comment on: EGFR mutational status in Brazilian patients with penile carcinoma.

The authors describe the results on EGFR molecular alterations of 29 Brazilian patients with penile carcinoma (PC). DNA extracted from frozen tumor tissue of all patients was submitted to direct sequencing of the four exons (18 - 21) responsible for the EGFR tyrosine-kinase activity. Corroborating the data by Di Lorenzo et al. published in Expert Opin Ther Targets, none of the sequenced tumor samples showed relevant alterations in the four studied exons of the EGFR gene.