Comparative analysis of PD-L1 expression and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in metaplastic breast carcinoma and gynecologic carcinosarcoma: A single-institution retrospective study.

Metaplastic breast carcinoma (MBC) and gynecologic carcinosarcoma (GCS) are rare, clinically aggressive cancers that demonstrate epithelial components and mesenchymal or sarcomatoid components. In this study, we assessed PD-L1 expression and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in MBC and GCS. Overall, PD-L1 positivity using the SP142 clone was seen in 50 % of MBC and 51.9 % of GCS cases, with PD-L1 expression in tumor cells significantly higher in MBC cases (p = 0.034), and PD-L1 expression in immune cells similar in MBC and GCS cases. PD-L1 expression was significantly higher in epithelial components than in mesenchymal components in both MBC and GCS cases (p = 0.0005). TILs were low in the majority of MBC and GCS cases (≥ 10 %) and generally correlated with PD-L1 expression; however, many PD-L1 positive cases with low TILs were seen. PD-L1 expression using the 22C3 clone was additionally assessed, with positivity seen in 62.9 % of MBC cases and 30 % of GCS cases. Concordance between SP142 and 22C3 results was seen in 62.5 % of MBC cases and 80 % of GCS cases. Overall, our findings suggest that a subset of MBC and GCS cases may benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Our findings also illustrate unique aspects of PD-L1 expression patterns in these tumors which may harbor additional prognostic and therapeutic significance.

A Case of Hepatic Tuberculosis in a Patient on Adalimumab for Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Hepatic tuberculosis (TB) is an uncommon extrapulmonary manifestation of tuberculosis. Hepatic TB is more common in immunocompromised patients, such as those on immunosuppressive medications or those with a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Primary hepatic TB is rare, and liver involvement is often secondary to spreading from the lymphatics, portal vein, or hepatic artery. We report a case of hepatic TB in a patient on adalimumab for ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Herpes Simplex Virus-2 Hepatitis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a rare cause of hepatitis in pregnancy and the chronically immunosuppressed, with a high propensity to progress to acute liver failure (ALF) and death. Patients typically present with a nonspecific clinical picture that often delays diagnosis and treatment, contributing to the high mortality rate. We present a case of a young female on chronic prednisone and hydroxychloroquine for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who was diagnosed with HSV-2 hepatitis after presenting with right-sided chest and abdominal discomfort. Despite early clinical deterioration, prompt initiation of therapy with intravenous acyclovir and methylprednisolone led to rapid improvement.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis diagnosed promptly by bronchial brushing cytology in an immunocompetent patient.

Respiratory cytology plays an important role in the diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infection. The timely diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) can be very challenging due to the nonspecific cytomorphologic features and limited number of organisms, especially in the immunocompetent patients. Here, we reported a case of TB diagnosed promptly by bronchial brushing cytology in a 51-year-old immunocompetent patient. She presented with a 4 cm fungating lesion involving right lower lobe of the lung and mediastinal lymphadenopathy with an initial concern for malignancy. Bronchial brushing showed scattered acute inflammatory cells in the background of necrosis. A cell block was prepared and acid-fast bacilli (AFB)-positive organisms were identified. Subsequent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) performed on the sputum detected Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This case highlights the importance of recognizing the cytomorphology of TB from a bronchial brushing specimen; and also emphasizes the potential utility of the cell block from respiratory cytology in the diagnosis of TB.

Next-Generation Sequencing of Matched Primary and Metastatic Rectal Adenocarcinomas Demonstrates Minimal Mutation Gain and Concordance to Colonic Adenocarcinomas.

CONTEXT: -Colorectal carcinoma is the third most common cause of cancer death in males and females in the United States. Rectal adenocarcinoma can have distinct therapeutic and surgical management from colonic adenocarcinoma owing to its location and anatomic considerations. OBJECTIVE: -To determine the oncologic driver mutations and better understand the molecular pathogenesis of rectal adenocarcinoma in relation to colon adenocarcinoma. DESIGN: -Next-generation sequencing was performed on 20 cases of primary rectal adenocarcinoma with a paired lymph node or solid organ metastasis by using an amplicon-based assay of more than 2800 Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC)-identified somatic mutations. RESULTS: -Next-generation sequencing data were obtained on both the primary tumor and metastasis from 16 patients. Most rectal adenocarcinoma cases demonstrated identical mutations in the primary tumor and metastasis (13 of 16, 81%). The mutations identified, listed in order of frequency, included TP53, KRAS, APC, FBXW7, GNAS, FGFR3, BRAF, NRAS, PIK3CA, and SMAD4. CONCLUSIONS: -The somatic mutations identified in our rectal adenocarcinoma cohort showed a strong correlation to those previously characterized in colonic adenocarcinoma. In addition, most rectal adenocarcinomas harbored identical somatic mutations in both the primary tumor and metastasis. These findings demonstrate evidence that rectal adenocarcinoma follows a similar molecular pathogenesis as colonic adenocarcinoma and that sampling either the primary or metastatic lesion is valid for initial evaluation of somatic mutations and selection of possible targeted therapy.

Renal cell carcinoma: Evolving and emerging subtypes.

Our knowledge of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is rapidly expanding. For those who diagnose and treat RCC, it is important to understand the new developments. In recent years, many new renal tumors have been described and defined, and our understanding of the biology and clinical correlates of these tumors is changing. Evolving concepts in Xp11 translocation carcinoma, mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma, multilocular cystic clear cell RCC, and carcinoma associated with neuroblastoma are addressed within this review. Tubulocystic carcinoma, thyroid-like follicular carcinoma of kidney, acquired cystic disease-associated RCC, and clear cell papillary RCC are also described. Finally, candidate entities, including RCC with t(6;11) translocation, hybrid oncocytoma/chromophobe RCC, hereditary leiomyomatosis and RCC syndrome, and renal angiomyoadenomatous tumor are reviewed. Knowledge of these new entities is important for diagnosis, treatment and subsequent prognosis. This review provides a targeted summary of new developments in RCC.