Serum glutamate levels correlate with Gleason score and glutamate blockade decreases proliferation, migration, and invasion and induces apoptosis in prostate cancer cells.

PURPOSE: During glutaminolysis, glutamine is catabolized to glutamate and incorporated into citric acid cycle and lipogenesis. Serum glutamate levels were measured in patients with primary prostate cancer or metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPCa) to establish clinical relevance. The effect of glutamate deprivation or blockade by metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (GRM1) antagonists was investigated on prostate cancer cells' growth, migration, and invasion to establish biologic relevance. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Serum glutamate levels were measured in normal men (n = 60) and patients with primary prostate cancer (n = 197) or mCRPCa (n = 109). GRM1 expression in prostatic tissues was examined using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Cell growth, migration, and invasion were determined using cell cytotoxicity and modified Boyden chamber assays, respectively. Apoptosis was detected using immunoblotting against cleaved caspases, PARP, and γ-H2AX. RESULTS: Univariate and multivariate analyses showed significantly higher serum glutamate levels in Gleason score ≥ 8 than in the Gleason score ≤ 7 and in African Americans than in the Caucasian Americans. African Americans with mCRPCa had significantly higher serum glutamate levels than those with primary prostate cancer or benign prostate. However, in Caucasian Americans, serum glutamate levels were similar in normal research subjects and patients with mCRPC. IHC showed weak or no expression of GRM1 in luminal acinar epithelial cells of normal or hyperplastic glands but high expression in primary or metastatic prostate cancer tissues. Glutamate deprivation or blockade decreased prostate cancer cells' proliferation, migration, and invasion and led to apoptotic cell death. CONCLUSIONS: Glutamate expression is mechanistically associated with and may provide a biomarker of prostate cancer aggressiveness.

Sinonasal hemangiopericytomas: clinicopathologic and imaging findings.

Hemangiopericytomas are rare soft-tissue neoplastic lesions that can arise in any part of the body. They are mesenchymal tumors that account for 3 to 5% of all soft-tissue sarcomas and 1% of all vascular tumors. They originate in extravascular cells (pericytes). Some 15 to 30% of all hemangiopericytomas occur in the head and neck; of these, approximately 5% occur in the sinonasal area. We describe our brief retrospective review of 7 histologically proven cases of sinonasal hemangiopericytoma, and we discuss the imaging characteristics and clinical and pathologic findings in these patients.

Punch biopsies of melanoma: a diagnostic peril.

Excisional or incisional biopsies of melanoma are used to determine depth of tumor invasion and to plan subsequent treatment. Accurate determination of depth of melanoma invasion is critical for treatment decisions and prognosis. Incisional or punch biopsies can be perilous for histopathologic determination of invasion, and both over- and underestimation of invasion can occur when using incisional methods. Likewise, histologic factors can lead to over- and underestimation of invasion. Prognosis and treatment of melanoma are primarily determined by depth of tumor invasion. We discuss several scenarios that can lead to over- and underestimation of depth of invasion in incisional biopsy specimens. We therefore discourage incisional or punch biopsies of suspected melanoma and recommend that depth of invasion not be reported on these types of specimens.

Renal cell carcinoma with peri-renal fat necrosis radiographically mimicking extra-capsular tumor extension.

Peri-renal fat necrosis is rarely encountered, especially in the absence of previous surgery, trauma, or pancreatic disease. We report a patient being followed for chronic renal insufficiency by renal ultrasound in whom a renal mass was detected. Imaging studies were suggestive of renal cell carcinoma with extra-capsular extension. Histologic study confirmed renal cell carcinoma but the radiographic impression of tumor extension into surrounding adipose tissue was explained by peri-renal fat necrosis and fibrosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second reported case of peri-renal fat necrosis associated with renal cell carcinoma. We propose a possible mechanism for the association.

Cost-effective method for identification of dimorphic fungi.

Traditional methods to identify dimorphic fungi dictate that the mold be converted to the yeast phase at 35 to 37 degrees C. We present a time- and cost-saving method of confirming the identification of a dimorph by using special stains to demonstrate the yeast phase directly growing in the original clinical specimens.

Collision tumor of apocrine carcinoma and squamous carcinoma occurring in the ear.

An unusual case of a cutaneous collision tumor comprised of a squamous cell carcinoma and an apocrine carcinoma occurring in the auricle of an 82-year-old man is presented. Microscopic study confirmed 2 distinct tumors: a squamous cell carcinoma arising in the epidermis and an adjacent apocrine carcinoma. We discuss the diagnostic criteria and review pertinent recent literature. To our knowledge, this is the first English language report of such a collision tumor.

Synchronous adrenal cortical carcinoma in a patient with lung cancer.

Workup of a patient with lung cancer involves adrenal imaging for evaluation of metastatic disease. When nodules are detected, biopsy is often attempted to differentiate a primary neoplasm from metastatic carcinoma or other lesions, such as granuloma. CT-guided biopsy of the deep seated adrenal glands is technically difficult and material is often scanty. We present a case and review histologic features enabling the diagnosis of adrenal cortical carcinoma.

Prostatic epithelial polyp diagnosed in a bladder wash.

Prostatic epithelial polyps, also known as adenomatous polyps or papillary adenomas with prostatic type epithelium, are uncommon lesions. These lesions typically involve the adult male urethra, trigone, or bladder dome. Diagnosis is usually made by biopsy. Presence of clusters of benign columnar cells in urine cytologic material can suggest the presence of such polyps and must be included in the differential diagnosis.