Prognostic model for patient survival in primary anorectal mucosal melanoma: stage at presentation determines relevance of histopathologic features.

Pathological staging of primary anorectal mucosal melanoma is often performed according to the American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC) guidelines for cutaneous melanoma, as an anorectal melanoma-specific staging system does not exist. However, it remains unknown whether prognostic factors derived for cutaneous melanoma also stratify risk in anorectal melanoma. We retrospectively determined correlations between clinicopathological parameters and disease-specific survival in 160 patients. Patients were grouped by clinical stage at presentation (localized disease, regional or distant metastases). Cox proportional hazards regression models determined associations with disease-specific survival. We also summarized the somatic mutations identified in a subset of tumors analyzed for hotspot mutations in cancer-associated gene panels. Most of the patients were white (82%) and female (61%). The median age was 62 years. With a median follow-up of 1.63 years, median disease-specific survival was 1.75 years, and 121 patients (76%) died of anorectal melanoma. Patients presenting with regional (34%) or distant metastases (24%) had significantly shorter disease-specific survival compared to those with disease localized to the anorectum (42%). Of the 71 anorectal melanoma tumors analyzed for hotspot genetic alterations, somatic mutations involving the KIT gene (24%) were most common followed by NRAS (19%). Increasing primary tumor thickness, lymphovascular invasion, and absence of regression also correlated with shorter disease-specific survival. Primary tumor parameters correlated with shorter disease-specific survival in patients presenting with localized disease (tumor thickness) or regional metastases (tumor thickness, absence of regression, and lymphovascular invasion), but not in patients presenting with distant metastases. Grouping of patients according to a schema based on modifications of the 8th edition AJCC cutaneous melanoma staging system stratified survival in anorectal melanoma. Our findings support stage-specific associations between primary tumor parameters and disease-specific survival in anorectal melanoma. Moreover, the AJCC cutaneous melanoma staging system and minor modifications of it predicted survival among anorectal melanoma patients.

Gastric cancer in the remnant stomach after pancreaticoduodenectomy: A case series.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) occasionally develops in the remnant stomach following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). In those who have undergone PD for adenocarcinoma, however, the interval and frequency of anastomotic GC are unknown. METHODS: We searched our institutional database for patients who had undergone PD for adenocarcinoma and subsequently developed GC between 1994 and 2018 and found six patients. We summarized the clinicopathologic features and prognosis of these patients with anastomotic GC. RESULTS: The median interval from PD to development of GC was 111.5 months. Four patients underwent curative resection of gastrojejunal anastomosis. Pathologic analysis showed signet ring cell carcinoma in four patients. The median overall survival after developing GC was 61 months. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that GC in the remnant stomach after PD is rare but can occur at gastrojejunostomy anastomosis after a prolonged period. Periodic and long-term follow-up +/- surveillance endoscopy to facilitate early detection of GC in the remnant stomach is recommended, particularly for symptomatic patients. Recognition of the anastomotic tumor as a second primary and not a pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma recurrence/metastasis is crucial in the optimal treatment of these patients, as curative resection of early-stage GC may prolong survival.

Index report of cutaneous angiosarcomas with strong positivity for tyrosinase mimicking melanoma with further evaluation of melanocytic markers in a large angiosarcoma series.

Cutaneous angiosarcoma can be challenging to diagnose particularly when poorly vasoformative and studied on biopsies. We report a case of a cutaneous angiosarcoma with strong positivity for tyrosinase, the first to our knowledge, initially misdiagnosed as melanoma. We subsequently evaluated the reactivity of panmelanocytic cocktail (tyrosinase, HMB-45 and Melan-A), SOX10, tyrosinase and MITF in a large tissue microarray (TMA) of angiosarcoma. The TMA included 142 cases of angiosarcomas (29 cutaneous, 22 primary breast, 41 post-radiation breast, 15 visceral, 26 deep soft tissue and bone, 5 chronic lymphedema-associated and 4 angiosarcomas arising in other sarcomas). Immunohistochemical studies were performed with anti-panmelanocytic cocktail, anti-SOX10, anti-MITF and anti-tyrosinase antibodies. TMA staining results were scored on intensity and percentage of tumoral labeling. Aside from the index case, no cases (0 of 133) showed positivity for tyrosinase including 28 cutaneous angiosarcomas. One breast angiosarcoma (1 of 131) was positive for MITF. All cases were negative for SOX10 and panmelanocytic cocktail (0 of 132). Angiosarcomas can rarely be positive for tyrosinase and MITF. Pathologists should be cognizant of these rare exceptions to prevent confusion with melanoma. Additional immunohistochemical markers for vascular and melanocytic differentiation, thorough histological examination for vasoformative and in situ areas as well as clinical impression are helpful in these exceptionally problematic cases.

EBV-associated lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the pancreas: Case report with targeted sequencing analysis.

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinomas are distinctive epithelial derived malignant neoplasms that have a syncytial growth pattern and lymphoid stroma. The majority of tumors with this appearance are Epstein Barr virus (EBV)-associated. We report a patient with a clinical presentation concerning for lymphoma who was diagnosed with an EBV-associated pancreatic carcinoma with a lymphoepithelioma-like pattern. Targeted sequencing analysis showed a molecular profile distinct from conventional ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.

Hedgehog signaling in neonatal and adult lung.

Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling is essential during embryonic lung development, but its role in postnatal lung development and adult lung are not known. Using Gli1(nlacZ) reporter mice to identify cells with active Hh signaling, we found that Gli1(nlacZ)-positive mesenchymal cells are densely and diffusely present up to 2 weeks after birth and decline in number thereafter. In adult mice, Gli1(nlacZ)-positive cells are present around large airways and vessels and are sparse in alveolar septa. Hh-stimulated cells are mostly fibroblasts; only 10% of Gli1(nlacZ)-positive cells are smooth muscle cells, and most smooth muscle cells do not have activation of Hh signaling. To assess its functional relevance, we influenced Hh signaling in the developing postnatal lung and adult injured lung. Inhibition of Hh signaling during early postnatal lung development causes airspace enlargement without diminished alveolar septation. After bleomycin injury in the adult lung, there are abundant Gli1(nlacZ)-positive mesenchymal cells in fibrotic lesions and increased numbers of Gli1(nlacZ)-positive cells in preserved alveolar septa. Inhibition of Hh signaling with an antibody against all Hedgehog isoforms does not reduce bleomycin-induced fibrosis, but adenovirus-mediated overexpression of Shh increases collagen production in this model. Our data provide strong evidence that Hh signaling can regulate lung stromal cell function in two critical scenarios: normal development in postnatal lung and lung fibrosis in adult lung.

Loss of Menin Expression by Immunohistochemistry in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Comparison Between Primary and Metastatic Tumors.

OBJECTIVES: Molecular characterization of sporadic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) demonstrates frequent alterations in MEN1. As the role of menin immunohistochemistry as a potential biomarker is being developed, knowledge of whether the pattern of menin expression is the same in primary tumors and distant metastases may help in patient care. Therefore, we compared patterns of menin expression in matched primary tumors and metastases. METHODS: We evaluated loss of menin nuclear expression by immunohistochemistry in 44 matched samples of primary and metastatic PanNETs and concordance in staining pattern between primary and metastatic tumors. RESULTS: Menin nuclear expression was lost in 18 (41%) of 44 primary tumors and 17 (39%) of 44 metastases. Concordant loss of menin expression was observed in 41 cases (93%); discordance was observed in 3 cases (7%; 95% confidence interval, 1.4%-18.7%), including 2 with loss in the primary tumor but not the metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: The concordance of menin staining between primary tumor and metastasis in most cases suggests that menin loss is an early event in PanNET tumorigenesis. The discordant expression observed in a small subset may be a source of menin-directed therapy failure; thus, repeat assessment of metastases may be helpful for treatment selection.

Can Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Induce Microscopic Colitis or a Brand New Entity?

Background: Microscopic colitis (MC) has been described as 1 pattern of injury in immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICPI)-induced colitis. The main objective of this study was to characterize ICPI-induced MC by exploring the differences in risk factors, colitis treatments, endoscopic features, and clinical outcomes between cancer and noncancer patients with MC with and without exposure to ICPIs. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted among patients diagnosed with MC from our institutional pathology database from January 2012 to January 2018. Patients were categorized into MC in cancer patients with or without ICPI exposure and in noncancer patients. Risk factors (use of tobacco and certain medications), colitis treatments (antidiarrheals and immunosuppressants), endoscopic features (with or without mucosal abnormality), and clinical outcomes (diarrhea recurrence, hospitalization, mortality) were collected and compared among the 3 groups. Results: Of the 65 eligible patients with MC, 15 cancer patients had exposure to ICPI, 39 cancer patients had no exposure to ICPI, and 11 had no cancer diagnosis. Among the risk factors, proton pump inhibitor was more frequently used in the ICPI-induced MC cohort (P = 0.040). Furthermore, in this population, mucosal abnormality was the most common endoscopic feature compared with normal findings in the non-ICPI-induced MC groups (P = 0.106). Patients with ICPI-induced MC required more treatments with oral and intravenous steroids and nonsteroidal immunosuppressive agents (all P < 0.001) and had a higher rate of hospitalization (P < 0.001). Conclusion: This study suggests that despite some similarities between MC with and without exposure to ICPIs, ICPI-induced MC has a more aggressive disease course that requires more potent immunosuppressive treatment regimens and greater need for hospitalization. 10.1093/ibd/izy240_video1izy240.video15828223597001.

Endoscopic and Histologic Features of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Related Colitis.

Background: Diarrhea and colitis are the second most common immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICPI)-induced adverse events. However, a comprehensive characterization of the endoscopic and histologic features of ICPI-induced diarrhea and colitis is lacking. Therefore, we aimed to describe endoscopic and histologic features of ICPI-induced gastrointestinal toxicities and to assess their association with patients' clinical characteristics and outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed records of 53 patients with ICPI-related diarrhea/colitis between 2011 and 2017. We collected data on demographics, diarrhea/colitis grade, treatment, and endoscopic and histologic findings. Long-term follow-up included repeat endoscopy findings, diarrhea recurrence, and overall survival. We compared groups by treatment, endoscopic and histologic findings, and constructed Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Results: Most patients had grade 2 or higher diarrhea (87%) and colitis (60%). Thirty-one patients were successfully treated with corticosteroids, and 22 additionally required infliximab. On endoscopy, 21 (40%) patients had ulcerations and 22 (42%) had nonulcerative inflammation. Patients with ulcerations had more steroid-refractory disease (P = 0.044) and high-grade diarrhea (P = 0.033). Histology showed mostly acute (23%) or chronic (60%) inflammation. During mean follow-up duration of 18.9 months, 19 (36%) developed recurrent diarrhea. Most patients had persistent endoscopic (8/13, 62%) and histologic (9/11, 82%) inflammation. Patients with higher-grade adverse events had improved survival. Higher-grade colitis was associated with endoscopic inflammation (P = 0.039), but grade of diarrhea was not associated with endoscopic inflammation or grade of colitis. Conclusion: 10.1093/ibd/izy104_video1izy104.video15808053084001.