Programmed death ligand 1 and CD8+ immune cell infiltrates in resected primary tracheal malignant neoplasms.

OBJECTIVES: Many patients with primary malignant tracheal neoplasms are not surgical candidates nor do they experience residual or recurrent disease after surgery and may benefit from alternative therapies. This study explores the expression of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) in patients with primary tracheal malignancy as a biomarker for candidacy for treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of the medical records of 23 patients with resected primary tracheal malignant tumours from 2010 to 2016. Paraffin-embedded blocks of tumour tissue were evaluated immunohistochemically to determine the expression of PD-L1 and infiltration by CD8+ immune cells. RESULTS: We identified 14 (61%) adenoid cystic carcinomas, 4 (17%) squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), 4 (17%) mucoepidermoid carcinomas and 1 adenosquamous carcinoma. PD-L1 expression was observed in 3 (75%) cases of SCC and 1 (100%) case of adenosquamous carcinoma, but it was absent in cases of adenoid cystic carcinomas and mucoepidermoid carcinomas. PD-L1 expression was significantly higher in tumours with a SCC component than in salivary-type tumours (P = 0.001). The presence of CD8+ immune cells in the tumour or peritumoural stroma was significantly higher in cases of tracheal tumours with a SCC component than in salivary-type tumours. CONCLUSIONS: Salivary-type primary malignant tracheal tumours do not significantly express PD-L1. In contrast, most primary tracheal tumours with a SCC component show membranous expression of PD-L1 and larger numbers of infiltrating CD8+ immune cells. PD-L1 expression may serve as a biomarker in patients with primary tracheal squamous cell malignant neoplasms when the patients are being considered for alternative treatments and inclusion in clinical trials. IRB APPROVAL: Protocol No. 2017P000415 (22 March 2017).

Postoperative radiotherapy for T1/2N0M0 mucoepidermoid carcinoma positive for CRTC1/3-MAML2 fusions.

BACKGROUND: The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines recommend considering postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) for completely resected T1/2N0M0 salivary mucoepidermoid carcinomas when they show tumor spillage, perineural invasion, or intermediate/high-grade histology. CRTC1/3-MAML2 fusions have been associated with a favorable clinical outcome. METHODS: Forty-seven T1/2N0M0 mucoepidermoid carcinoma cases positive for CRTC1/3-MAML2 fusions were completely resected and were not treated with PORT. RESULTS: Pathologically, none of the cases showed tumor spillage or perineural invasion. Cases with intermediate/high-grade histology numbered 9 (19%) to 26 (55%) with the currently used 3 different grading systems. During the follow-up (median 60 months), locoregional tumor recurrence occurred in 4 cases, which were treated with surgery alone. At the last follow-up (median 60 months; 7-160), all patients were alive with no evidence of disease. CONCLUSION: An excellent prognosis may be achieved without PORT in T1/2N0M0 mucoepidermoid carcinoma patients positive for CRTC1/3-MAML2 fusions when the tumors are completely resected without tumor spillage.

Improvement in quality of life of an oncological patient by laser phototherapy.

OBJECTIVE AND BACKGROUND DATA: Common side effects of radiotherapy (RT) to the head and neck include oral mucositis, xerostomia, and severe pain. The aim of this study is to report improvement in the quality of life of an oncological patient by laser phototherapy (LPT). CLINICAL CASE AND LASER PHOTOTHERAPY PROTOCOL: The patient, a 15-year-old girl diagnosed with mucoepidermoid carcinoma, underwent surgical excision of a tumor of the left palatomaxilla. After that, she was subjected to 35 sessions of RT (2 Gy/d). Clinical examination revealed the spread of severe ulcerations to the jugal mucosa, gums, lips, hard palate, and tongue (WHO mucositis score 3). She had difficulty in moving her tongue and she was unable to eat any solid food. Oral hygiene orientation and LPT were performed throughout all RT sessions. A continuous diode laser, 660 nm, 40 mW, 6 J/cm(2), 0.24 J per point in contact mode, with spot size of 0.04 cm(2) was used in the entire oral cavity. A high-power diode laser at 1 W, 10 sec per cm of mucositis, approximately 10 J/cm(2), was used in defocused mode only on ulcerative lesions. After the first laser irradiation session, decreases in pain and xerostomia were reported; however, a more significant improvement was seen after five sessions. At that point although the mucositis score was still 2, the patient reported that she was free of pain, and consequently a palatine plate could be made to rehabilitate the entire surgical area. Seventeen laser irradiation sessions were necessary to eliminate all oral mucositis lesions. CONCLUSION: Normal oral function and consequent improvements in the quality of life of this oncologic patient were observed with LPT.

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the ascending colon: report of a case.

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract is a rare entity. The present case is the first report of mucoepidermoid carcinoma in the large bowel. A 71-year-old man was admitted to our hospital to undergo surgery for a recurrent chordoma of the hip. A barium enema and colonoscopy were carried out to assess whether there was any relationship between the recurrent chordoma and the rectum. An ulcerating tumor was thus identified in the ascending colon. A radical right hemicolectomy was carried out. In the resected specimen a 3-cm ulcerating lesion was observed. The tumor consisted of PAS-positive mucin-producing cells, epidermoid cells, and intermediate cells. No differentiated squamous cell carcinoma cells were identified in any part of the tumor. The malignant cells proliferated mainly in the submucosa but also invaded the muscularis and serosa. The tumor was diagnosed as a mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the ascending colon. Unfortunately, despite chemotherapy, the patient developed liver metastases and died of liver failure 10 months postoperatively.

[Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the salivary glands after high dosage radiotherapy]. / Mukoepidermoid-Karzinom der Speicheldrüsen nach hochdosierter Radioiodtherapie.

BACKGROUND: High-dose radioiodine therapy following total thyroidectomy is standard for patients suffering from differentiated thyroid carcinoma and contributes significantly to their favourable prognosis. Due to active iodine accumulation, high focal radiation doses are received by the salivary glands. PATIENTS/RESULT: Report on two patients, who received multiple high-dose radioiodine treatments because of a differentiated metastatic thyroid carcinoma. A few years later, they developed a mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the salivary glands. Due to the high cumulative radiation dose, radiation-induced secondary malignancies following radiation-induced sialadenitis appears likely, although no causal connection could be proven. CONCLUSION: Consistent protection of the salivary glands during radioiodine therapy as well as the follow-up of the many long-term survivors of differentiated thyroid carcinomas is desirable to further lower the salivary gland-related side effects and to detect secondary malignancies as early as possible.

[Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the submandibular gland after high-dose radioiodine therapy: case report and review of the literature]. / Mukoepidermoid-Karzinom der Glandula Submandibularis nach hochdosierter Radioiodtherapie: Fallpräsentation und Literaturübersicht.

Case report of a 42 year old female, who received 14th-20th year of life six radioiodine therapies with altogether 19.2 GBq131I because of a papillary thyroid carcinoma. 17 years after the last therapy, she developed a histologically proven chronic radiogenic sialadenitis of the left submandibular gland. Further four years later, the right submandibular gland has been extirpated because of a mucoepidermoid carcinoma with infiltration of a regionary lymphatic node. Review of the previous published secondary-malignancies of the salivary glands after high-dose radioiodine therapies.