CpG Island Methylation in Sessile Serrated Adenomas Increases With Age, Indicating Lower Risk of Malignancy in Young Patients.

Among sessile serrated adenomas (SSAs) with identical histologic features, some never progress, whereas others become dysplastic and develop into invasive cancers. Development of the CpG island methylator phenotype is a feature of SSA progression; we examined the CIMP status of 448 SSAs and examined the association with patient clinical data. Overall, 190 SSAs were CpG island methylator phenotype-positive. CpG island methylator phenotype positivity was associated with older patient age (P < .001) and proximal polyp site (P < .001), but not with patient sex (P = .94) or polyp size (P = .34). These results might be used to improve SSA surveillance guidelines.

BRAF V600E immunohistochemistry demonstrates that some sessile serrated lesions with adenomatous dysplasia may represent collision lesions.

AIMS: Sessile serrated lesions (SSL) with dysplasia are uncommon polyps with a high risk of rapid malignant transformation. Most of these lesions have a BRAF mutation and 75% show loss of MLH1 expression in their dysplastic component. Different morphological patterns of dysplasia occurring in these polyps have recently been described. We hypothesised that a subset of SSLs with dysplasia mimicking the dysplasia seen in conventional adenoma (adenomatous dysplasia) may represent a collision lesion between an ordinary SSL and a conventional adenoma. METHODS AND RESULTS: We selected 80 SSLs with dysplasia, including 19 with adenomatous dysplasia, 18 with serrated dysplasia and 43 with dysplasia not otherwise specified (NOS). BRAF mutation analysis was performed using molecular testing (allelic discrimination) and the mutation-specific BRAF-V600E immunohistochemistry (clone VE1). The overall BRAF-V600E mutation rate was 84% in all lesions, 68% in SSLs with adenomatous dysplasia, 89% in SSLs with serrated dysplasia and 88% in SSLs with dysplasia NOS. From the 63 SSLs with dysplasia that were positive for the BRAF-V600E mutation, a negative BRAF-V600E immunostaining was observed in the dysplastic component of 83% of SSLs with adenomatous dysplasia, 0% of SSLs with serrated dysplasia and 3% of SSLs with dysplasia NOS (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that SSLs with adenomatous dysplasia may not represent advanced SSLs, but instead may be a collision between a non-dysplastic SSL and a conventional adenoma.

Sessile Serrated Adenomas in Young Patients may have Limited Risk of Malignant Progression.

GOALS: To provide preliminary evidence that sessile serrated adenomas (SSA) are low-risk polyps in young patients. BACKGROUND: SSAs are the dominant polyp of the serrated neoplasia pathway and as such are the precursor of up to 20% of colorectal carcinomas (CRC). Up to 90% of these cancers are expected to harbor a BRAF mutation. SSAs are being diagnosed with increasing frequency in young patients, placing a significant burden on colonoscopic services. Evidence to direct the surveillance intervals for these young patients is not available. STUDY: We utilized 2 patient cohorts comprising (1) a consecutive series of patients who underwent outpatient colonoscopy through a tertiary hospital and (2) a consecutive series of resection specimens for CRC processed through a gastrointestinal pathology service. The prevalence of SSAs by age was determined in the patients undergoing colonoscopy and compared with the ages of patients with BRAF mutated CRC in the pathology series. RESULTS: The prevalence of SSAs was similar irrespective of age. By comparison, BRAF mutated CRCs were very rare (3.8% of cases) in patients younger than 50 years of age and uncommon (9.3% of cases) in patients younger than 60 years of age, but increased to 39.8% in patients older than 80 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that SSAs develop at a young age, but have a prolonged dwell time and are unlikely to develop into cancer in patients younger than 60 years of age. These findings highlight the need for further targeted research to determine the most appropriate surveillance intervals for young patients with sporadic SSAs.

The role of APC in WNT pathway activation in serrated neoplasia.

Conventional adenomas are initiated by APC gene mutation that activates the WNT signal. Serrated neoplasia is commonly initiated by BRAF or KRAS mutation. WNT pathway activation may also occur, however, to what extent this is owing to APC mutation is unknown. We examined aberrant nuclear ß-catenin immunolocalization as a surrogate for WNT pathway activation and analyzed the entire APC gene coding sequence in serrated and conventional pathway polyps and cancers. WNT pathway activation was a common event in conventional pathway lesions with aberrant nuclear immunolocalization of ß-catenin and truncating APC mutations in 90% and 89% of conventional adenomas and 82% and 70% of BRAF wild-type cancers, respectively. WNT pathway activation was seen to a lesser extent in serrated pathway lesions. It occurred at the transition to dysplasia in serrated polyps with a significant increase in nuclear ß-catenin labeling from sessile serrated adenomas (10%) to sessile serrated adenomas with dysplasia (55%) and traditional serrated adenomas (9%) to traditional serrated adenomas with dysplasia (39%) (P=0.0001). However, unlike the conventional pathway, truncating APC mutations were rare in the serrated pathway lesions especially sessile serrated adenomas even when dysplastic (15%) and in the BRAF mutant cancers with microsatellite instability that arise from them (8%). In contrast, APC missense mutations that were rare in conventional pathway adenomas and cancers (3% in BRAF wild-type cancers) were more frequent in BRAF mutant cancers with microsatellite instability (32%). We conclude that increased WNT signaling is important in the transition to malignancy in the serrated pathway but that APC mutation is less common and the spectrum of mutations is different than in conventional colorectal carcinogenesis. Moderate impact APC mutations and non-APC-related causes of increased WNT signaling may have a more important role in serrated neoplasia than the truncating APC mutations common in conventional adenomas.

A morphological and molecular study of proposed early forms of traditional serrated adenoma.

AIMS: Traditional serrated adenoma (TSA) is the least common subtype of serrated colorectal polyp. Large protuberant lesions are easily recognised; however, the origins of TSAs are not known, and early forms have not been described. Some large TSAs present with a flat 'shoulder' component surrounding the central protuberant component. We hypothesised that small polyps with the same histology as these shoulder regions may represent early TSAs. Thus the primary aim of the study is to describe the histology of these presumptive early TSAs. METHODS AND RESULTS: We collected 70 small (<10 mm) polyps that may represent early TSAs on the basis of typical TSA cytology covering the luminal surface. We also identified 12 large TSAs with a shoulder component resembling these small polyps. The study polyp patients had a mean age of 58 years, and 54% were female; the polyps had a mean diameter of 4.1 mm and were predominantly distal (71%). Morphologically, slit-like serrations were present in 81%, ectopic crypt formations were present in 67%, and a villous component was present in 47%. These histological features were similar to those of the 12 shoulder lesions. Immunohistochemical stains showed an absence of ß-catenin nuclear expression in 96% of the small polyps, retained expression of MLH1 in 100%, and Ki67 positivity restricted to the crypt bases and ectopic crypt formations. BRAF and KRAS mutations were identified in 47% and 31% of the polyps, respectively. BRAF-mutated polyps were more likely than KRAS-mutated polyps to arise in a precursor polyp (82% versus 18%, P < 0.001), and were more likely to have slit-like serrations (100% versus 73%, P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: These morphological, immunohistochemical and molecular findings are similar to what has been reported in large TSAs, and support the hypothesis that these polyps represent early forms of TSA.

Clinicopathological and molecular features of sessile serrated adenomas with dysplasia or carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Sessile serrated adenomas (SSAs) are the precursors of at least 15% of colorectal carcinomas, but their biology is incompletely understood. We performed a clinicopathological and molecular analysis of a large number of the rarely observed SSAs with dysplasia/carcinoma to better define their features and the pathways by which they progress to carcinoma. DESIGN: A cross-sectional analysis of 137 SSAs containing regions of dysplasia/carcinoma prospectively collected at a community GI pathology practice was conducted. Samples were examined for BRAF and KRAS mutations, the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) and immunostained for MLH1, p53, p16, ß-catenin and 0-6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT). RESULTS: The median polyp size was 9 mm and 86.5% were proximal. Most were BRAF mutated (92.7%) and 94.0% showed CIMP. Mismatch repair deficiency, evidenced by loss of MLH1 (74.5%) is associated with older age (76.7 versus 71.0; p<0.0029), female gender (70% versus 36%; p<0.0008), proximal location (91% versus 72%; p<0.02), CIMP (98% versus 80%; p<0.02) and lack of aberrant p53 (7% versus 34%; p<0.001) when compared with the mismatch repair-proficient cases. Loss of p16 (43.1%) and gain of nuclear ß-catenin (55.5%) were common in areas of dysplasia/cancer, irrespective of mismatch repair status. CONCLUSIONS: SSAs containing dysplasia/carcinoma are predominantly small (<10 mm) and proximal. The mismatch repair status separates these lesions into distinct clinicopathological subgroups, although WNT activation and p16 silencing are common to both. Cases with dysplasia occur at a similar age to cases with carcinoma. This, together with the rarity of these 'caught in the act' lesions, suggests a rapid transition to malignancy following a long dwell time as an SSA without dysplasia.

Sessile serrated adenomas with dysplasia: morphological patterns and correlations with MLH1 immunohistochemistry.

Sessile serrated adenomas are the precursor polyp of approximately 20% of colorectal carcinomas. Sessile serrated adenomas with dysplasia are rarely encountered and represent an intermediate step to malignant progression, frequently associated with loss of MLH1 expression. Accurate diagnosis of these lesions is important to facilitate appropriate surveillance, particularly because progression from dysplasia to carcinoma can be rapid. The current World Health Organization classification describes two main patterns of dysplasia occurring in sessile serrated adenomas, namely, serrated and conventional. However, this may not adequately reflect the spectrum of changes seen by pathologists in routine practice. Furthermore, subtle patterns of dysplasia that are nevertheless associated with loss of MLH1 expression are not encompassed in this classification. We performed a morphological analysis of 266 sessile serrated adenomas with dysplasia with concurrent MLH1 immunohistochemistry with the aims of better defining the spectrum of dysplasia occurring in these lesions and correlating dysplasia patterns with MLH1 expression. We found that dysplasia can be divided morphologically into four major patterns, comprising minimal deviation (19%), serrated (12%), adenomatous (8%) and not otherwise specified (79%) groups. Minimal deviation dysplasia is defined by minor architectural and cytological changes that typically requires loss of MLH1 immunohistochemical expression to support the diagnosis. Serrated dysplasia and adenomatous dysplasia have distinctive histological features and are less frequently associated with loss of MLH1 expression (13 and 5%, respectively). Finally, dysplasia not otherwise specified encompasses most cases and shows a diverse range of morphological changes that do not fall into the other subgroups and are frequently associated with loss of MLH1 expression (83%). This morphological classification of sessile serrated adenomas with dysplasia may represent an improvement on the current description as it correlates with the underlying mismatch repair protein status of the polyps and better highlights the range of morphologies seen by pathologists.

GNAS mutations are present in colorectal traditional serrated adenomas, serrated tubulovillous adenomas and serrated adenocarcinomas with adverse prognostic features.

AIMS: Activating mutations in GNAS are important in the development of a range of neoplasms, including a small proportion of conventional adenomas and colorectal carcinomas (CRCs). However, their contribution to serrated pathway neoplasia is unclear, as mutations have only been examined in small series of sessile serrated adenomas (SSAs) and traditional serrated adenomas (TSAs), and not in serrated tubulovillous adenomas (sTVAs). The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency and significance of GNAS mutations in colorectal adenomas and CRCs. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using a large, well-characterized series, we identified GNAS mutations in 9.2% (18 of 196) of TSAs, 7.1% (four of 56) of sTVAs and 2.0% (nine of 459) of CRCs. Mutations were absent in SSAs (none of 43), tubular adenomas (none of 50) and conventional tubulovillous adenomas (none of 50). A BRAF or KRAS mutation was seen in 77.4% of GNAS mutant lesions, suggesting a synergistic effect with the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. In CRCs, GNAS mutations were associated with mucinous differentiation and serrated morphological features. CONCLUSIONS: GNAS mutations contribute significantly to the development of a subset of serrated adenomas and CRCs.

High prevalence of sessile serrated adenomas in contemporary outpatient colonoscopy practice.

BACKGROUND: Sessile serrated adenomas (SSA) are the polyp precursor of 15-20% of colorectal carcinomas. There is debate about their prevalence and increasing discussion about the need for a serrated polyp detection rate as a quality indicator for colonoscopy. AIMS: To assess the prevalence of SSA at an outpatient gastroenterology service. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of an unselected consecutive series of patients who had an outpatient colonoscopy between April 2013 and May 2014. The colonoscopy reports were reviewed to identify age, gender, indication for procedure, completion, withdrawal time, adequacy of bowel preparation, number, size and location of polyps. The pathology of all polyps was centrally reviewed by a gastrointestinal pathologist. RESULTS: A total of 707 patients underwent colonoscopy within the study period. The mean age of the cohort was 58 years, and 50.6% were female. Polyp(s) were identified in 66.5% of patients. The SSA detection rate was 20.1%, and the adenoma detection rate was 48.0%. SSA detection was associated with longer withdrawal times. Conventional adenoma detection was associated with older age, male gender, longer withdrawal time and a positive faecal occult blood test result. CONCLUSION: SSA are highly prevalent in an unselected series of patients attending a gastroenterology outpatient department. Identifying and removing these polyps may help prevent interval colorectal carcinoma. This result may serve as a benchmark for a high-quality colonoscopy service.

Serrated tubulovillous adenoma of the large intestine.

AIMS: Most colorectal polyps are classified readily, but a subset of tubulovillous adenomas (TVA) with prominent serrated architecture causes diagnostic confusion. We aimed to (i) identify histological features that separate serrated TVAs from both conventional TVAs and traditional serrated adenomas (TSA) and (ii) perform a clinicopathological and molecular analysis to determine if the serrated TVA has unique features. METHODS AND RESULTS: We collected 48 serrated TVAs, 50 conventional TVAs and 66 BRAF wild-type TSAs for analysis. For each polyp we performed a clinicopathological assessment, BRAF and KRAS mutation profiling, cytosine-phosphate-guanosine (CpG) island methylator phenotype status, MGMT methylation and immunohistochemical assessment of seven markers [MutL homologue 1 (MLH1), p16, p53, ß-catenin, Ki67, CK7 and CK20]. We found that serrated TVAs can be diagnosed reliably, and have features distinct from both conventional TVAs and TSAs. Compared to conventional TVAs, serrated TVAs are larger, more often proximal, more histologically advanced, show more CpG island methylation and more frequent KRAS mutation. Compared to TSAs they are more often proximal, show less CpG island methylation, more frequent MGMT methylation and more frequent nuclear staining for ß-catenin. CONCLUSIONS: The serrated TVA can be diagnosed reliably and has unique features. It represents a precursor of KRAS mutated, microsatellite stable colorectal carcinoma.

A clinicopathological and molecular analysis of 200 traditional serrated adenomas.

The traditional serrated adenoma is the least common colorectal serrated polyp. The clinicopathological features and molecular drivers of these polyps require further investigation. We have prospectively collected a cohort of 200 ordinary and advanced traditional serrated adenomas and performed BRAF and KRAS mutational profiling, CpG island methylator phenotype analysis, and immunohistochemistry for a panel of 7 antibodies (MLH1, ß-catenin, p53, p16, Ki67, CK7, and CK20) on all cases. The mean age of the patients was 64 years and 50% were female. Of the polyps, 71% were distal. Advanced histology (overt dysplasia or carcinoma) was present in 19% of cases. BRAF mutation was present in 67% and KRAS mutation in 22%. BRAF mutant traditional serrated adenomas were more frequently proximal (39% versus 2%; P≤0.0001), were exclusively associated with a precursor polyp (57% versus 0%; P≤0.0001), and were more frequently CpG island methylator phenotype high (60% versus 16%; P≤0.0001) than KRAS mutant traditional serrated adenomas. Advanced traditional serrated adenomas retained MLH1 expression in 97%, showed strong p53 staining in 55%, and nuclear ß-catenin staining in 40%. P16 staining was lost in the advanced areas of 55% of BRAF mutant traditional serrated adenomas compared with 10% of the advanced areas of KRAS mutant or BRAF/KRAS wild-type traditional serrated adenomas. BRAF and KRAS mutant traditional serrated adenomas are morphologically related but biologically disparate polyps with distinctive clinicopathological and molecular features. The overwhelming majority of traditional serrated adenomas retain mismatch repair enzyme function indicating a microsatellite-stable phenotype. Malignant progression occurs via TP53 mutation and Wnt pathway activation regardless of mutation status. However, CDKN2A (encoding the p16 protein) is silenced nearly exclusively in the advanced areas of the BRAF mutant traditional serrated adenomas. Thus, the BRAF mutant traditional serrated adenoma represents an important precursor of the aggressive BRAF mutant, microsatellite-stable subtype of colorectal carcinoma.

ATI-1777, a Topical Jak1/3 Inhibitor, May Benefit Atopic Dermatitis without Systemic Drug Exposure: Results from Preclinical Development and Phase 2a Randomized Control Study ATI-1777-AD-201.

Introduction: Atopic dermatitis, a chronic, pruritic skin disease, affects 10-30% of children and up to 14% of adults in developed countries. ATI-1777, a potent and selective Jak1/3 inhibitor, was designed with multiple sites of metabolism to deliver local efficacy in the skin and limit systemic exposure. In preclinical studies, ATI-1777 selectively inhibited Jak1/3 with limited systemic exposure and without any adverse effects. Primary objective: The primary goal of this study was to assess the preliminary clinical efficacy of ATI-1777 topical solution in adults with moderate or severe atopic dermatitis. Design: ATI-1777-AD-201, a phase 2a, first-in-human, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled, parallel-group study, evaluated the efficacy, safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of ATI-1777 topical solution in 48 participants with atopic dermatitis over 4 weeks. Primary endpoint: The primary endpoint was a reduction of a modified Eczema Area and Severity Index score from baseline. Results: Reduction was significantly greater in the ATI-1777-treated group on day 28 than in vehicle-treated group (percentage reduction from baseline = 74.45% [standard error = 6.455] and 41.43% [standard error = 6.189], respectively [P < .001]). Average plasma concentrations of ATI-1777 were <5% of the half-maximal inhibitory concentration of ATI-1777 for inhibiting Jak1/3. No deaths or serious adverse events were reported. Conclusion: Topical ATI-1777 does not lead to pharmacologically relevant systemic drug exposure and may reduce clinical signs of atopic dermatitis. Trial Registration: The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with the number NCT04598269.

The serrated pathway to colorectal carcinoma: current concepts and challenges.

Approximately 30% of colorectal carcinomas develop via a serrated neoplasia pathway, named for the pattern of crypts in the precursor polyps. Molecular abnormalities consistently involve methylation of CpG islands [CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP)] of low degree (CIMP-L) or high degree (CIMP-H), and activating mutations of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway components BRAF or KRAS. Microsatellite instability (MSI) of a high level (MSI-H) is often present, allowing for a molecular classification of serrated pathway carcinoma as: (i) BRAF mutant/CIMP-H with either a) MSI-H or b) microsatellite stable (MSS); and (ii) KRAS mutant/CIMP-L/MSS. Precursor polyps include sessile serrated adenoma (SSA), characterized by proximal location, crypt architectural disturbance, and BRAF mutation. Microvesicular hyperplasic polyp (MVHP) probably precedes the development of SSA, and borderline lesions between MVHP and SSA occur. Cytological dysplasia in SSA portends advanced genetic abnormality and a high risk of progression to carcinoma. The traditional serrated adenoma has a predilection for the left colon, tubulovillous architecture, eosinophilic cytoplasm, and frequent KRAS mutation. Serrated morphology carcinoma is a new World Health Organization subtype with well-differentiated, mucinous or trabecular patterns. It has frequent KRAS or BRAF mutations and a poor prognosis. This review provides an insight into the histology and molecular mechanisms driving these serrated pathway lesions.

Cancer risks for relatives of patients with serrated polyposis.

OBJECTIVES: Serrated polyposis (hyperplastic polyposis) is characterized by multiple polyps with serrated architecture in the colorectum. Although patients with serrated polyposis are known to be at increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) and possibly extracolonic cancers, cancer risk for their relatives has not been widely explored. The aim of this study was to estimate the risks of CRC and extracolonic cancers for relatives of patients with serrated polyposis. METHODS: A cohort of the 1,639 first- and second-degree relatives of 100 index patients with serrated polyposis recruited regardless of a family history of polyps or cancer from genetic clinics in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the USA, were retrospectively analyzed to estimate the country-, age-, and sex-specific standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for relatives compared with the general population. RESULTS: A total of 102 CRCs were observed in first- and second-relatives (SIR 2.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.75-2.93; P<0.001), with 54 in first-degree relatives (SIR 5.16, 95% CI 3.70-7.30; P<0.001) and 48 in second-degree relatives (SIR 1.38, 95% CI 1.01-1.91; P=0.04). Six pancreatic cancers were observed in first-degree relatives (SIR 3.64, 95% CI 1.70-9.21; P=0.003). There was no statistical evidence of increased risk for cancer of the stomach, brain, breast, or prostate. CONCLUSIONS: Our finding that relatives of serrated polyposis patients are at significantly increased risk of colorectal and pancreatic cancer adds to the accumulating evidence that serrated polyposis has an inherited component.

Immunohistochemical testing of conventional adenomas for loss of expression of mismatch repair proteins in Lynch syndrome mutation carriers: a case series from the Australasian site of the colon cancer family registry.

Debate continues as to the usefulness of assessing adenomas for loss of mismatch repair protein expression to identify individuals with suspected Lynch syndrome. We tested 109 polyps from 69 proven mutation carriers (35 females and 34 males) belonging to 49 Lynch syndrome families. All polyps were tested by immunohistochemistry for four mismatch repair proteins MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2. Detailed pathology review was performed by specialist gastrointestinal pathologists. The majority of polyps (86%) were conventional adenomas (n=94), with 65 tubular and 28 tubulovillous adenomas and a single villous adenoma. The remaining 15 lesions (14%) were serrated polyps. Overall, loss of mismatch repair expression was noted for 78/109 (72%) of polyps. Loss of mismatch repair expression was seen in 74 of 94 (79%) conventional adenomas, and 4 of 15 (27%) serrated polyps from mismatch repair gene mutation carriers. In all instances, loss of expression was consistent with the underlying germline mutation. Mismatch repair protein expression was lost in 27 of 29 adenomas with a villous component compared with 47 of 65 adenomas without this feature (93 vs 73%; P=0.028). A strong trend was observed for high-grade dysplasia. Mismatch repair deficiency was observed in 12 of 12 conventional adenomas with high-grade dysplasia compared with 60 of 79 with low-grade dysplasia (100 vs 76%; P=0.065). We were unable to demonstrate a significant association between conventional adenoma size or site and mismatch repair deficiency. All (4/4 or 100%) of the serrated polyps demonstrating mismatch repair deficiency were traditional serrated adenomas from a single family. Diagnostic testing of adenomas in suspected Lynch syndrome families is a useful alternative in cases where cancers are unavailable. The overwhelming majority of conventional adenomas from mutation carriers show loss of mismatch repair protein expression concordant with the underlying germline mutation.

Association of Fusobacterium nucleatum with Specific T-cell Subsets in the Colorectal Carcinoma Microenvironment.

PURPOSE: While evidence indicates that Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) may promote colorectal carcinogenesis through its suppressive effect on T-cell-mediated antitumor immunity, the specific T-cell subsets involved remain uncertain. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We measured F. nucleatum DNA within tumor tissue by quantitative PCR on 933 cases (including 128 F. nucleatum-positive cases) among 4,465 incident colorectal carcinoma cases in two prospective cohorts. Multiplex immunofluorescence combined with digital image analysis and machine learning algorithms for CD3, CD4, CD8, CD45RO (PTPRC isoform), and FOXP3 measured various T-cell subsets. We leveraged data on Bifidobacterium, microsatellite instability (MSI), tumor whole-exome sequencing, and M1/M2-type tumor-associated macrophages [TAM; by CD68, CD86, IRF5, MAF, and MRC1 (CD206) multimarker assay]. Using the 4,465 cancer cases and inverse probability weighting method to control for selection bias due to tissue availability, multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analysis assessed the association between F. nucleatum and T-cell subsets. RESULTS: The amount of F. nucleatum was inversely associated with tumor stromal CD3+ lymphocytes [multivariable OR, 0.47; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.28-0.79, for F. nucleatum-high vs. -negative category; P trend = 0.0004] and specifically stromal CD3+CD4+CD45RO+ cells (corresponding multivariable OR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.32-0.85; P trend = 0.003). These relationships did not substantially differ by MSI status, neoantigen load, or exome-wide tumor mutational burden. F. nucleatum was not significantly associated with tumor intraepithelial T cells or with M1 or M2 TAMs. CONCLUSIONS: The amount of tissue F. nucleatum is associated with lower density of stromal memory helper T cells. Our findings provide evidence for the interactive pathogenic roles of microbiota and specific immune cells.

Phenotypic diversity in patients with multiple serrated polyps: a genetics clinic study.

OBJECTIVE: Hyperplastic polyposis is a colonic polyposis condition of unknown aetiology. The purpose of this study was to examine the spectrum of phenotypic variation in patients with multiple serrated polyps as a basis for gene discovery. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-six patients with multiple (> or = 5) serrated polyps were recruited to the study. Polyp counts were extracted from histology and colonoscopy reports. Ethnicity was self-reported. Family history of cancer data were derived from pedigrees. Ascertainment status was classified as either index case or identified by screening. RESULTS: The average reported polyp count was 39. Patients with highest polyp numbers were more likely to be male (P = 0.02). Colorectal cancer (CRC) was identified in 49 of 119 patients (41%) and 28% of these patients had multiple CRC. Young onset patients had higher polyp numbers (P = 0.03) and were more likely to have their CRC in the distal colon (P = 0.02). CRC was significantly associated with the presence of adenomas (P = 0.03). Patients were divided into moderate polyposis (5-79 serrated polyps) and dense polyposis (80 or more) categories. The dense polyposis category was associated with a lack of family history for CRC (P = 0.034) and male gender (P = 0.014), independent of ascertainment status and recruitment site. CONCLUSION: Multiple serrated polyps were associated with an increased personal risk of CRC. A subset of patients with the highest polyp numbers was more likely to be male and to have no family history of CRC. This result suggests heterogeneous modes of inheritance and has implications for studies investigating the genetic basis of multiple serrated polyps.

DNA methylation changes that precede onset of dysplasia in advanced sessile serrated adenomas.

BACKGROUND: Sessile serrated adenomas (SSAs) are common polyps which give rise to 20-30% of colorectal cancer (CRC). SSAs display clinicopathologic features which present challenges in surveillance, including overrepresentation in young patients, proclivity for the proximal colon and rarity of histologic dysplasia (referred to then as SSAs with dysplasia, SSADs). Once dysplasia develops, there is rapid progression to CRC, even at a small size. There is therefore a clinical need to separate the "advanced" SSAs at high risk of progression to SSAD and cancer from ordinary SSAs. Since SSAs are known to accumulate methylation over time prior to the development of dysplasia, SSAD backgrounds (the remnant SSA present within an SSAD) likely harbour additional methylation events compared with ordinary SSAs. We therefore performed MethyLight and comprehensive methylation array (Illumina MethylationEPIC) on 40 SSAD backgrounds and 40 matched ordinary SSAs, and compared the methylation results with CRC methylation, CRC expression and immunohistochemical data. RESULTS: SSAD backgrounds demonstrated significant hypermethylation of CpG islands compared with ordinary SSAs, and the proportion of hypermethylated probes decreased progressively in the shore, shelf and open sea regions. Hypomethylation occurred in concert with hypermethylation, which showed a reverse pattern, increasing progressively away from the island regions. These methylation changes were also identified in BRAF-mutant hypermethylated CRCs. When compared with CRC expression data, SV2B, MLH1/EPM2AIP1, C16orf62, RCOR3, BAIAP3, OGDHL, HDHD3 and ATP1B2 demonstrated both promoter hypermethylation and decreased expression. Although SSAD backgrounds were histologically indistinguishable from ordinary SSAs, MLH1 methylation was detectable via MethyLight in 62.9% of SSAD backgrounds, and focal immunohistochemical MLH1 loss was seen in 52.5% of SSAD backgrounds. CONCLUSIONS: Significant hyper- and hypomethylation events occur during SSA progression well before the development of histologically identifiable changes. Methylation is a heterogeneous process within individual SSAs, as typified by MLH1, where both MLH1 methylation and focal immunohistochemical MLH1 loss can be seen in the absence of dysplasia. This heterogeneity is likely a generalised phenomenon and should be taken into account in future methylation-based studies and the development of clinical methylation panels.

Free radical scavengers improve liver function but not morphological changes induced by reperfusion injury.

OBJECTIVE: Reperfusion injury (RI) is associated with high generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), but the extent of involvement of these agents in the injury remains controversial. The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of ROS scavengers against hepatic reperfusion injury in the rat. METHODS: The RI was induced in the liver using an isolated slow-flow, reflow perfused rat liver in both anterograde and retrograde perfusion. The effects of gentisic acid, N-acetyl cysteine, and trolox C on the superoxide production, liver function, and morphological changes were examined using different biochemical and histological assays. RESULTS: The hepatic RI caused a significant (p < 0.05) increase in superoxide production and enzyme releases and a decrease in bile flow in both directions. Histological changes induced by RI include apoptosis, necrosis, pale cytoplasm, cell vacuolation, and attenuation of cell cords. Although the production of superoxide in retrograde direction was significantly less than the anterograde, the extent of the injury in the retrograde was greater than the anterograde direction. Pretreatment of the livers with each of the test compounds significantly reduced the release of lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase and improved bile flow in the liver exposed to hypoxia/reperfusion. However, they failed to protect the liver against the structural alterations induced by RI. CONCLUSION: ROS scavengers can reduce superoxide-induced damage and improve the liver function, but they are not able to prevent the structural changes. It shows that ROS are not the sole causative mechanism of hepatic RI and other mechanisms and mediators may be involved.

Critical appraisal of the diagnosis of the sessile serrated adenoma.

The sessile serrated adenoma (SSA) is a relatively recently described polyp that can present diagnostic difficulties for the practicing pathologist. The frequency of SSA diagnoses varies dramatically in the reported literature. In addition, the histologic interface between the microvesicular hyperplastic polyp (MVHP) and the SSA continues to be a diagnostic problem. The trend in recent years has been toward a lower threshold for SSA diagnosis. Herein, we have performed a cross-sectional study of 6340 colorectal polyps received at a high-volume community-based pathology practice over a 3-month period. After central review, with strict application of the diagnostic criteria outlined in the 2010 edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Tumours of the Digestive Tract, we found that SSAs represented 12.1% of all polyps. In addition, we developed novel diagnostic subcategories in an attempt to determine the most appropriate cutoff for the interface between the MVHP and the SSA. We found that serrated polyps (MVHPs or SSAs) with any SSA-like crypts had clinical features more in common with the SSA than the MVHP and that this diagnostic cutoff showed good reproducibility between pathologists. This supports the position of a recent consensus publication proposing that polyps with as few as 1 SSA-type crypt should be diagnosed as an SSA. Applying these criteria to our cohort yields an overall SSA rate of 14.7%. In summary, we believe that SSAs continue to be underdiagnosed in pathologic practice and that this may result in inadequate surveillance and thus contribute to interval colorectal carcinomas.