Stromal Microenvironment Shapes the Intratumoral Architecture of Pancreatic Cancer.

Single-cell technologies have described heterogeneity across tissues, but the spatial distribution and forces that drive single-cell phenotypes have not been well defined. Combining single-cell RNA and protein analytics in studying the role of stromal cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in modulating heterogeneity in pancreatic cancer (pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma [PDAC]) model systems, we have identified significant single-cell population shifts toward invasive epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and proliferative (PRO) phenotypes linked with mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling. Using high-content digital imaging of RNA in situ hybridization in 195 PDAC tumors, we quantified these EMT and PRO subpopulations in 319,626 individual cancer cells that can be classified within the context of distinct tumor gland "units." Tumor gland typing provided an additional layer of intratumoral heterogeneity that was associated with differences in stromal abundance and clinical outcomes. This demonstrates the impact of the stroma in shaping tumor architecture by altering inherent patterns of tumor glands in human PDAC.

Immune microenvironment and lymph node yield in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Lymph node (LN) harvesting is associated with outcomes in colonic cancer. We sought to interrogate whether a distinctive immune milieu of the primary tumour is associated with LN yield. METHODS: A total of 926 treatment-naive patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma with more than 12 LNs (LN-high) were compared with patients with 12 or fewer LNs (LN-low). We performed immunohistochemistry and quantification on tissue microarrays for HLA class I/II proteins, beta-2-microglobulin (B2MG), CD8, CD163, LAG3, PD-L1, FoxP3, and BRAF V600E. RESULTS: The LN-high group was comprised of younger patients, longer resections, larger tumours, right-sided location, and tumours with deficient mismatch repair (dMMR). The tumour microenvironment showed higher CD8+ cells infiltration and B2MG expression on tumour cells in the LN-high group compared to the LN-low group. The estimated mean disease-specific survival was higher in the LN-high group than LN-low group. On multivariate analysis for prognosis, LN yield, CD8+ cells, extramural venous invasion, perineural invasion, and AJCC stage were independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: Our findings corroborate that higher LN yield is associated with a survival benefit. LN yield is associated with an immune high microenvironment, suggesting that tumour immune milieu influences the LN yield.

Predicting recurrence in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours: role of ARX and alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT).

BACKGROUND: While many pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (PanNET) show indolent behaviour, predicting the biological behaviour of small nonfunctional PanNETs remains a challenge. Nonfunctional PanNETs with an epigenome and transcriptome that resemble islet alpha cells (ARX-positive) are more aggressive than neoplasms that resemble islet beta cells (PDX1-positive). In this study, we explore the ability of immunohistochemistry for ARX and PDX1 and telomere-specific fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) for alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) to predict recurrence. METHODS: Two hundred fifty-six patients with PanNETs were identified, and immunohistochemistry for ARX and PDX1 was performed. Positive staining was defined as strong nuclear staining in >5% of tumour cells. FISH for ALT was performed in a subset of cases. RESULTS: ARX reactivity correlated with worse disease-free survival (DFS) (P = 0.011), while there was no correlation between PDX1 reactivity and DFS (P = 0.52). ALT-positive tumours (n = 63, 31.8%) showed a significantly lower DFS (P < 0.0001) than ALT-negative tumours (n = 135, 68.2%). ARX reactivity correlated with ALT positivity (P < 0.0001). Among nonfunctional tumours, recurrence was noted in 18.5% (30/162) of ARX-positive tumours and 7.5% (5/67) of ARX-negative tumours. Among WHO grade 1 and 2 PanNETs with ≤2 cm tumour size, 14% (6/43) of ARX-positive tumours recurred compared to 0 of 33 ARX-negative tumours and 33.3% (3/9) ALT-positive tumours showed recurrence versus 4.4% (2/45) ALT-negative tumours. CONCLUSION: Immunohistochemistry for ARX and ALT FISH status may aid in distinguishing biologically indolent cases from aggressive small low-grade PanNETs, and help to identify patients who may preferentially benefit from surgical intervention.

Defining an abnormal p53 immunohistochemical stain in Barrett's oesophagus-related dysplasia: a single-positive crypt is a sensitive and specific marker of dysplasia.

AIMS: p53 is an independent risk stratification marker in Barrett's oesophagus (BE), but no universally accepted definition exists for abnormal p53 staining. Herein, we assess p53 stains in two cohorts to: (1) define abnormal p53 staining in BE-related dysplasia (BERD) and (2) assess the specificity and sensitivity of this cut-point for the diagnosis of dysplasia. METHODS: Cohort 1 (n = 313) included (1) dysplastic BE biopsies, (2) prior non-dysplastic BE (NDBE) biopsies from the same patients and (3) NDBE biopsies from patients who never progressed to dysplasia. Cohort 2 (n = 191) consisted of BE biopsies in which p53 staining aided in diagnosing dysplasia. Automated p53 staining quantification was performed on cohort 1. A semiquantitative p53 analysis, performed on both cohorts, included: (1) number of strongly positive glands, (2) strong glandular surface staining, (3) percentage of strongly positive glands and (4) null phenotype. RESULTS: NDBE biopsies from cohort 1 patients who progressed to dysplasia were more likely to show p53 positivity than non-progressors (16.9 versus 0.6%) (P = 0.0001). The optimal quantitative cut-point for distinguishing dysplastic from never-dysplasia biopsies was 10 strongly positive cells. By semiquantitative analysis, a single strongly p53-positive gland distinguished dysplastic from never-dysplasia BE (sensitivity 98.6%, specificity 99.4%). The semiquantitative and quantitative analyses correlated (P = 0.0001). In cohort 2, the sensitivity and specificity for BERD of ≥ 1 strongly positive p53 gland were 86.0 and 88.6%. CONCLUSIONS: A single strongly positive p53 gland is sensitive and specific for BERD. Automated p53 analysis may reduce subjectivity associated with the diagnosis of BERD.

Correlation of clinical, pathologic, and genetic parameters with intratumoral immune milieu in mucinous adenocarcinoma of the colon.

Mucinous adenocarcinoma (MAD), the most common subtype of colonic adenocarcinoma (CA), requires >50% intratumoral mucin. There is limited data regarding the impact of MAD on key lymphocyte subsets and therapeutically critical immune elements. In this study we address: (1) the definition of MAD, (2) grading of MAD, and (3) the impact of MAD and extracellular mucin on intratumoral immune milieu. Estimation of the percentage of intratumoral mucin was performed by two pathologists. Tissue microarrays were stained for immune markers including CD8, CD163, PD-L1, FoxP3, ß2 microglobulin, HLA class I, and HLA class II. Immunohistochemistry for BRAF V600E was performed. MMR status was determined on immunohistochemistry for MSH2, MSH6, MLH1, PMS2. Manual and automated HALO platforms were used for quantification. The 903 CAs included 62 (6.9%) MAD and 841 CA with ≤ 50% mucin. We identified 225 CAs with mucinous differentiation, defined by ≥10% mucin. On univariate analysis neither cut point, 50% (p = 0.08) and 10% (p = 0.08) mucin, correlated with disease-specific survival (DSS). There were no differences in key clinical, histological and molecular features between MAD and CA with mucinous differentiation. On univariate analysis of patients with MAD, tumor grade correlated with DSS (p = 0.0001) while MMR status did not (p = 0.86). There was no statistically significant difference in CD8 (P = 0.17) and CD163 (P = 0.05) positive immune cells between MAD and conventional CA. However, deficient (d) MMR MADs showed fewer CD8 (P = 0.0001), CD163 (P = 0.0001) and PD-L1 (P = 0.003) positive immune cells compared to proficient (p)MMR MADs, a finding also seen with at 10% mucin cut point. Although MAD does not impact DSS, this study raises the possibility that the immune milieu of dMMR MADs and tumors with > =10% mucin may differ from pMMR MADs and tumors with <10% mucin, a finding that may impact immune-oncology based therapeutics.

Molecular Basis of Extramural Vascular Invasion (EMVI) in Colorectal Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Extramural vascular invasion (EMVI) is a known poor prognostic factor in colorectal carcinoma; however, its molecular basis has not been defined. This study aimed to assess the expression of molecular markers in EMVI positive colorectal carcinoma to understand their tumor microenvironment. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was performed on tissue microarrays of surgically resected colorectal cancer specimens for immunological markers, and BRAFV600E mutation (and on the tissue blocks for mismatch repair proteins). Automated quantification was used for CD8, LAG3, FOXP3, PU1, and CD163, and manual quantification was used for PDL1, HLA I markers (beta-2 microglobulin, HC10), and HLA II. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to compare EMVI positive and negative tumors. A logistic regression model was fitted to assess the predictive effect of biomarkers on EMVI. RESULTS: There were 340 EMVI positive and 678 EMVI negative chemo naïve tumors. PDL1 was barely expressed on tumor cells (median 0) in the entire cohort. We found a significantly lower expression of CD8, LAG3, FOXP3, PU1 cells, PDL1 positive macrophages, and beta-2 microglobulin on tumor cells in the EMVI positive subset (p ≤ 0.001). There was no association of BRAFV600E or deficient mismatch repair proteins (dMMR) with EMVI. PU1 (OR 0.8, 0.7-0.9) and low PDL1 (OR 1.6, 1.1-2.3) independently predicted EMVI on multivariate logistic regression among all biomarkers examined. CONCLUSION: There is a generalized blunting of immune response in EMVI positive colorectal carcinoma, which may contribute to a worse prognosis. Tumor-associated macrophages seem to play the most significant role in determining EMVI.

Clinical, pathological genetics and intratumoral immune milieu of serrated adenocarcinoma of the colon.

BACKGROUND: Serrated adenocarcinoma (SAC), a recognised WHO variant of colonic adenocarcinoma, is the purported end-product of serrated neoplasia. However, the diagnosis of SAC is infrequently rendered, and little is known about its prognosis, immune microenvironment and molecular alterations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We assessed 903 consecutive colon carcinomas and recognised tumours with ≥ 5% (n = 77) serrated and ≥ 50% serrated patterns (n = 13). We assessed precursor polyps and synchronous polyps. We recorded demographic/clinical parameters, histological features and mismatch repair (MMR) status. We performed immunohistochemistry and quantification on tissue microarray for HLA class I/II proteins, B2MG, CD8, CD163, LAG3, FoxP3, PD-L1 and BRAF V600E. RESULTS: We identified ≥ 5% epithelial serration prevalence in 8.5% of cases and ≥ 50% epithelial serration prevalence in 1.4% of cases. Precursor lesions were present in 21.4% of cases; these were mostly tubular adenomas with two traditional serrated adenomas identified. SAC with ≥ 5% serrations exhibited lower numbers of CD8-positive lymphocytes (P = 0.002) and lower B2MG expression (P = 0.048), although neither value was significant at ≥ 50% serration threshold. There was no difference in HLA class I/II, or PD-L1 expression on tumour cells and no difference in PD-L1, LAG3, FoxP3 and CD163 expression on immune cells. There was no association with MMR status, or BRAFV600E relative to conventional adenocarcinoma. There was improved disease-specific survival on univariate (but not multivariate) analysis between carcinomas with serrated pattern and non-mucinous conventional colonic carcinomas at ≥ 5% epithelial serrations (P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: SAC category shows a limited impact on survival, and this phenotype may harbour a unique immunological milieu.

Epithelial to mesenchymal plasticity and differential response to therapies in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Transcriptional profiling has defined pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) into distinct subtypes with the majority being classical epithelial (E) or quasi-mesenchymal (QM). Despite clear differences in clinical behavior, growing evidence indicates these subtypes exist on a continuum with features of both subtypes present and suggestive of interconverting cell states. Here, we investigated the impact of different therapies being evaluated in PDAC on the phenotypic spectrum of the E/QM state. We demonstrate using RNA-sequencing and RNA-in situ hybridization (RNA-ISH) that FOLFIRINOX combination chemotherapy induces a common shift of both E and QM PDAC toward a more QM state in cell lines and patient tumors. In contrast, Vitamin D, another drug under clinical investigation in PDAC, induces distinct transcriptional responses in each PDAC subtype, with augmentation of the baseline E and QM state. Importantly, this translates to functional changes that increase metastatic propensity in QM PDAC, but decrease dissemination in E PDAC in vivo models. These data exemplify the importance of both the initial E/QM subtype and the plasticity of E/QM states in PDAC in influencing response to therapy, which highlights their relevance in guiding clinical trials.

Immune-related adverse events in the gastrointestinal tract: diagnostic utility of upper gastrointestinal biopsies.

AIMS: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) improve survival across a range of malignancies but are also associated with a spectrum of gastrointestinal (GI) immune-related adverse events (GI-irAEs). The aims of this study were to explore the diagnostic value of gastric and duodenal biopsies and to address considerations in the differential diagnosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: We identified 39 patients who were treated with ICIs and had a subsequent upper GI biopsy. We recorded clinical data and endoscopic findings, and reviewed their gastric, duodenal and colonic biopsies. Twenty-one (54%) patients were treated with an anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/anti-programmed cell death ligand 1 antibody alone, and 17 (44%) patients were treated with a combination of anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein-4 and anti-PD-1 antibodies. Thirty-two (82%) patients presented with diarrhoea. Gastric alterations included periglandular inflammation and granulomas, and duodenal changes included villous blunting, intraepithelial lymphocytosis, granulomas, and neutrophilic activity. We recognised four patterns of colonic injury: (i) acute self-limiting colitis; (ii) lymphocytic colitis; (iii) collagenous colitis; and (iv) apoptosis-only. Twenty-nine (74%) and 10 (26%) patients were diagnosed clinically as positive and negative for GI-irAEs, respectively. Gastric periglandular inflammation (P = 0.004) and an increased number of colonic lamina propria mononuclear cells (P = 0.04) correlated with the clinical diagnosis of a GI-irAE. Histological alterations associated with ICI injury were more often identified in upper GI biopsies (71%) than in colonic biopsies (65%). CONCLUSIONS: The morphological spectrum of ICI-related GI disease is broad, and mimics a range of infectious and inflammatory diseases. Gastric periglandular inflammation represents one of the more characteristic histological features of GI-irAEs. The study underscores the importance of a comprehensive review of upper and lower GI biopsies for the diagnosis of GI-irAEs.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: tumour regression grading following neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX and radiation.

AIMS: In the adjuvant setting, when compared to gemcitabine, patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) treated with FOLFIRINOX (Folinic Acid, Fluorouracil, Irinotecan, and Oxaliplatin) show superior survival. In this study, we quantitatively assess the pathological tumour response to chemoradiation in pancreatectomy specimens and reassess guidelines for tumour regression grading. METHODS AND RESULTS: We evaluated 92 patients with borderline resectable/locally advanced PDAC following pancreatectomy and neoadjuvant treatment with FOLFIRINOX and radiation. Demographic data, CAP tumour regression grade (TRG) and overall survival (OS) were recorded. A quantitative analysis of residual tumour was performed on the slide with the highest tumour burden to derive a tumour-to-tumour bed ratio. On univariate analysis, only lymph node status (P = 0.043) and CAP TRG (P = 0.038) correlated with OS. Sixteen per cent of patients showed a complete pathological response. The optimal tumour-to-tumour bed ratio cut-point was 11.6%, and on a multivariate model was the only pathological parameter that correlated with OS (P = 0.016) (hazard ratio = 2.27). CONCLUSIONS: The high proportion of patients with PDAC showing complete and near-complete pathological responses supports the use of FOLFIRINOX and radiation in the neoadjuvant setting. Several traditional pathology parameters fail to predict OS in patients treated with chemoradiation, while a quantitative tumour-to-tumour bed ratio is a powerful predictor of OS. The data support a two-tiered approach to TRG based on tumour-to-tumour bed ratio, and quantitative analysis merits further consideration.

Clinical relevance of PD-L1 expression in gallbladder cancer: a potential target for therapy.

AIMS: Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), a potential target for immune checkpoint inhibitors in various solid neoplasms, has been studied in very few cases of Gall Bladder Carcinoma (GBC). The current study aimed to evaluate PD-L1 expression at primary and metastatic sites of GBC, and its associations with standard prognostic clinicopathological parameters, as well as with overall survival. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-four cases of GBC were evaluated for PD-L1 expression by the use of the SP263 clone in tissue microarrays. Clinicopathological characteristics and survival data were correlated with PD-L1 expression analysed at different cut-offs of ≥1%, ≥10% and ≥50% in tumour cells and tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). The mean age of patients was 49.9 years, and the male/female ratio was 1:2.9. Of the cases, 73.6% presented with stage 3/4 disease. Tumour cells expressed PD-L1 in 23.0% of cases, and TILs expressed PD-L1 in 24.1% of cases. At a cut-off of 10%, 14.9% of cases expressed PD-L1, and at a cut-off of 50%, 7.5% of cases expressed PD-L1. Significant associations were seen between tumour proportion score and histological type (P = 0.004), histological grade (P = 0.004), nuclear grade (P = 0.008), nodal metastasis (P = 0.051), higher stage (P = 0.058), and TILs (P < 0.001). Tumour size, growth pattern, the presence of necrosis and lymphovascular emboli showed no significant associations with PD-L1 in tumour cells or TILs. In synchronous paired samples from primary and metastatic lymph nodes, discordantly higher PD-L1 expression was evident in lymph nodes. Overall survival was not associated with PD-L1 expression (P = 0.546). CONCLUSION: PD-L1 does not appear to be a prognostic marker or influence survival in GBC patients. However, PD-L1 expression occurs in one of four GBCs, supporting the future possibility of immune-modulation therapy to improve the dismal overall survival.

Fulminant leptomeningeal carcinomatosis from a malignant melanoma arising in a cerebellopontine epidermoid cyst: A rare case with diagnostic pointers.

A malignant component in an epidermoid cyst is rare. We report an exceptionally rare case of a malignant melanoma arising in an epidermoid cyst located in the cerebellopontine (CP) angle. A 26-year-old woman presented with headache, vomiting, ataxia and difficulty in swallowing over the previous 3 months. The radiological finding suggested an epidermoid cyst and the lesion was excised. The histopathology confirmed a CP angle epidermoid cyst. Within 1 month of discharge, she developed hydrocephalus for which a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt was performed. Postoperatively she developed weakness in lower limbs. A contrast-enhanced MRI was done which showed dilated CSF cisternal spaces with a small enhancing lesion in the pineal region and enhancement of meninges extending to the spinal cord. Re-exploration showed gelatinous material with gross adhesions in the CP angle cistern. A dural biopsy was done which showed sheets of poorly differentiated tumor cells which expressed S100 and Melan A and were immunoreactive with Human Melanoma Black (HMB)-45 antibody, consistent with the diagnosis of malignant melanoma. Histology of the excised epidermoid cyst was re-evaluated in deeper sections and showed scattered atypical melanocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis which were highlighted with HMB-45 antibody. The patient expired within 3 days of the second procedure due to respiratory failure. A very aggressive fulminant course of the disease was evident after surgery for the epidermoid cyst. Treatment options are limited. Criteria for identification of malignancy in an intracranial epidermoid cyst were identified in our case retrospectively and have been highlighted.

Immunological and Clinico-Molecular Features of Tumor Border Configuration in Colorectal Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Infiltrating tumor border configuration (ITBC) portends a poor prognosis compared with pushing tumor border configuration (PTBC) in colorectal cancer. The tumor and its surrounding immune microenvironment of tumor border configuration is not well-characterized. We aim to elucidate the differences in expression of molecular markers between the 2 groups using tissue microarray (TMA). STUDY DESIGN: Immunohistochemistry was performed on TMAs of surgical pathology specimens obtained from colorectal cancer patients consecutively operated at our institution from 2004 to 2015. TMAs were stained for immune cells (CD8, FOXP3, LAG3, PU1, CD163, and PDL1); HLA II, beta 2 microglobulin, and HC10 on tumor cells; BRAFV600E mutation; and DNA mismatch repair proteins (MMR) status. Patients who received neoadjuvant therapy were excluded. RESULTS: There were 646 tumors with ITBC and 310 tumors with PTBC. There was a significantly lower expression (p < 0.05) of immune components, namely CD8, FOXP3, LAG3, PU1, PDL1 immune cells, and Beta-2 Microglobulin on tumor cells in the tumors with ITBC compared with PTBC, except CD163 immune cells, and HC10 and HLAII on tumor cells. Tumors with ITBC were less likely to be associated with BRAFV600E mutations and deficient MMR proteins (p < 0.001). On analyzing MMR-proficient tumors separately, we could not find any difference in the expression of any molecular marker (including BRAF), except a lower expression of PDL1 immune cells in tumors with ITBC (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Colorectal tumors with ITBC are associated with a generalized low immune microenvironment and low rates of BRAFV600E mutation compared with tumors with PTBC. However, the molecular expression of tumor border configuration seems confounded by the MMR molecular signature. MMR-proficient colorectal tumors with ITBC are associated with a lower expression of only PDL1 immune cells among all immune markers examined.

Clinical, pathological, genetics and intratumoural immune milieu of micropapillary carcinoma of the colon.

AIM: Micropapillary carcinoma (MPC) is a recognised WHO variant of colonic carcinoma (CC), although little is known about its prognosis, immune microenvironment and molecular alterations. We investigated its clinical, pathological and immunological characteristics. METHODS: We assessed 903 consecutive CCs and used the WHO definition to identify MPC. We recorded serrated and mucinous differentiation and mismatch repair (MMR) status. We performed immunohistochemistry and quantification on tissue microarrays for HLA class I/II proteins, beta-2-microglobulin (B2MG), CD8, CD163, LAG3, PD-L1, FoxP3, PD-L1and BRAF V600E. RESULTS: We classified 8.6% (N=78) of CC as MPC. Relative to non-MPC, MPC was more often high grade (p=0.03) and showed serrated morphology (p<0.01); however, we found no association with extramural venous invasion (p=0.41) and American Joint Committee on Cancer stage (p=0.95). MPCs showed lower numbers of CD8 positive lymphocytes (p<0.01), lower tumour cell B2MG expression (p=0.04) and lower tumour cell PD-L1 expression (p<0.01). There was no difference in HLA class I/II, LAG3, FOXP3, CD163 and PD-L1 positive histiocytes. There was no association with MMR status or BRAF V600E relative to non-MPC. MPC was not associated with decreased disease-specific survival (p=0.36). CONCLUSION: MPCs are associated with high-grade differentiation and a less active immune microenvironment than non-MPC. MPC is not associated with inferior disease-specific survival.

Quantitative p53 immunostaining aids in the detection of prevalent dysplasia.

AIMS: The lack of accepted scoring criteria has precluded the use of p53 in routine practice. We evaluate the utility of automated quantitative p53 analysis in risk stratifying Barrett's oesophagus (BE) patients using non-dysplastic BE (NDBE) biopsies in a multicentric cohort of BE progressor (P) and non-progressor (NP) patients. METHODS: NDBE biopsies prior to the diagnosis of advanced neoplasia from 75 BE-P, and index and last surveillance biopsies from 148 BE-NP were stained for p53, and scored digitally as 1+, 2+ and 3+. A secondary cohort of 30 BE-P was evaluated. RESULTS: Compared with BE-NP, BE-P was predominantly men (p=0.001), ≥55 years of age (p=0.008), with longer BE segments (71% vs 33%; p<0.001). The mean number of 3+p53 positive cells and 3+ positive glands were significantly more in BE-P versus BE-NP NDBE biopsies (175 vs 9.7, p<0.001; 9.8 vs 0.1; p<0.001, respectively). At a cut-off of ≥10 p53 (3+) positive cells, the sensitivity and specificity of the assay to identify BE-P were 39% and 93%. On multivariate analysis, scoring p53 in NDBE biopsies, age, gender and length of BE were significantly associated with neoplastic progression. 54% of patients classified as prevalent dysplasia showed an abnormal p53 immunohistochemical stain. These findings were validated in the secondary cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Automated p53 analysis in NDBE biopsies serves as a promising tool for assessing BE neoplastic progression and risk stratification. Our study highlights the practical applicability of p53 assay to routine surveillance practice and its ability to detect prevalent dysplasia.

FGFR mRNA Expression in Cholangiocarcinoma and Its Correlation with FGFR2 Fusion Status and Immune Signatures.

PURPOSE: Selective FGFR inhibitors are effective against cholangiocarcinomas that harbor gene alterations in FGFR2. Clinical trials suggest that expression of wild-type FGFR mRNA can predict sensitivity to FGFR inhibitors, but this biomarker has not been well characterized in cholangiocarcinoma. This study explores the prevalence of FGFR mRNA overexpression in cholangiocarcinoma, its role in predicting sensitivity to FGFR inhibitors, and its association with immune markers. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Tissue microarrays of intrahepatic (ICC) and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas (ECC) resected between 2004 and 2015 were used to evaluate FGFR1-4 mRNA expression levels by RNA in situ hybridization (ISH). Expression levels of FGFR2 mRNA were correlated with FGFR2 fusion status and with patient outcomes. Immune markers expression was assessed by IHC and CSF1 and CSF1 receptor expression were examined by RNA ISH. RESULTS: Among 94 patients with resected cholangiocarcinoma, the majority had ICC (77%). FGFR2 fusions were identified in 23% of ICCs and 5% of ECCs. High levels of FGFR mRNA in FGFR2 fusion-negative ICC/ECC were seen for: FGFR1 (ICC/ECC: 15%/0%), FGFR2 (ICC/ECC: 57%/0%), FGFR3 (ICC/ECC: 53%/18%), and FGFR4 (ICC/ECC: 32%/0%). Overall, 62% of fusion-negative cholangiocarcinomas showed high levels of FGFR mRNA. In patients with advanced FGFR2 fusion-positive ICC, high levels of FGFR2 mRNA did not correlate with clinical benefit. FGFR2 fusion-positive tumors showed a paucity of PD-L1 on tumor cells. CONCLUSIONS: FGFR mRNA overexpression occurs frequently in cholangiocarcinoma in the absence of genetic alterations in FGFR. This study identifies a molecular subpopulation in cholangiocarcinoma for which further investigation of FGFR inhibitors is merited outside currently approved indications.

Agrin Loss in Barrett's Esophagus-Related Neoplasia and Its Utility as a Diagnostic and Predictive Biomarker.

PURPOSE: There is an unmet need for identifying novel biomarkers in Barrett's esophagus that could stratify patients with regards to neoplastic progression. We investigate the expression patterns of extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules in Barrett's esophagus and Barrett's esophagus-related neoplasia, and assess their value as biomarkers for the diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus-related neoplasia and to predict neoplastic progression. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Gene-expression analyses of ECM matrisome gene sets were performed using publicly available data on human Barrett's esophagus, Barrett's esophagus-related dysplasia, esophageal adenocarcinoma (ADCA) and normal esophagus. Immunohistochemical expression of basement membrane (BM) marker agrin (AGRN) and p53 was analyzed in biopsies of Barrett's esophagus-related neoplasia from 321 patients in three independent cohorts. RESULTS: Differential gene-expression analysis revealed significant enrichment of ECM matrisome gene sets in dysplastic Barrett's esophagus and ADCA compared with controls. Loss of BM AGRN expression was observed in both Barrett's esophagus-related dysplasia and ADCA. The mean AGRN loss in Barrett's esophagus glands was significantly higher in Barrett's esophagus-related dysplasia and ADCA compared with non-dysplastic Barrett's esophagus (NDBE; P < 0.001; specificity = 82.2% and sensitivity = 96.4%). Loss of AGRN was significantly higher in NDBE samples from progressors compared with non-progressors (P < 0.001) and identified patients who progressed to advanced neoplasia with a specificity of 80.2% and sensitivity of 54.8%. Moreover, the combination of AGRN loss and abnormal p53 staining identified progression to Barrett's esophagus-related advanced neoplasia with a specificity and sensitivity of 86.5% and 58.7%. CONCLUSIONS: We highlight ECM changes during Barrett's esophagus progression to neoplasia. BM AGRN loss is a novel diagnostic biomarker that can identify patients with NDBE at increased risk of developing advanced neoplasia.