Characterization and spatial distribution of the immune cell infiltrate in triple-negative breast cancer: a novel classification based on plasma cells and CD8+ T cells.

Stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (sTILs) are a robust prognostic and predictive biomarker in triple-negative breast carcinoma. However, the sTIL compartment comprises different cell populations. The aim of the study is to characterize the distribution of T cells (CD3+ and CD8+), B cells, and plasma cells and explore their association with outcome in the surgical specimen of 62 patients. Furthermore, programmed death ligand 1 expression and the presence of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) are explored. Patients with higher sTILs achieve better progression-free survival (PFS) (P = .0013), and tumors have more plasma cells in the infiltrate. Specifically, higher counts of T cells (both CD3+ and CD8+) have better PFS (P = .002 and P = .0086, respectively) as it is observed in tumors with higher infiltration of CD8+ T cells in the tumor core (P = .035). Higher infiltration by B cells and plasma cells shows a positive tendency toward increased PFS (P = .06 and P = .058). Programmed death ligand 1 (SP142) is positive in 56% of tumors. Tumors with at least 1 TLS (42%) show higher CD8+ T cell infiltration in the tumor core and the sTIL value doubles compared to tumors devoid of TLSs [sTIL mean: 36 ± 11% and 18 ± 5% (CI [Confidence Interval]: 95%), respectively]. Our study demonstrates that the characterization of the immune cell infiltration is as relevant as its distribution. Moreover, the importance of considering different immune cell types for classification is emphasized. Therefore, a new classification of triple-negative breast carcinoma immune infiltration with CD8+ T cell and plasma cell densities in the tumor core and infiltrative margin is proposed.

D2-40 immunohistochemical overexpression in cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas: a marker of metastatic risk.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 4% of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCCs) develop lymphatic metastases. The value of lymphatic endothelial markers to enhance the detection of lymphatic tumor invasion in cSCC has not been assessed previously. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the use of the antibody D2-40, a podoplanin immunohistochemical marker, to identify tumor lymph vessel invasion in cSCC and to assess its expression in tumor cells. METHODS: This was a retrospective case-control study. A series of 101 cSCC, including 51 cases that developed lymphatic metastatic spread (metastasizing cSCC [MSCC]) and 50 cases that resolved definitely after surgical excision (non-MSCC) were included in the study. Lymph vessel invasion using D2-40 was evaluated on all primary biopsy specimens. The percentage of tumor cells showing D2-40 positivity and intensity scoring were recorded. All the immunohistochemical findings were correlated with the clinicopathological features. RESULTS: Lymph vessel invasion was observed in 8% of non-MSCCs and in 25.5% of MSCCs (P = .031). D2-40 expression was significantly increased, both in intensity (odds ratio 4.42 for intensity ++/+++) and in area (odds ratio 2.29 for area >10%), in MSCC when compared with non-MSCC. Interestingly, almost half (49%) of the MSCC had moderate to intense D2-40 positivity compared with 16% of non-MSCC. D2-40 immunohistochemical expression was increased in tumors with an infiltrative pattern of extension. In the multivariate analysis, histologically poorly differentiated tumors, recurrent lesions, and cSCC showing D2-40 overexpression (in intensity) were significantly associated with lymphatic metastases development (odds ratios 15.67, 14.72, and 6.07, respectively). LIMITATIONS: This was a retrospective study. CONCLUSION: The expression of podoplanin associates with high metastatic risk in cSCC.

Relationship between osteoprotegerin and mortality in decompensated heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether osteoprotegerin - an emerging inflammatory biomarker in cardiovascular diseases - predicts outcomes in patients with acute heart failure and preserved ejection fraction. METHODS: We measured urea, creatinine, hemoglobin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and osteoprotegerin on admission in 177 patients admitted with decompensated heart failure and left ventricular ejection fraction at least 45%. The population was divided according to the median values of osteoprotegerin (158.6 ng/l). Primary and secondary endpoints were all-cause mortality and death/readmission at 1-year follow-up, respectively. Multivariable Cox models were generated for osteoprotegerin and common risk factors. We also evaluated the reclassification of patients into risk categories after adding this biomarker to the model. RESULTS: A total of 43 patients died during the follow-up and 84 had a combined event. Kaplan-Meier curves showed significantly increased primary and secondary endpoints according to the median of osteoprotegerin (log-rank, P < 0.0001 and 0.001, respectively). After adjustment for age, estimated glomerular filtration rate, hemoglobin, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, BMI and New York Heart Association III-IV, osteoprotegerin was a significant predictor of primary endpoint evaluated as continuous and categorized variable (relative risk 2.49, 95% confidence interval 1.18-5.24, P = 0.016 and relative risk 2.35, 95% confidence interval 1.11-4.96, P = 0.025, respectively). The clinical prediction model with osteoprotegerin evaluated with Net Reclassification Index was not significant. CONCLUSION: Osteoprotegerin is independently associated with all-cause mortality in patients hospitalized for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. However, adding this biomarker into a risk model does not improve its prediction value.

Human papillomavirus detection and p16INK4a expression in cervical lesions: a comparative study.

p16(INK4a) expression in dysplastic cervical lesions is related to high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection. The immunohistochemical expression of this protein in these lesions allows an increase in diagnostic reproducibility in biopsies and the introduction of prognostic factors in low-grade lesions. Here, we studied the immunohistochemical expression of p16 in 86 dysplastic cervical lesions, 54 cervical intraepithelial neoplasms-grade 1 (CIN-I), 23 CIN-II, and 9 CIN-III. In addition, we performed HPV detection and genotyping. We detected HR-HPV in 19/54 CIN-I, 21/23 CIN-II and 9/9 CIN-III cases. p16(INK4a) immunoreactivity was observed in 7/19 CIN-I HR-HPV-positive, 17/21 CIN-II HR-HPV-positive and all CIN-III cases. Immunoreactivity for p16(INK4a) was found in 7/54 CIN-I and in 17/23 CIN-II cases. In the follow-up, we detected 3 p16-positive high-grade squamous epithelial lesions (CIN-II and CIN-III) in the CIN-I/p16-negative group and 5 p16-positive high-grade squamous epithelial lesions cases in the CIN-II/p16-negative group. We conclude that p16 negativity in CIN-I and CIN-II biopsies does not always imply regression of the lesion and that the diagnosis of CIN-II should not be based solely on p16 results.

Long telomere length and a TERT-CLPTM1 locus polymorphism association with melanoma risk.

Telomere length has been associated with the development of cancer. Studies have shown that shorter telomere length may be related to a decreased risk of cutaneous melanoma. Furthermore, deregulation of the telomere-maintaining gene complexes, has been related to this oncogenic process. Some variants in these genes seem to be correlated with a change in telomerase expression. We examined the effect of 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TERT gene (encoding telomerase), one SNP in the related TERT-CLPTM1L locus and one SNP in the TRF1 gene with telomere length, and its influence on melanoma risk in 970 Spanish cases and 733 Spanish controls. Genotypes were determined using KASP technology, and telomere length was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on DNA extracted from peripheral blood leucocytes. Our results demonstrate that shorter telomere length is associated with a decreased risk of melanoma in our population (global p-value, 2.69×10(-11)), which may be caused by a diminution of proliferative potential of nevi (melanoma precursor cells). We also obtained significant results when we tested the association between rs401681 variant (TERT-CLPTM1L locus) with melanoma risk (Odds ratio, OR; 95% confidence interval, CI=1.24 (1.08-1.43); p-value, 3×10(-3)). This is the largest telomere-related study undertaken in a Spanish population to date. Furthermore, this study represents a comprehensive analysis of some of the most relevant telomere pathway genes in relation to cutaneous melanoma susceptibility.

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition markers are associated with an increased metastatic risk in primary cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas but are attenuated in lymph node metastases.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the second most common malignancy in humans and approximately 5% metastasize, usually to regional lymph nodes. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process involving loss of intercellular adhesion, acquisition of a mesenchymal phenotype and enhanced migratory potential; epithelial markers, such as E-cadherin, are down-regulated and mesenchymal proteins (Vimentin), increased. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of EMT markers in metastatic SCC (MSCC) and their corresponding metastases, and to correlate them with clinico-pathological factors associated with an increased risk of metastasis. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study that included 146 cSCC samples (51 primary non-metastatic, 56 primary metastatic, 39 lymphatic metastases). Immunohistochemistry for E-cadherin, Vimentin, Snail, beta-catenin, Twist, Zeb1 and Podoplanin was performed. RESULTS: Loss of membranous E-cadherin was observed in 77% cSCCs, with no differences between MSCC and non-MSCC. Among the transcriptional factors controlling EMT, no significant Snail1 expression was detected. Twist, Zeb1, Vimentin, beta-catenin and Podoplanin were significantly overexpressed in MSCCs. Twist ectopic expression in SCC13 cells induced Zeb1, Vimentin and Podoplanin expression and E-cadherin delocalization. These changes resulted in a scattered migration pattern in vitro. Expression of EMT markers was decreased in the metastases when compared with the corresponding primary tumors. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that a partial EMT, characterized by the expression of Twist but without a total E-cadherin depletion, is involved in the acquisition of invasive traits by cSCC, but the process is downregulated in lymph node metastases.

Genetic polymorphisms in DNA repair and oxidative stress pathways associated with malignant melanoma susceptibility.

BACKGROUND: Base excision repair (BER) and nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathways eliminate a wide variety of DNA damage, including UV photoproducts. The ability of each individual to repair DNA damage following different causes might explain at least in part the variability in cancer susceptibility. Moreover, inflammatory response to UV exposure may further contribute to skin carcinogenesis by oxidative stress mechanisms. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes encoding various DNA-repair enzymes and oxidative stress factors may be candidate low-penetrance variants with a role in susceptibility to different cancers, particularly in those with aetiologies linked to environmental exposure, such as malignant melanoma (MM). METHODS: In this case-control study, 684 Spanish sporadic MM patients and 406 cancer-free control subjects were included and the role of 46 polymorphisms belonging to 16 BER and NER genes as well as 11 genes involved in oxidative stress processes were investigated. RESULTS: One polymorphism was identified to be individually associated with MM in the Spanish population. The variant was found in the NOS1 oxidative stress gene (rs2682826; p-value=0.01). These results suggest a putative role of oxidative stress processes in the genetic predisposition to melanoma. CONCLUSION: To the authors' knowledge, this is the largest DNA repair-related SNP study in melanoma risk conducted in the Spanish population up to now. Furthermore, it also represents a comprehensive genetic study of several oxidative stress polymorphisms tested in relation to MM susceptibility.

A customized pigmentation SNP array identifies a novel SNP associated with melanoma predisposition in the SLC45A2 gene.

As the incidence of Malignant Melanoma (MM) reflects an interaction between skin colour and UV exposure, variations in genes implicated in pigmentation and tanning response to UV may be associated with susceptibility to MM. In this study, 363 SNPs in 65 gene regions belonging to the pigmentation pathway have been successfully genotyped using a SNP array. Five hundred and ninety MM cases and 507 controls were analyzed in a discovery phase I. Ten candidate SNPs based on a p-value threshold of 0.01 were identified. Two of them, rs35414 (SLC45A2) and rs2069398 (SILV/CKD2), were statistically significant after conservative Bonferroni correction. The best six SNPs were further tested in an independent Spanish series (624 MM cases and 789 controls). A novel SNP located on the SLC45A2 gene (rs35414) was found to be significantly associated with melanoma in both phase I and phase II (P<0.0001). None of the other five SNPs were replicated in this second phase of the study. However, three SNPs in TYR, SILV/CDK2 and ADAMTS20 genes (rs17793678, rs2069398 and rs1510521 respectively) had an overall p-value<0.05 when considering the whole DNA collection (1214 MM cases and 1296 controls). Both the SLC45A2 and the SILV/CDK2 variants behave as protective alleles, while the TYR and ADAMTS20 variants seem to function as risk alleles. Cumulative effects were detected when these four variants were considered together. Furthermore, individuals carrying two or more mutations in MC1R, a well-known low penetrance melanoma-predisposing gene, had a decreased MM risk if concurrently bearing the SLC45A2 protective variant. To our knowledge, this is the largest study on Spanish sporadic MM cases to date.

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Síndrome de Meigs y peritonitis esclerosante: una asociación poco frecuente / Meigs’ syndrome and sclerosing peritonitis: an uncommon association

Los tecomas ováricos son tumores estromales relativamente frecuentes que ocasionalmente pueden asociarse con derrame pleural. Los tecomas pueden presentar focos de luteinización y en estos casos se pueden asociar a peritonitis esclerosante. Esta entidad es muy poco frecuente, presenta características histopatológicas propias y clínica heterogénea. Se presenta el caso de una mujer posmenopáusica con dificultad respiratoria y un tumor anexial con sospecha clínica de cáncer ovárico metastásico cuyo estudio anatomopatológico evidenció un tecoma luteinizante con peritonitis esclerosante. Debido a la asociación de una masa ovárica junto a las manifestaciones clínicas que causaba la peritonitis esclerosante es relativamente usual que el diagnóstico de presunción sea de tumor maligno. Todo ello hace importante conocer la entidad, cuya fisiopatología y tratamiento no están consensuados (AU)

Ovarian thecomas are relatively frequent stromal tumors that can occasionally be associated with pleural effusion. Thecomas may contain luteinized foci, and in these cases, can be associated with sclerosing peritonitis. This is a rare, clinically diverse, entity, with its own histopathologic features. We report the case of a postmenopausal woman with respiratory symptoms, bilateral adnexal tumors and suspected metastasizing ovarian cancer, which histopathological study revealed to be a luteinized thecoma associated with sclerosing peritonitis. Due to the clinical manifestations derived from the sclerosing peritonitis and the abdominal mass, a presumptive diagnosis of malignant tumor is quite common. Familiarity with this entity is therefore important. There is no consensus on its physiopathology and treatment (AU)