Fumarate hydratase deficient renal cell carcinoma: Chromosomal numerical aberration analysis of 12 cases.

Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma-associated renal cell carcinoma (HLRCC)/fumarate hydratase deficient renal cell carcinoma (FHRCC) is defined by molecular genetic changes (mutation/LOH in fumarate hydratase (FH) gene). We investigated chromosomal numerical aberration pattern (CNV) in FHRCC/HLRCC using array comparative genomic hybridization analysis and low pass whole genome sequencing. Genetic analysis was successfully completed in 12 tumors. Most common chromosomal aberrations detected were a complete or partial loss of chromosome 4 (5/12 cases), chromosome 15 (4/12 cases), and chromosomes 9, 13, and 14 (each in 3/12 cases), as well as a complete or partial gain of chromosome 17 (in 4/12 cases). No chromosomal losses or gains were detected in 4 cases. Copy number variation pattern in FHRCC/HLRCC appears to be highly variable and does not provide a useful diagnostic tool in identifying these cases. Immunohistochemical staining and especially molecular genetic evaluation of FH gene mutations/LOH remain the gold standard in identifying FHRCC/HLRCC.

Programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptor/PD-1 ligand (PD-L1) expression in fumarate hydratase-deficient renal cell carcinoma.

Fumarate hydratase-deficient renal cell carcinoma (FH-RCC) is a rare and aggressive tumor affecting mostly younger patients. This is the first study to assess the expression of programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptor/PD-1 ligand (PD-L1) in FH-RCC. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples from 13 FH-RCCs collected in an international multi-institutional study, were evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) for PD-1/PD-L1 reactivity in tumor cells and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). PD-1/PD-L1 expression was further evaluated by qPCR. By IHC, PD-1 was negative in tumor cells in all 13 cases. PD-L1 was positive in tumor cells in 2/13 cases, weak positive in 7/13, and negative in 4/13 cases, respectively. In TILs, PD-1 was positive in 1/13, weak positive in 3/13, and negative in 9/13 cases. In TILs, PD-L1 was weak positive by IHC in 5/13, and negative in 8/13 cases, respectively. qPCR confirmed the result for 2 of 3 IHC weak positive PD-1 samples. Of 7 IHC weak positive samples (in tumor cells), PD-L1 mRNA was detected in all 7 tumors. The majority of FH-RCCs did not express PD-1/PD-L1 by IHC, which was confirmed by molecular analysis. PD-1/PD-L1 expression in FH-RCC is restricted to a proportion of cases which may benefit from targeted therapies.

Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma with neuroendocrine and neuroendocrine-like features. Morphologic, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, and array comparative genomic hybridization analysis of 18 cases and review of the literature.

Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (CRCC) with neuroendocrine differentiation (CRCCND) has only recently been described. Eighteen cases of CRCC with morphologic features suggestive of neuroendocrine differentiation were selected from among 624 CRCCs in our registry. The tissues were fixed in neutral formalin, embedded in paraffin, cut into 4- to 5-µm-thick sections, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. As CRCC with neuroendocrine features, tumors with following morphology were suggested: (1) trabecular/palisading/ribbon-like, gyriform, insular, glandular, and solid pattern; (2) uniform polygonal cells formed in small islets; and (3) cribriform pattern in combination with palisading. Selected cases were further analyzed using immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, array comparative genomic hybridization, and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Cases were classified as CRCCND or CRCC with neuroendocrine-like features (CRCCND-L) based on the immunohistochemical expression of neuroendocrine markers: CRCCND, 4 cases, age range 49 to 79 years, size ranged from 2.2 to 22 cm, and CRCCND-L, 14 cases, age range 34 to 74 years, size range 3.8 to 16.5 cm. Follow-up information was available for 11 of 18 patients aged 0.5 to 12 years. Two of 4 CRCCNDs showed aggressive clinical course with metastatic spreading. Chromophobe renal cell carcinomas with neuroendocrine differentiation were focally positive for CD56 (4/4), synaptophysin (4/4), chromogranin A (1/4), and neuron-specific enolase (3/4). All 14 CRCCND-Ls were mostly negative or very weakly focally positive for some of the aforementioned markers. All 18 tumors were positive for cytokeratin 7 and CD117. Ultrastructural analysis showed poorly preserved neuroendocrine granules only in 2 of 4 analyzed CRCCNDs. Losses of chromosomes 1, 2, 6, and 10 were found in all analyzable CRCCNDs, whereas multiple losses (chromosomes 1, 2, 6, 10, 13, 17, and 21) and gains (chromosomes 4, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 19, and 20) were found in CRCCND-L.

Yolk sac tumor differentiation in urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder: a case report and differential diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Yolk sac tumor (YST) is a germ cell neoplasm that arises predominantly in the gonads, but can also derive from somatic neoplasms in extragonadal locations. These latter cases have been documented in several organs, although reports from the urinary tract are limited. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a bladder urothelial carcinoma with a predominant component of YST differentiation. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a unique case of a 76-year-old man with a recurrent urinary bladder tumor, initially interpreted as a high grade urothelial carcinoma with glandular differentiation. In the recurrent tumor, diverse histological patterns were identified, including glandular, hepatoid and sarcomatoid. This tumor showed positivity for AFP, GLP3 and SALL4, and negativity for CK7 and EMA. Fluorescent in situ hybridization study showed a polysomic pattern of chromosome 12. All these findings led to the final diagnosis of a YST derived from urothelial carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: YST differentiation should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a high grade urothelial carcinoma, particularly when glandular and other unusual patterns are observed.

Biphasic Squamoid Alveolar Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Distinctive Subtype of Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma?

Biphasic squamoid alveolar renal cell carcinoma (BSARCC) has been recently described as a distinct neoplasm. Twenty-one cases from 12 institutions were analyzed using routine histology, immunohistochemistry, array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Tumors were removed from 11 male and 10 female patients, whose age ranged from 53 to 79 years. The size of tumors ranged from 1.5 to 16 cm. Follow-up information was available for 14 patients (range, 1 to 96 mo), and metastatic spread was found in 5 cases. All tumors comprised 2 cell populations arranged in organoid structures: small, low-grade neoplastic cells with scant cytoplasm usually lining the inside of alveolar structures, and larger squamoid cells with more prominent cytoplasm and larger vesicular nuclei arranged in compact nests. In 9/21 tumors there was a visible transition from such solid and alveolar areas into papillary components. Areas composed of large squamoid cells comprised 10% to 80% of total tumor volume. Emperipolesis was present in all (21/21) tumors. Immunohistochemically, all cases were positive for cytokeratin 7, EMA, vimentin, and cyclin D1. aCGH (confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization) in 5 analyzable cases revealed multiple numerical chromosomal changes including gains of chromosomes 7 and 17 in all cases. These changes were further disclosed in 6 additional cases, which were unsuitable for aCGH. We conclude that tumors show a morphologic spectrum ranging from RCC with papillary architecture and large squamoid cells to fully developed BSARCC. Emperipolesis in squamoid cells was a constant finding. All BSARCCs expressed CK7, EMA, vimentin, and cyclin D1. Antibody to cyclin D1 showed a unique and previously not recognized pattern of immunohistochemical staining. Multiple chromosomal aberrations were identified in all analyzable cases including gains of chromosomes 7 and 17, indicating that they are akin to papillary RCC. Some BSARCCs were clinically aggressive, but their prognosis could not be predicted from currently available data. Present microscopic, immunohistochemical, and molecular genetic data strongly support the view that BSARCC is a distinctive and peculiar morphologic variant of papillary RCC.