The Significance of Squamous Histology on Clinical Outcomes and PD-L1 Expression in Bladder Cancer.

Objectives. To compare the clinicopathologic characteristics of urothelial carcinoma (UC), urothelial carcinoma with squamous differentiation (UCSD), and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the bladder, which have been suggested to differ in terms of risk factors, immunophenotype, and prognosis. Methods. We evaluated the clinicopathologic features of radical cystectomy specimens between 1980 and 2015 with a diagnosis of SCC, UCSD, and UC. PD-L1 immunohistochemistry (clinically available clones 22C3, SP142, and SP263) was performed on SCC and UCSD. Multivariate Cox regression was used to identify prognostic factors. Kaplan-Meier curves were plotted to assess cancer-specific survival (CSS). Results. Of the 1478 cases, there were 1126 UC (76%), 217 UCSD (15%), and 135 SCC (9%). Bladder cancer was more common in men than women (80% vs 20%, P < .0001). However, a higher proportion of SCC and UCSD occurred in women (SCC-36%, UCSD-22%, UC-18%). Women were significantly more likely to be never smokers in all 3 cohorts (UC: 45% vs 16%, UCSD: 44% vs 12%, SCC: 40% vs 18%, P < .0001). Patients with SCC and UCSD were at a higher pathologic stage (>pT2) at the time of cystectomy (UCSD-74%, SCC 71%, UC-44%, P < .0001) and had worse CSS compared to patients with UC (P = 0.006). SCC had higher PD-L1 scores (all clones) than UCSD (P < .0001). PD-L1 22C3 (P = .02, HR: 0.36) and SP142 scores (P = .046, HR: 0.27) predicted CSS on Kaplan-Meier analysis for SCC cases. Conclusions. UC, UCSD, and SCC are associated with different risk factors, gender distributions, and clinical outcomes. PD-L1 is expressed in SCC and UCSD, suggesting some patients may benefit from targeted therapy.

Ectopic, retroperitoneal adrenocortical carcinoma in the setting of Lynch syndrome.

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is rare within the adult population. Ectopic ACC proves even rarer. This variant is formed by cortical fragments arrested during embryologic migration. ACC is also known to be associated with several genetic syndromes and has recently been linked to Lynch syndrome in 3% of cases. We present the case of a 68-year-old male with a confirmed diagnosis of Lynch syndrome secondary to a germline MSH2 mismatch-repair gene-mutation who presented with 2 months history of non-specific abdominal pain. After imaging work-up, the patient was found to have a right upper quadrant, retroperitoneal mass. Biochemical tests were without any evidence of a hormonally active process. Fine needle aspiration of the mass revealed a poorly differentiated carcinoma of unknown etiology. The lesion was resected and found to be consistent with ectopic ACC with an associated MSH2 mutation.