PD-L1 Expression and CD8+ Tumor-infiltrating Lymphocytes in Different Types of Tubo-ovarian Carcinoma and Their Prognostic Value in High-grade Serous Carcinoma.

The prevalence and significance of programmed death-1 ligand (PD-L1) expression in different types of tubo-ovarian carcinoma have not been well defined. We evaluated PD-L1 expression and CD8 tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) density in whole tissue sections of 189 cases of tubo-ovarian carcinoma, including high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC, n=100), clear cell carcinoma (CCC, n=24), endometrioid carcinoma (EmC, n=40), and mucinous carcinomas (MC, n=25). Using the tumor proportion score (TPS) with a 1% cutoff, PD-L1 expression was present in 21% of HGSC, 16.7% of CCC, 2.5% of EmC, and 4% of MC. Using the combined positive score (CPS) with a cutoff of 1, PD-L1 expression was present in 48% of HGSC, 25% of CCC, 20% of EmC, and 24% of MC. HGSC demonstrated significantly higher CD8 TIL density than CCC (P=0.013238), EmC (P=0.01341), or MC (P=0.004556). In HGSC, CD8 TIL density was directly correlated with PD-L1 positivity using either TPS (P=0.0008) or CPS (P=0.00011). Survival analysis of patients with high stage (stage III to IV) HGSC revealed PD-L1 positivity by TPS to be associated with improved progression-free survival (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.4912 vs. 2.036, P=0.0378). Although not statistically significant, a similar trend was observed in overall survival (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.3387 vs. 2.953, P=0.0548). In contrast, with CPS, no significant difference was identified between PD-L1-positive and negative groups in either progression-free survival (P=0.5086) or overall survival (P=0.7823). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was associated with higher PD-L1 expression by TPS (P=0.00407) but not CPS. No significant difference in PD-L1 expression was detected in tumors from patients with germline BRCA1/2 mutations compared with germline mutation-negative tumors by either TPS or CPS. In conclusion, the prevalence of PD-L1 expression is variable in different types of tubo-ovarian carcinoma and is highest in HGSC. In high-stage HGSC, PD-L1 positivity in tumor cells is associated with an increased immune response and improved survival.

Age cutoff for reporting of benign-appearing endometrial cells in Papanicolaou specimens; should it be raised? A 10-year retrospective study from a large county hospital.

INTRODUCTION: The recommendation for reporting benign-appearing endometrial cells in Papanicolaou specimens was increased from 40 to 45 years in the 2014 edition of The Bethesda System. Recent studies suggest that increasing the reporting age to 50 years would have no significant negative impact. Reporting of benign endometrial cells may trigger unnecessary procedures and increase the cost of patient care. The goal of our study was to perform cytohistologic correlations and determine an optimal age cutoff for reporting endometrial cells in cervical cytology specimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The pathology database was searched between 2006 and 2015 for Papanicolaou tests with benign-appearing endometrial cells that were followed by endometrial sampling within 1 year of the cytology result in women ≥45 years. In cases where more than one follow-up surgical specimen was available, only the most significant result was included. Endometrial carcinoma or atypical hyperplasia was considered a significant histologic result. The data were organized into 4 age groups, 45 to 49, 50 to 54, 55 to 59, and ≥60 years. RESULTS: Among 453,420 Papanicolaou specimens, 1121 cases reported endometrial cells in women ≥45 years. Of these, 588 (52%) had an endometrial biopsy/curettage or hysterectomy. Benign diagnosis was reported for 558 (95%) and 12 (2%) samples were insufficient for diagnosis. Significant histologic findings were present in 18 (3%) of cases, of which all were endometrial carcinoma. The difference was statistically significant between the age groups 45 to 54 and ≥55 (1.5% versus 17% of cases had significant endometrial pathology, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Increasing the current reporting age appears safe and may improve efficiency and cost savings.

Challenges in the Pap diagnosis of endocervical adenocarcinoma in situ.

INTRODUCTION: Recognition of adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) in cervical cytology is challenging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We calculated the sensitivity and accuracy of Papanicolaou (Pap) tests obtained within 1 year of a histologic diagnosis of AIS from 2007 to 2016. We also correlated it with the coexistence of squamous lesions, calculated the interobserver agreement, and compared these measures with those of endocervical adenocarcinoma (ECCA). We correlated AIS detection with high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) status. RESULTS: Of 72 patients with histologic AIS and 48 patients with ECCA, 92% and 87.5%, respectively, had abnormal Pap test results. A glandular abnormality was detected in 44.4% of the AIS and 77.1% of the ECCA cases. Complete cytohistologic concordance was reached in 8.3% of AIS and 22.9% of ECCA cases. In addition, 27.8% of AIS and 6.3% of ECCA cases were diagnosed on Pap as a high-risk squamous abnormality. Concurrent squamous lesions were present in 79.2% of patients with AIS and 29.2% of patients with ECCA. The Paps from the AIS and ECCA cases were diagnosed as pure squamous abnormalities in 47.2% and 10.4% of cases, respectively. In the AIS cases, interobserver agreement was substantial for detection of any high-risk cytologic abnormality (kappa = 0.67) and fair for detection of any glandular abnormality (kappa = 0.34). Among the 26 patients with AIS tested for hrHPV, 92% had positive results and 8% had negative results. CONCLUSIONS: The cytologic sensitivity for the detection of AIS remains low. It is directly related to the coexistence of squamous lesions. Cytology and hrHPV as stand-alone screening tests fail in the early detection of a small proportion of glandular lesions, although combined testing will improve their detection rates.

Mismatch Repair Protein Expression in Endometrioid Intraepithelial Neoplasia/Atypical Hyperplasia: Should We Screen for Lynch Syndrome in Precancerous Lesions?

Screening for Lynch syndrome (LS) is routinely performed in patients with endometrial carcinoma. Currently, no screening recommendations exist for LS in precancerous lesions. The study goal was to determine the incidence of abnormal protein expression in endometrioid intraepithelial neoplasia/atypical hyperplasia (EIN/AH). We analyzed mismatch repair (MMR) protein expression by immunohistochemistry in EIN/AH concurrent with MMR-deficient endometrial carcinomas, and in endometrial biopsy/curettage specimens with EIN/AH from an unselected group of patients. Of 63 patients with MMR-deficient endometrial carcinoma, 34 demonstrated loss of MLH1/PMS2 expression; 1 showed loss of PMS2 alone; 12 showed loss of MSH2/MSH6, and 15 had loss of MSH6 alone. Genetic testing identified deleterious mutations in 14 cases (LS). 15 tumors demonstrated MLH1 promoter hypermethylation. Abnormal MMR expression in EIN/AH and adjacent carcinoma was concordant in 100% of LS cases and 71% of MLH1 promoter hypermethylation cases. Of 118 patients from the unselected group with EIN/AH, 4 (3%) cases demonstrated absent expression of one or more MMR proteins. Of these, 2 patients were later confirmed to have deleterious mutations in subsequent specimens with endometrial carcinoma. The prevalence of abnormal MMR expression in EIN/AH adjacent to carcinoma and in the unselected group of patients with EIN/AH is similar to the reported prevalence of LS in endometrial carcinoma. Identifying patients at high risk for LS through abnormal MMR expression in EIN/AH provides the benefit of early surveillance, treatment and timely diagnosis for the patient and affected family members.

The diagnostic utility of Merkel cell polyomavirus immunohistochemistry in a fine needle aspirate of metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma of unknown primary to the pancreas.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive skin tumor with a high tendency for metastases. We report a case of MCC initially presenting as axillary and pancreatic metastases. A 33-year-old HIV-positive Hispanic male presented with a history of a rapidly growing axillary mass. A needle core biopsy demonstrated an epithelioid neoplasm composed of small to medium-sized cells with high nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio, nuclear molding, and frequent mitotic figures. A subsequent PET scan revealed a 1.5 cm FDG avid mass in the pancreas. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided FNA of the pancreatic mass showed neoplastic cells with similar morphology to those of the axillary mass. The tumor cells were positive with pancytokeratin AE1/AE3, CK20, CD56, synatophysin, chromogranin, and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). This case of MCC most likely originated from a resolved primary skin lesion drained by the involved axillary lymph node with subsequent metastases to the pancreas and distant lymph nodes.

Ovarian serous cystadenofibromas associated with a low-grade serous carcinoma of the peritoneum.

Ovarian serous cystadenofibromas are benign neoplasms that sometimes have focal areas of borderline serous tumor and rarely have been associated with epithelial proliferations in the peritoneum, resembling implants. We are reporting 2 cases of ovarian serous cystadenofibromas with serous peritoneal lesions of higher grade than the ovarian tumor: 1 case had a serous carcinoma and another 1 a serous borderline tumor.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition in pulmonary carcinosarcoma: case report and literature review.

Pulmonary carcinosarcoma is a rare and aggressive neoplasm that has both epithelial and mesenchymal components. We report on a 63-year-old woman who was found to have a right upper-lobe pulmonary carcinosarcoma with metastases to the liver and gastric fundus. There are currently no published guidelines on the treatment of pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinomas. However, with our expanding knowledge of cancer metastasis, cases of carcinosarcoma illustrate our current understanding of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in action. Here, we discuss the development and treatment of these biphasic tumors and the possible role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition.