Pleomorphic hyalinizing angiectatic tumor, a rare localization: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Pleomorphic hyalinizing angiectatic tumor (PHAT) is a very rare soft tissue tumor with locally aggressive behavior but without metastasizing capacity. The most described localization is in the lower extremities. However, other localizations, such as breast or renal hilium, have already been described. Global literature about this type of tumor is rare. Our objective is to review other rare localizations and the main histopathology findings. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 70 year old woman who underwent local surgery to remove a soft tissue mass which had a posterior anatomo-pathological diagnosis of PHAT. Histopathology analyses showed tumor cells proliferation and cellular pleomorphism, associated with hemosiderin pigment deposition and papillary endothelial hyperplasia. Immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated positive expression for CD34 with negative expression of SOX-100 and S-100. Secondary surgery was performed to extend margin resection for the purpose of obtaining negative margins. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: PHAT is a very rare tumor originates in subcutaneous tissues. Although there is no pathognomonic sign, it is frequently found at the microscope hyalinized vasculature, positivity for CD34 or negativity for SOX100 and S-100. Surgery with negative margins is the gold standard treatment. No metastasizing capacity was described for this type of tumor. CONCLUSION: The aim of this clinical case report - and subsequent literature review - is to update the data about PHAT in order to demonstrate its cytopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics, its differential diagnosis with other soft tissue and malignant tumors and its gold standard treatment.

The deleterious effects induced by an acute exposure of human skin to common air pollutants are prevented by extracts of Deschampsia antarctica.

The homeostatic and regenerative potential of the skin is critically impaired by an increasing accumulation of air pollutants in human ecosystems. These toxic compounds are frequently implicated in pathological processes such as premature cutaneous ageing, altered pigmentation and cancer. In this scenario, innovative strategies are required to tackle the effects of severe air pollution on skin function. Here we have used a Human Skin Organotypic Culture (HSOC) model to characterize the deleterious effects of an acute topic exposure of human skin to moderately high concentrations of common ambient pollutants, including As, Cd, Cr, dioxins and tobacco smoke. All these toxic compunds inflict severe damage in the tissue, activating the AHR-mediated response to xenobiotics. We have further evaluated the potential of an aqueous leaf extract of the polyextremophile plant Deschampsia antarctica (Edafence) to protect human skin against the acute exposure to toxic pollutants. Our results indicate that pre-treatment of HSOC samples with this aqueous extract conuterbalances the deleterious effects of the exposure to toxic comunds and triggers the activation of key genes invoved in the redox system and in the pro-inflammatory/wound healing response in the skin, suggesting that this natural compound might be effectively used in vivo to protect human skin routinely in different daily conditions.

Cytoplasmic Increase in Hsp70 Protein: A Potential New Biomarker of Early Infiltration of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Arising from Actinic Keratosis.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous squamous skin cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most frequent type of non-melanoma skin cancer and is the second leading cause of death by skin cancer in Caucasian populations. However, at present it is difficult to predict patients with poor SCC prognosis. OBJECTIVE: To identify proteins with expression levels that could predict SCC infiltration in SCC arising from actinic keratosis (SCC-AK). METHODS: A total of 20 biopsies from 20 different patients were studied; 10 were SCC-AK samples and 10 were taken from normal skin. Early infiltrated SCC-AK samples were selected based on histological examination, and to determine the expression of proteins, fresh skin samples were processed by two-dimensional electrophoresis. RESULTS: The expression levels of three proteins, namely alpha hemoglobin and heat shock proteins 27 and 70 (Hsp27 and Hsp70, respectively) were significantly increased in SCC-AK samples with respect to normal control skin. However, only the expression level of Hsp70 protein positively correlated with the level of SCC-AK dermis infiltration. Immunohistological examination suggested that increased expression of Hsp70 proteins seemed to mainly occur in the cytoplasm of keratinocytes. The increased cytoplasmic Hsp70 expression in SCC-AK was confirmed by Western blot experiments. CONCLUSION: Cytoplasmic expression of Hsp70 could be a potential biomarker of early infiltration of SCC arising from AK.