MicroRNA Expression Profile in Conjunctival Melanoma.

PURPOSE: Conjunctival melanoma (CM) is a rare disease associated with considerable mortality. As opposed to cutaneous melanoma, the epigenetic mechanisms involved in the development of CM and other mucosal melanomas (MMs) are unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify tumor-specific and prognostic microRNA (miRNA) in CM and to compare the miRNA profile with that of MM. METHODS: Using microarray analysis (Affymetrix) we determined the miRNA expression profile in 40 CMs compared with 7 normal conjunctival samples. Changes in miRNA expression were associated with T stage, local recurrence, metastasis, and mortality. Furthermore, the expression of six fresh frozen tissue samples of CM was compared with that of four laryngeal and sinonasal MM. RESULTS: Our analysis revealed 24 upregulated and 1 downregulated miRNA in CM; several of these miRNAs have key functions in the pathogenesis and progression of cutaneous melanoma. Additionally, we identified seven upregulated miRNAs specific for stage-T1 and stage-T2 CM, whose expression was associated with increased tumor thickness (P = 0.007), and two upregulated miRNAs (miR-3687 and miR-3916) associated with an increased risk of local recurrence. No stage T3-specific miRNAs were identified. CONCLUSIONS: We identified differentially expressed and potentially prognostic miRNAs in CM. Furthermore, the miRNA expression pattern of CM resembled that in MM. The identification of these differentially expressed miRNAs provides an entry point for future functional studies of miRNAs as prognostic or therapeutic targets in CM and highlights the resemblance between CM, MM, and cutaneous melanoma.

Mucosal malignant melanoma - a clinical, oncological, pathological and genetic survey.

Mucosal melanomas constitute 1.3% of all melanomas and they may develop in any mucosal membrane. Conjunctival melanomas (0.5/million/year) and melanomas in the sinonasal cavity (0.5/million/year) are the most common, followed by anorectal melanomas (0.4/million/year) and melanomas in the oral cavity (0.2/million/year). Anorectal melanoma occurs slightly more often in females, whereas oral melanoma has a male predilection. Mucosal melanoma most commonly develops in a patient's sixth or seventh decade of life, and no differences between races have been found except for sinonasal melanoma and conjunctival melanoma, which are very rare in Black people. The symptoms are not tumour-specific and are related to the organ system affected, and the disease is most often diagnosed at an advanced clinical stage. The diagnosis of a primary tumour is difficult, and metastatic cutaneous melanoma and choroidal melanoma must be excluded. Mutations in KIT are frequently found, while BRAF and NRAS mutations are rarely found - except in conjunctival melanomas that carry BRAF mutations. Mutations in the TERT promotor region are also found in mucosal melanomas. Complete surgical resection with free margins is the treatment of choice. The prognosis is poor, with the 5-year survival rate ranging from 0% (gastric melanoma) to 80% (conjunctival melanoma).

BRAF mutations in conjunctival melanoma: investigation of incidence, clinicopathological features, prognosis and paired premalignant lesions.

PURPOSE: To investigate incidence, clinicopathological features and prognosis of BRAF-mutated conjunctival melanoma in Denmark. Furthermore, to determine BRAF mutations in paired premalignant lesions and evaluate immunohistochemical BRAF V600E oncoprotein detection. METHODS: Data from 139 patients with conjunctival melanoma (1960-2012) were collected. Archived conjunctival melanoma samples and premalignant lesions were analysed for BRAF mutations using droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results were associated with clinicopathological features and compared with BRAF V600E oncoprotein stainings. RESULTS: The overall incidence of conjunctival melanoma (0.5 cases/1 000 000/year) increased during the study period with 0.13 cases/1 000 000/10 years. The increase comprised a higher proportion of patients aged >65 years, epibulbar tumours and tumours developed from a primary acquired melanosis with atypia. BRAF mutations were identified in 39 of 111 (35%) cases. The rate ratio of BRAF-mutated versus BRAF-wild-type melanoma did not change over time. BRAF mutations were associated with T1 stage (p = 0.007), young age (p = 0.001), male gender (p = 0.02), sun-exposed location (p = 0.01), mixed/non-pigmented tumour colour (p = 0.02) and nevus origin (p = 0.005), but did not associate with prognosis. BRAF status in conjunctival melanoma and paired premalignant lesions corresponded in 19 of 20 cases. Immunohistochemistry detected BRAF V600E mutations with a sensitivity of 0.94 and a specificity of 1.00 in newer conjunctival melanoma samples (2000-2012, n = 47). CONCLUSION: The incidence of conjunctival melanoma increased in Denmark over 50 years. The proportion of BRAF-mutated conjunctival melanoma was constant. BRAF mutations were identified as early events in conjunctival melanoma, associated with a distinct clinicopathological profile, similar to BRAF-mutated cutaneous melanoma. Immunohistochemical detection of BRAF can be used to assess BRAF V600E mutations.

Conjunctival Lymphoma--An International Multicenter Retrospective Study.

IMPORTANCE: To date, the clinical features of the various subtypes of conjunctival lymphoma (CL) have not been previously evaluated in a large cohort. OBJECTIVE: To characterize subtype-specific clinical features of CL and their effect on patient outcome. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective multicenter study was performed. Patient data were collected from January 1, 1980, through December 31, 2010. The dates of the analysis were May 15, 2015, to August 20, 2015. The median follow-up period was 43 months. Seven eye cancer centers were involved in the study. In total, 268 patients with CL were identified, 5 of whom were excluded because of missing clinical data. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Overall survival, disease-specific survival, and progression-free survival were the primary end points. RESULTS: Two hundred sixty-three patients with CL were included in the study. Their mean age was 61.3 years, and 55.1% (145 of 263) were female. All lymphomas were of B-cell type. The most frequent subtype was extranodal marginal zone lymphoma (EMZL) (68.4% [180 of 263]), followed by follicular lymphoma (FL) (16.3% [43 of 263]), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) (6.8% [18 of 263]), and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (4.6% [12 of 263). Conjunctival lymphoma commonly manifested in elderly individuals (age range, 60-70 years old), with EMZL having a female predilection (57.8% [104 of 180]) and MCL having a marked male predominance (77.8% [14 of 18]). Unlike EMZL and FL, DLBCL and MCL were frequently secondary diseases (41.7% [5 of 12] and 88.9% [16 of 18], respectively), with MCL showing a frequent occurrence of stage IVE lymphoma (61.1% [11 of 18]) and bilateral manifestation (77.8% [14 of 18]). Localized disease (stage IE or IIE) was commonly treated with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) with or without chemotherapy, while widespread lymphoma (stage IIIE or IVE) and MCL of any stage were managed with chemotherapy with or without EBRT. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and MCL had a poor prognosis, with 5-year disease-specific survival of 55.0% and 9.0%, respectively, in contrast to EMZL (97.0%) and FL (82.0%). Further survival predictors included age (EMZL), sex (FL), and Ann Arbor staging classification (EMZL and FL). The American Joint Committee on Cancer TNM staging showed limited prognostic usefulness, only being able to predict survival for patients with DLBCL. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Conjunctival lymphoma consists of mainly 4 subtypes of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma: EMZL, FL, MCL, and DLBCL. Mantle cell lymphoma is characterized by a particularly high frequency of secondary disease of stage IVE and bilateral manifestation. The histological subtype is the main outcome predictor, with MCL and DLBCL having a markedly poorer prognosis than EMZL and FL.

Comparative morphology of the snake spectacle using light and transmission electron microscopy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the interspecific variation in the morphology of the snake spectacle. ANIMALS STUDIED: About 43 snakes of 14 different species, belonging to three different families: Boidae, Colubridae, and Pythonidae. PROCEDURE: The spectacles were examined by light and transmission electron microscopy. The thickness of the stromal layer was measured and the location of the blood vessels was noted. The shape of the transition zone located at the rim of the spectacle and the presence of pigment herein were also recorded. RESULTS: The spectacles of all species examined consisted of three layers. The outer epithelium was made of basal cells with overlaying keratin layers, the stroma comprised layers of organized collagen fibrils, and the inner epithelium was a layer of squamous cells with microvilli. Blood vessels were found in the stroma of all spectacles: in boas and pythons in the middle layers of the stroma and in colubrids adjacent to the inner epithelium. Boas and pythons were endowed with the thickest stromal layers (81-132 µm) compared to colubrids (9-95 µm). Boas and pythons had a convex transition zone, while the transition zone of the colubrids exhibited a steady increase in spectacle thickness toward the hinge region. The transition zone contained pigment in boas and pythons. CONCLUSION: The overall morphology of the spectacle was similar among the major families of snakes. However, the location of blood vessels and appearance of transition zone differed, as did the overall thickness of the spectacle.

Proteomic Analysis of the Vitreous following Experimental Retinal Detachment in Rabbits.

Purpose. The pathogenesis of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) remains incompletely understood, with no clinically effective treatment for potentially severe complications such as photoreceptor cell death and proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Here we investigate the protein profile of the vitreous following experimental retinal detachment using a comparative proteomic based approach. Materials and Methods. Retinal detachment was created in the right eyes of six New Zealand red pigmented rabbits. Sham surgery was undertaken in five other rabbits that were used as controls. After seven days the eyes were enucleated and the vitreous was removed. The vitreous samples were evaluated with two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the differentially expressed proteins were identified with tandem mass spectrometry. Results. Ten protein spots were found to be at least twofold differentially expressed when comparing the vitreous samples of the sham and retinal detachment surgery groups. Protein spots that were upregulated in the vitreous following retinal detachment were identified as albumin fragments, and those downregulated were found to be peroxiredoxin 2, collagen-Iα1 fragment, and α-1-antiproteinase F. Conclusions. Proteomic investigation of the rabbit vitreous has identified a set of proteins that help further our understanding of the pathogenesis of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and its complications.

Breast carcinoma metastasis to the lacrimal gland: Two case reports.

A 77-year-old female, with proptosis, reduced eye motility and diplopia which had developed over two to three months and a 69-year-old female with proptosis, oedema of the eyelid, reduced motility and ptosis, which had developed over three weeks, are presented in the present study. Computed tomography scans revealed irregular lacrimal gland tumours in the two patients. The two patients had history of breast cancer. The first breast cancer metastasis in the lacrimal gland demonstrated a cribriform growth pattern containing ductal elements. The epithelial tumour cells stained positive for cytokeratin (1-8, 10, 14-16, 18 and 19), oestrogen receptor, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and gross cystic disease fluid protein 15 (GCDFP-15). The second metastatic tumour was positive for EMA and estrogen receptor, but variably positive for CEA and GCDFP-15. The metastasis in the lacrimal gland was a pleomorphic tumour. The tumour cells were positive for EMA and variably positive for oestrogen and CEA. Metastases to the lacrimal gland are extremely rare, and metastases to the lacrimal gland should be considered in the diagnoses of lacrimal gland tumours. The present study aimed to describe two such cases and draw attention to breast carcinomas as a differential diagnosis and the most frequent cause of lacrimal gland metastasis.

A Retrospective Review of Conjunctival Melanoma Presentation, Treatment, and Outcome and an Investigation of Features Associated With BRAF Mutations.

IMPORTANCE: Large studies investigating clinical presentation and treatment in primary conjunctival melanoma (CM) are rare. Clinicopathological characteristics of BRAF-mutated CM have not been studied thoroughly. OBJECTIVES: To determine the associations of clinicopathological tumor features and treatment with local recurrence, metastasis, and mortality and to determine the association of BRAF mutations with these features. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Population-based cohort study at the Eye Pathology Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark. Participants included 139 patients with primary CM in Denmark from January 1, 1960, to December 31, 2012. For BRAF analysis, all patients with available formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor samples from January 1, 1994, to December 31, 2012, were included. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: BRAF mutations, local recurrence, regional and distant metastasis, melanoma-related mortality, and all-cause mortality were examined. RESULTS: A poor prognosis of tumors involving the extrabulbar conjunctiva and adjacent tissue structures was confirmed in multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models. Patients undergoing incisional biopsy more frequently developed metastasis (hazard ratio [HR], 2.46; 95% CI, 1.08-5.58; P = .03). Excision without adjuvant treatment was associated with local recurrence (HR, 1.97; 95% CI, 0.11-3.48; P = .02), metastatic disease (HR, 2.51; 95% CI, 1.07-5.91; P = .03), and all-cause mortality (HR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.05-3.08; P = .03). BRAF mutations were identified in 19 of 47 primary CMs (40.4%) and were more frequent in younger patients (P = .005), less frequent in the extrabulbar conjunctiva (P = .05), more frequently classified as T1 tumors (P = .03), and rarely manifested with primary acquired melanosis (P = .001) or with a uniformly pigmented lesion (P = .006). Distant metastases developed in 6 of 19 BRAF-mutated CMs (31.6%) as opposed to 1 of 28 BRAF wild-type CMs (3.6%). No definitive association with distant metastasis was seen in multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Incisional biopsy and excision without adjuvant therapy were associated with a poor outcome in patients with CM. Extrabulbar location was also associated with a poor outcome in multivariable analysis. BRAF-mutated CMs were frequent in younger patients and were rare in tumors involving the extrabulbar conjunctiva. Despite a more favorable location, BRAF-mutated tumors may be associated with more frequent distant metastasis.

Malignant lymphoma of the conjunctiva.

Conjunctival lymphomas constitute 25% of all ocular adnexal lymphomas. The majority are B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs) (98%), whereas conjunctival T-cell NHLs are rare (2%). The most frequent subtype of conjunctival B-cell lymphoma is extranodal marginal zone lymphoma (EMZL; 81%), followed by follicular lymphoma (8%), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (3%), and mantle cell lymphoma (3%). Extranodal marginal zone lymphoma occurs slightly more often in women and, along with follicular lymphoma, presents late in the seventh decade of life, whereas diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and especially mantle cell lymphoma have a predilection for the male gender and typically present in the eighth decade. Extranodal marginal zone lymphoma and follicular lymphoma present most frequently in the forniceal and bulbar conjunctiva. Conjunctival diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma and T-cell NHLs are characterized by a short duration of symptoms before the first ophthalmologic consultation. External beam radiotherapy is the treatment of choice for extranodal marginal zone lymphoma and follicular lymphoma, whereas diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, and T-cell NHLs are mainly treated with chemotherapy. Conjunctival T-cell NHLs are associated with a particularly poor prognosis, with 50% of patients having progression or recurrence during a 1-year follow-up period.

Follicular lymphoma of the ocular adnexal region: a nation-based study.

PURPOSE: To characterize the clinicopathological features of follicular lymphoma of the ocular adnexal region. METHODS: Retrospective nation-based study of Danish patients with ocular adnexal follicular lymphoma from January 1st 1980 through December 31st 2009. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients with ocular adnexal follicular lymphoma were identified. Fourteen (58%) of the patients were females. The median age was 63 years (range: 42-96 years). Eleven (46%) of the patients had primary ocular adnexal lymphoma, seven (29%) had an ocular adnexal lesion in conjunction with a concurrent systemic lymphoma and six patients (25%) presented with an ocular adnexal relapse. The most frequently affected sites were the lacrimal gland (38%) and the orbit (33%). Thirteen patients (54%) presented with Ann Arbor stage IE lymphoma, four (17%) had stage IIE, two patients (8%) stage IIIE, and five patients (21%) had stage IV lymphoma. Radiotherapy was primarily used in patients with primary lymphoma and those with a stage IE/IIE relapse (82%), while stage IIIE/IV lymphomas most frequently received alkylating chemotherapy (67%). Complete remission was observed in 19 of the patients (79%), but of these 11(58%) had a relapse. The 10-year overall survival for the entire cohort was 59%. The translocation t(14;18) was detected in 16 patients (16/24, 76%). Recurrence was only observed in patients with the t(14;18) (p=0.05, log-rank). CONCLUSIONS: Ocular adnexal follicular lymphoma is more commonly found in elderly female patients. The lacrimal gland is relatively frequently involved. Radiotherapy is the treatment of choice for localized ocular adnexal follicular lymphoma providing a favourable prognosis for majority of patients.

Ocular adnexal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a multicenter international study.

IMPORTANCE: The clinical features of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) subtype of ocular adnexal lymphoma have not previously been evaluated in a large cohort to our knowledge. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features of ocular adnexal DLBCL (OA-DLBCL). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This retrospective international cooperative study involved 6 eye cancer centers. During 30 years, 106 patients with OA-DLBCL were identified, and 6 were excluded from the study. The median follow-up period was 52 months. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Overall survival, disease-specific survival (DSS), and progression-free survival were the primary end points. RESULTS: One hundred patients with OA-DLBCL were included in the study (median age, 70 years), of whom 54 (54.0%) were female. The following 3 groups of patients with lymphoma could be identified: primary OA-DLBCL (57.0%), OA-DLBCL and concurrent systemic lymphoma (29.0%), and ocular adnexal lymphoma relapse of previous systemic lymphoma (14.0%). Of 57 patients with primary OA-DLBCL, 53 (93.0%) had Ann Arbor stage IE disease, and 4 (7.0%) had Ann Arbor stage IIE disease. According to the TNM staging system, 43 of 57 (75.4%) had T2 tumors. Among all patients, the most frequent treatments were external beam radiation therapy with or without surgery (31.0%) and rituximab-cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorubicin, vincristine sulfate, prednisone (CHOP) or rituximab-CHOP-like chemotherapy with or without external beam radiation therapy (21.0%). The 5-year overall survival among the entire cohort was 36.0% (median, 3.5 years; 95% CI, 2.5-4.5 years). Relapse occurred in 43.9% (25 of 57) of patients with primary OA-DLBCL. Increasing T category of the TNM staging system was predictive of DSS (P = .04) in primary OA-DLBCL, whereas the Ann Arbor staging system was not. However, when taking all 100 patients into account, Ann Arbor stage was able to predict DSS (P = .01). Women had a longer median DSS than men (9.8 years; 95% CI, 1.9-17.7 years vs 3.3 years; 95% CI, 1.6-5.0; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Most patients with primary OA-DLBCL were seen with Ann Arbor stage IE and TNM T2 disease. The 5-year overall survival was between 2.5 and 4.5 years, which is the 95% CI around the median of 3.5 years in this cohort. Increasing T category appears to be associated with decreased DSS among patients with primary OA-DLBCL. When taking all patients into account, sex and Ann Arbor stage also seem to be DSS predictors.

Genetic analysis of an orbital metastasis from a primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma.

A 71-year-old female with a known history of primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma, presented with a visual defect, proptosis and restricted eye movements of the right eye. Biopsies from the orbit and from the primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma showed similar morphological and immunohistochemical features, and high-resolution, array-based comparative genomic hybridization demonstrated loss of one copy each of chromosomes 3 and 18, and gain of 1q both in the primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma and in the orbital tumour. The orbital mass was diagnosed as a metastasis from the primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma. Primary hepatic neuroendocrine tumours are extremely rare, and the orbit is an extremely rare location for a neuroendocrine carcinoma metastasis. This is the first reported case of an orbital metastasis with origin from a primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma.

Ocular adnexal follicular lymphoma: a multicenter international study.

IMPORTANCE: The clinical features of the follicular subtype of ocular adnexal lymphoma (OAL) have not been previously evaluated in a large cohort. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the clinical features of follicular OAL. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: We performed a retrospective multicenter study that involved 6 eye cancer centers from January 1, 1980, through December 31, 2010. A total of 105 patients with follicular OAL were identified, of which 7 patients were excluded because of missing clinical data. The median follow-up time was 52 months (range, 13-118 months). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Overall survival, disease-specific, and progression-free survivals were the primary end points. RESULTS: Ninety-eight eligible patients with follicular OAL were included; 60 (61%) were women. The median patient age was 63 years (range, 32-96 years). Sixty-nine patients (70%) had primary OAL, 19 (19%) had OAL in conjunction with a concurrent systemic lymphoma, and 10 (10%) presented with an ocular adnexal relapse. The lacrimal gland (28%), conjunctiva (28%), and orbit (28%) were the most frequently involved sites. Of the 69 patients with primary follicular lymphoma, 38 (55%) presented with Ann Arbor stage IE lymphoma, and 31 (45%) had stage IIE lymphoma. Patients with disseminated lymphoma had stage IIIE (9 of 19 [47%]) and stage IV (10 of 19 [53%]) disease, whereas patients with a relapse of systemic lymphoma presented with stage IE (8 of 10 [80%]), stage IIE (1 of 10 [10%]), and stage IIIE (1 of 10 [10%]) disease. Patients with primary follicular lymphoma (n = 69) and those with isolated ocular relapse (n = 9) were treated with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) (35 of 78 [45%]) or EBRT plus chemotherapy (22 of 78 [28%]). Patients presenting with stage IIIE-IV follicular lymphoma (n = 20) most frequently received chemotherapy (9 of 20 [45%]) or EBRT plus chemotherapy (4 of 20 [20%]). The 10-year overall survival for the entire study cohort was 60%. Primary patients treated with EBRT had a better disease-specific survival compared with patients receiving ERBT plus chemotherapy (10-year disease-specific survival, 94% vs 40%; P = .02 by log-rank test). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Follicular OAL was more commonly found in elderly female patients. These tumors were equally noted to involve the conjunctiva, lacrimal gland, and orbit. Patients with ocular adnexal follicular lymphoma primarily treated with EBRT had a more favorable long-term disease-specific survival.

Lacrimal gland pleomorphic adenoma and carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma: genomic profiles, gene fusions, and clinical characteristics.

PURPOSE: To study genetic alterations in lacrimal gland pleomorphic adenoma (PA) and carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (Ca-ex-PA) with focus on copy number changes and expression patterns of the translocation target genes PLAG1, HMGA2, and CRTC1-MAML2 in relation to clinical data. DESIGN: Experimental study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 36 tumors from 32 patients with lacrimal gland PA or Ca-ex-PA were included in the study. METHODS: Genome wide, high-resolution array-based comparative genomic hybridization (arrayCGH) and immunohistochemistry were used to study the genomic profiles and expression patterns of the translocation targets PLAG1, HMGA2, and CRTC1-MAML2. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Copy number alterations (gains/losses) and protein expression of PLAG1, HMGA2, and CRTC1-MAML2. RESULTS: Genome-wide arrayCGH analysis revealed normal genomic profiles in 10 of 17 PA samples. The average number of genomic imbalances per tumor was 3.25 (range, 1-7) in primary and recurrent PAs with alterations compared with 7.7 (range, 4-12) in Ca-ex-PAs. Five recurrent copy number alterations were identified in PAs, including losses of 1pter-p31.3, 6q22.1-q24.3, 8q24.22-q24.3, and 13q21.31-q21.33, and gain of 9p23-p22.3. Gain of 9p23-p22.3 also was seen in a Ca-ex-PA. In Ca-ex-PA, gain of 22q12.3-qter was the only recurrent alteration. Detailed analysis of the array data identified NFIB and PDGFB as the 2 major candidate target oncogenes that may be activated as a result of copy number gains involving 9p and 22q. Both genes have been implicated in the pathogenesis of PA and other types of salivary gland tumors. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed frequent overexpression of the translocation target gene PLAG1 in PAs and in 1 Ca-ex-PA. In contrast, overexpression of HMGA2 was observed in only a small subset of PAs. The CRTC1-MAML2 fusion oncoprotein was overexpressed in 2 mucoepidermoid Ca-ex-PAs. CONCLUSIONS: Lacrimal and salivary gland PAs and Ca-ex-PAs have similar genomic profiles and frequently overexpress the PLAG1 oncoprotein. Copy number gains involving 9p23-p22.3 (NFIB) and 22q12-qter (PDGFB) may be of importance for disease progression in a subset of lacrimal gland PAs.

MicroRNA expression analysis and Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification in metastatic and non-metastatic uveal melanoma.

PURPOSE: To determine the association of microRNA expression and chromosomal changes with metastasis and survival in uveal melanoma (UM). METHODS: Thirty-six patients with UM were selected based on the metastatic status, and clinicopathological data were collected. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) was used to identify chromosomal changes. Chromosomal changes and clinicopathological data were correlated with survival and metastasis. The microRNA expression was analysed in 26 of the 36 archived UM samples. Unsupervised analysis, differential expression analysis and Cox regression analysis were performed to determine the association with metastasis and survival. RESULTS: Metastasis and metastatic death occurred in 20 patients, two patients died of other causes and one patient of unknown causes. A significant association between increasing size category (p = 0.002, log-rank), extraocular extension (p = 0.001), chromosome 3 loss (p = 0.033) and 1p loss (p = 0.030) and development of metastases was observed. Tumour, node, metastasis (TNM) staging showed a significant association with survival (p < 0.0001, log-rank). Adjusting for gender and age TNM size category T4 (p = 0.016, Cox regression analysis), mixed (p = 0.029) and epithelioid (p = 0.0058) cell types, chromosome 3 loss (p = 0.014) and 8q gain (p = 0.010) were significant prognosticators for a poor survival. Hierarchical clustering divided the UM into three groups based on microRNA expression. The clusters showed no association with clinical or histopathological features, TNM staging, metastasis or survival. Differential expression analysis did not reveal microRNAs related to metastasis or survival. CONCLUSIONS: The prognostic significance of chromosome 3 loss and 8q gain identified by MLPA analysis was confirmed in archived UM samples. The value of microRNA expression as a predictor of metastasis and survival in UM could not be confirmed.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lacrimal gland: MYB gene activation, genomic imbalances, and clinical characteristics.

PURPOSE: To investigate genetic alterations in lacrimal gland adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACCs) with emphasis on the MYB-NFIB fusion oncogene and its downstream targets, MYB rearrangements, and copy number alterations in relation to clinical data and survival. DESIGN: Experimental study. PARTICIPANTS AND CONTROLS: Fourteen patients with primary lacrimal gland ACC were included. As a control, we also studied the expression of MYB-NFIB in 19 non-ACC lacrimal gland tumors. METHODS: The expression and identity of MYB-NFIB fusion transcripts were studied using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and nucleotide sequence analyses. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate the expression of MYB/MYB-NFIB target genes. High-resolution array-based comparative genomic hybridization (arrayCGH) and fluorescence in situ hybridization were used to study copy number alterations and MYB rearrangements. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: mRNA or protein expression of MYB-NFIB, MYB, and its down stream targets; copy number alterations; and genomic rearrangements. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 43 years (equal gender distribution), and the median time of survival was 8.6 years. The MYB-NFIB fusion was expressed in 7 of 14 ACCs. In contrast, all non-ACC tumors were fusion-negative. All 13 ACCs tested stained positive for the MYB protein, and for the MYB targets KIT and BCL2, 12 were positive for MYC and CCNE1, and 9 were positive for CCNB1. Rearrangements of MYB were detected in 8 of 13 cases, including 2 cases with gain of an apparently intact MYB gene. The arrayCGH analysis revealed recurrent copy number alterations with losses involving 6q23-q27, 12q12-q14.1, and 17p13.3-p12, and gains involving 19q12, 19q13.31-qter, 8q24.13-q24.21, 11q12.3-q14.1, and 6q23.3. Neither MYB-NFIB fusion nor any copy number alteration correlated with survival. CONCLUSIONS: Lacrimal gland ACCs are frequently positive for the MYB-NFIB fusion, overexpress MYB and its downstream targets, and have genomic profiles characterized by losses involving 6q, 12q, and 17p, and gains involving 19q, 8q, and 11q. Our findings show that lacrimal gland ACCs are genetically and clinically similar to their salivary gland counterparts and that MYB-NFIB is a clinically useful diagnostic biomarker for ACC. Our data also suggest that MYB and its downstream targets are potential therapeutic targets for these tumors. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the ocular adnexal region: a nation-based study.

PURPOSE: To characterize the clinicopathological features of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) of the ocular adnexal region. METHODS: The present series of orbital and adnexal DLBCLs were found by searching the Danish Registry of Pathology between 1980 and 2009. Histological specimens were re-evaluated using a panel of monoclonal antibodies. Clinical files from all patients with confirmed DLBCL were collected. RESULTS: A total of 34 patients with DLBCL of the ocular adnexal region were identified. Eighteen of the patients were men. The patients had a median age of 78 years (range 35-97 years). Ninety-seven per cent of the patients had unilateral ocular adnexal region involvement, and the orbit (76%) was the most frequently affected site. Nineteen patients (56%) presented with Stage I lymphoma. Of these, 18 were diagnosed with primary lymphoma. Four patients (12%) had Stage II, one patient (3%) had Stage III and ten patients (29%) presented with Stage IV lymphoma. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate for the whole study group was 20%. The patients with Stage I lymphoma had a significantly better 5-year OS rate (28%) than patients in Stage II-IV (5-year OS rate, 9%). In Cox regression analysis, concordant bone marrow involvement and the International Prognostic Index (IPI) score were prognostic factors for OS. CONCLUSIONS: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the ocular adnexal region is mainly prevalent in elderly patients. Most patients had unilateral orbital involvement. The overall prognosis is poor. Concordant bone marrow involvement and the IPI score were independent prognostic factors for mortality.